Portsmouth

Early this morning, we all met-up in the Steakhouse attached to the hotel (again) because it’s used by the hotel to serve breakfast. The standard buffet breakfast is not on offer to prevent too many unrelated, unconnected people mixing and, as a result, ordering is a little slower than usual but the breakfast was good and we still had time for a little walk around Portsmouth and Gunwharf Quays shopping centre before we escorted our friends to their car (with our luggage). They are taking the car ferry across to the Isle of Wight and it leaves a little earlier than our catamaran. They offered to take our suitcases so we did not have to struggle with them. So, we packed them into their mini and waved them off. We had some time to pass and so took a walk around Old Portsmouth - which turned out to be about two and a half miles - to look at the views of the water before heading to our boat which departed the Fastcat Terminal on time at 12:15.

Because we didn’t have to store suitcases and as the day was bright and sunny we spent the crossing on the open sun deck. I’ve never crossed the Solent by ferry sat outside (I did it once in boat) and it was lovely. By the end of the day, however, my lack of sun protection on my head meant I was glowing quite red. It wasn’t painful and I don’t think I have burnt myself too much but I know it’s going to peel in a few days.

45 minutes or so after setting off we were at the on the Island. The Island Line railway which usually meets passengers at the Pier Head is closed for maintenance in order to replace the trains. The lack of trains meant it was a bit of a slow walk in the sun to Ryde where we met Mark and Rob, had a look around some shops, stopped for lunch and then headed to our holiday accommodation.