I love the Isle of Wight and have cycled it many times. But I've only ever done it as a day trip, getting the catamaran to Ryde pier and doing a lap of the island.
Heltor Chasca wrote:Play safe and book or throw caution to the wind and wing it? I imagine this little place isn't going to let wild campers get away with it
Heltor Chasca wrote:Play safe and book or throw caution to the wind and wing it? I imagine this little place isn't going to let wild campers get away with it
You're right. Trickiest place I've found is in South West France. 1. The sand causes mayhem in any zipper. I had a sleeping bag that took about 10 years to empty itself of sand. 2. The Gendarme have no tolerance of wild campers. Car parks, beaches, forests, anywhere! Challenging adversaries. Part of the romance and skill I guess...hc
Heltor Chasca wrote:Play safe and book or throw caution to the wind and wing it? I imagine this little place isn't going to let wild campers get away with it
You're right. Trickiest place I've found is in South West France. 1. The sand causes mayhem in any zipper. I had a sleeping bag that took about 10 years to empty itself of sand. 2. The Gendarme have no tolerance of wild campers. Car parks, beaches, forests, anywhere! Challenging adversaries. Part of the romance and skill I guess...hc
Moroccos and Kenya worst I've found for finding spots. People everywhere. Still not impossible though..
Finding a good place gets easier the more you do it.
Morocco, I was told by a Moroccan "are like Mosquitos, they are everywhere and you can't get away from them".
I would not advise leaving your vehicle in a New Forest car park over a Bank Holiday - it is notorious for breakins even when there's nothing on show. Use Google maps and find a residential street in Lymington with on street parking and leave it there. Works well for us.
JBB wrote:I would not advise leaving your vehicle in a New Forest car park over a Bank Holiday - it is notorious for breakins even when there's nothing on show. Use Google maps and find a residential street in Lymington with on street parking and leave it there. Works well for us.
Appreciate that JBB. I've marked a little residential street in a village to the north east of Lymington. I could do with a short cycle after driving to Hampshire. I hope the coffee is OK on the ferry [emoji477]️
JBB wrote:I would not advise leaving your vehicle in a New Forest car park over a Bank Holiday - it is notorious for breakins even when there's nothing on show. Use Google maps and find a residential street in Lymington with on street parking and leave it there. Works well for us.
Appreciate that JBB. I've marked a little residential street in a village to the north east of Lymington. I could do with a short cycle after driving to Hampshire. I hope the coffee is OK on the ferry [emoji477]️
Coffee is Costas at the terminal and some brand with a monkey logo on the boat. It's tolerable but I buy a Costas and take it on board. The only thing I find is a bloody nuisance is they want you to push your bike onto the boat. They do not of course ask motorcyclists to do this. Have a good trip!
I've just got back 'across' to the mainland. Although not everywhere on the IOW is my thing I've got to say I really enjoyed myself. 3 great campsites: Kite Hill @ Wooton Bridge, Grange Farm near Brigstone & to top it off nicely Compton Farm @ Compton Down. I had some decent beer, some decent food and messed in at the bikers' rally.
The needles were hiding in the sea fog so I went and watched thousands of Randoneurs hurl themselves ([emoji39]) around the island. The ferries were a breeze and there was a great cycle/car mutuality going on.
I had ZERO chance of seeing a Glanville Fritillary, but damn that gives me a good excuse to go back!
Thanks all for your advice...b
EDIT: I'll be setting up a 'Fans o' the Military Road Club'. That is a cracking road when the wind is behind you, and averaging 973mph while on it, I still have a massive grin on my face.
Bit early yet for Glanville's - better towards the end of the month. Along the seafront from Ventnor to Bonchurch is usually a good spot to see them.
I love the military road, especially in winter when there is very little traffic on it. It can get a bit busy in summer and motorcyclists tend to confuse it with the Isle of Man TT!
'Why cycling for joy is not the most popular pastime on earth is still a mystery to me.' Frank J Urry, Salute to Cycling, 1956.
pedalsheep wrote:I love the military road, especially in winter when there is very little traffic on it. It can get a bit busy in summer and motorcyclists tend to confuse it with the Isle of Man TT!
The signed Round the Island route offers a nice and very quiet alternative to the Military Road in summer. Just leaves you with the climb to/from Freshwater to deal with but you'd want to do that bit for the views anyway.