Sightseeing

The good weather recently meant that we could get out and about with our visitor - a little walk here, a trip in the car there.  It was a good excuse to go a little further afield than we normally do, and we had the opportunity to re-discover favourite haunts that haven't been visited for quite some time.

We had lunch one day at the Propellor Inn (been here before - excellent food!) which is adjacent to Bembridge Airport. It caters predominantly for private light aircraft, and the airfield was busy while we were there, about 20 aircraft and plenty of activity.  Amongst the many visitors who had flown in for lunch was a certain A Sugar (but minus his Apprentices!) - he pops down quite often, apparently, and appreciates the fact that the locals don't make a fuss.

We had several walks along the front as there is always something to see on the water.  This is the view across the Solent to the Spinnaker Tower from Puckpool Park.

The Church of the Holy Spirit is the parish church of Newtown.

We spent a very pleasant afternoon in and around Newtown Estuary, somewhere we don't visit very often, yet when we do, we are reminded again how beautifully quiet it is there.  It is a large salt marsh estuary, and is an important area for birdlife - there are several hides for enthusiasts to set up cameras and binoculars.

  

The area is managed by the National Trust (as is the Old Town Hall mentioned in a previous post but I now can't find it).  Despite the fact that it is rather 'off the beaten track', there were a number of people there, simply enjoying the peaceful nature of the place.  We had a short walk around (welly boots would not have gone amiss!) but agreed that we should make the effort to return during the summer to tackle some of the other footpaths in the surrounding area.

I'm also pleased to report we managed not just the first ice-cream of the year, but a second as well.  Both were delicious.

And for the record, we caught sight a fox in the garden next-door early one morning, and saw a family of four thrushes on one of our walks.