2017 day 43 (14th October- Cowes)

No rain predicted for today so we headed for the bike shop after breakfast - cooked by Johnathan as Melissa had had a big party last night apparently! Bought some ham and cheese rolls from the Baker for lunch and finally got away on the Red Squirrel Trail about 10. The trail proper started just out of town and took us on a shady bikeway up to Newport alongside the Medusa river which seemed to be a boat mooring site all the way. Also went past a couple of massive new industrial complexes which manufacture the sails for the wind generators - a couple could be seen in the yards - they are huge.

Through Newport where they were having some sort of vintage bus gathering - old buses and coaches everywhere. The trail had some soft and muddy sections but most was really was good bitumen wandering through fields and villages and along side little creeks etc - very picturesque and fairly flat. Great cycling.

The trail is well signposted so not difficult to follow. Only one diversion when we followed another cyclist up a track and missed the sign for left turn.  Soon realised we were wrong so went back 100metres and back on track. No eating places appeared until we were only a few miles from Sandown a town on the coast.

Little cafe on the trail called "peddlers" served beautiful coffee and scones with jam and clotted cream - and had plenty of customers. We got to Sandown about 2 and stopped on the esplanade briefly - quite big with a traditional English pier.

Headed home and stopped for our breadroll along the way. Arrived home at about 4, booked the ferry/train/bus for the trip to Heathrow on Tuesday and booked into a restaurant for dinner tonight as Cowes is VERY busy over the Weekend!

Just a beutiful days Cycling!