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Isle of Wight
Autumn 2007 Day 4
Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5
The weather is dry but dull, but the company certainly isn't, as we have a laughter filled day with Jill, our Step-by-Step leader once again.
We start at Alum Bay and pause by the monument to Marconi. He was born in 1874 and moved to England in 1896 after the Italian post office refused to test his new wireless equipment. His mother was a Jameson of whisky fame. He wanted to promote his work on the wireless telegraphy and England was the obvious place. In 1897 he chose Alum Bay as one of the sites for his experiment. He erected a 40 metre mast outside the Needles Hotel from where he transmitted to the Haven Hotel in Poole nearly 20 miles away. Experiments were carried out for about a year, including one involving a link-up between the Prince of Wales, on the Royal Yacht Osborne and Queen Victoria at Osborne House. Marconi then transferred his attention to cross-channel links.
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We look towards that icon of the Isle of Wight, the Needles.
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And follow the road
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Looking back to the coloured sands
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We reach the old battery
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Continuing through
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To see the Needles close up
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We then walk towards Tennyson Down, where we have a coffee stop in the shelter of trees and bushes. Jill ropes some of us for an impromtu poetry reading, and we "do" The Lady of Shalott and The Charge of the Light Brigade - a memorable experience for all concerned
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We then climb up to the Celtic Cross memorial
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And read the inscription
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We continue down
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Towards Freshwater Bay
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Where we have a memorable light lunch in the Fat Cat
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We then head north up the Yar Valley
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Through the reed beds
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To emerge by the start of the estuary
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Quite a few birds
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To watch
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We continue on to Yarmouth where an ice cream beckons for many of us. We have completed another 8 miles and everyone has throughly enjoyed the relaxed pace. In the evening we are entertained by a magician at the Hotel. A magic day!
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Photos by Patrick
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Day 5
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