Another very wet start today made sweeter by crispy streaky bacon, pancakes and maple syrup.

The wet weather gear is on again and we walk to the bus stop for the 1:30pm bus to St Helens. We’ve misread the timetable and it’s only going part of the route to Sandown and we really need the 2pm bus. We get on it anyway and then wait for the next bus outside the Sandown conservative club in the rain. An inauspicious start.

We are cheered by a bit of blue sky and sunshine on bus number two which does go all the way to St Helen’s.

Off the bus we wander along the coast until we spot Brading Haven Yacht Club which luckily is open to visitors. We are welcomed with open arms and enjoy a beer overlooking the harbour whilst a Rummikub, Scrabble and Whist games afternoon goes on around us. The blue skies disappear and the rain arrives again as we enjoy the view and one of the players kindly offers us a lift into Bembridge but by the time we are ready to move the rain has passed and we are happy to walk.

We enjoy wandering past a whole host of houseboats of many shapes, sizes and colours. Some are cute but some are extremely ugly.

We stop for a drink outside in the sunshine at the Pilot Boat Inn before making it up the hill into the heart of Bembridge and the Old Village Inn where we just have time to share a platter and sink a pint before catching the 5pm bus to the Fighting Cocks pub near the campsite. Play NYT quizzes and do a few crosswords before wandering back to the van to finish the latest series of Diplomat on Netflix.

An enjoyable day exploring more of the island despite the rain and bus mishaps.

21:10:26