#isleofwight #wightlink #motorcycle #motorbike
2020! What a year to be sitting at home with the bike in the garage during lockdown. With touring plans shelved and client schedules sliding around like wet kippers on a fishing boat’s deck, I had little chance to escape the clutches of my desk. Then, a glimmer of hope - one solitary day and an urge to cross some waters; my eye was on the Isle of Wight. With ferries only operating essential travel services, news soon came through that restrictions were being lifted. I parted with £45 and booked my Wightlink day-return ticket. Huzzah!
Partnering with my touring buddy, Calimoto, I planned two routes on my laptop that evening. Then, coincidentally, the day before I left, I heard about the Diamond Races. Intrigued, I read more about the island’s new TT-style road race event to take place in October 2021. I just had to ride the 12.4-mile circuit, so put that into Calimoto too.
Arriving at the IoW ferry in Portsmouth at 8am, the Victoria of Wight - Wightlink’s Hybrid double-decked ferry - started loading soon after. Embarking, I left my bike on its side stand, in first gear, then grabbed a coffee to enjoy the crossing. With the sun shining, the shimmering, calm, blue seas soon lifted my soul before jumping back on my beast 40 minutes later.
Calimoto loaded, I rolled off the ferry and, within minutes, I was experiencing Firestone Copse Road’s twisty offerings, the sun glistened through the trees as I headed to my first target - Ryde Pier; a pier you can ride on. Its timber-planked promenade accompanies you to the end; I would think twice if it was wet.
The day warming up, next stop was St. Helens which cups Bembridge Harbour and many of its houseboats.Heading along the B3395, Bembridge Airport appeared from under the trees soon followed with a worthy view and a decent run-up Sandown Road.
Through Yaveland and Sandown - there’s plenty to do here for the touring visitor, or head a little further through Lake and Shanklin (just eight miles from Ryde), quintessential thatched buildings line the side of the road. However, I was here for the ride. Continuing with the coastline route, the beachfront town of Ventnor would be another good stop (I would find myself coming back here later that afternoon).
Riding along the southern-most tip towards Blackgang Chine offers up a cracking stretch of road down into Chale - and the route of the Diamond Races. I decide to pull into a car park behind a Scout Hut and tune Calimoto into the road-race route.
To read more, click here: motogusto.co.uk/2020/11/11/ta...
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Music under licence from Envato.