Snail at Shanklin Chine, Isle of Wight

Our last of three days on the Isle of Wight.

Felt a bit better today after yesterday`s tiredness and intestinal earthquake.

Weather not much better, but at least it stopped raining. We walked down the Shanklin Chine. We came here with the children sooooo long ago, so quite moving to return and recall their excitement at being here.

The Chine was first mentioned in the 1700s and then became very fashionable during the IOW boom years when Queen Victoria established her `holiday home` at Osbourne House just outside Cowes.

It`s also famous for being the point of exit from England of PLUTO -- Pipeline Under The Ocean. This was the pipe the services ran under the Channel after D-Day to supply petrol to the troops in Europe as they battled towards Germany.

Took lots of shots of the Chine itself, but this charming little fellow caught my eye as we retraced our steep steps.

Back in town there were a few young people in the shops buying wellies and tea bags and Mars Bars, all wearing their coloured wrists bands from the festival. They looked very young -- it took me back...

Got to the ferry early so they let us get on straight away on the one that was just leaving. Back home my wife was amazed at how much the garden had grown in just three days. We had our own Chine!!

Lily very pleased to see us -- and slept with me all night. (This is a backBlip early Saturday morning.)

"It`s very nice to go travelling -- but it`s so much nicer to come home..."


.