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A warning to walkers on the IOW. Astonishingly there is a public footpath that crosses the grass runway at around the mid point. A chap in the clubhouse told me that a number of walkers seem blissfully unaware of the hazards posed by aircraft landing and taking off. If you are walking to Sandown, do keep a lookout crossing the airfield.

The idea was that we would get the train to Ryde, where my brother had located a decent restaurant. Taking the train on the IOW is an experience - the rolling stock is all old, and somewhat dilapidated, London tube trains, which look a bit out of context in the twee rural surroundings. We, however, didn't take the train. We bought our tickets from the machine. We sat on the platform and photographed the train opposite (which coincidentally had arrived at exactly the time ours was due) and watched it depart. After a couple of minutes we realised that it was in fact our train! A full reading of the notice on our platform was " for x, x, x, & Ryde....go to opposite platform via underpass......Do - oh.

Two 21st century aviators who had navigated the three dimensional ether all the way here, totally flummoxed by 19th century public transport.

So we dined in Sandown and enjoyed a walk along the beaches and cliffs before refuelling and heading home.

All in all, a splendid day out (and I got to refresh my flying skills as well - bonza!!!).













Next post will have both feet firmly on the ground as I winkle Alan Sloman out of his cosy fireside settee for the first pre - challenge training walk under the stern eye of Miss Whiplash, our personal trainer. Oooo-er.

*The mystery object? It's a navigation aid for aircraft - a VOR (Very high frequency - Omnidirectional - Range radio beacon) . Weird looking thing, but there are lots of them dotted around. So if you see one, you'll know what it is (and impress your friends).