2009-08-15 50 -1

Successfully found the geohash, and what a view!

Location

Participants

Macronencer
Sermoa
David (first geohash!)

Plans

Macronencer plans to take the ferry from Southampton (obviously) but is not yet sure whether to cycle down to the hash or take a bus. Probably he will cycle, as he is still too fat and needs shrinking :|

Sermoa and David will take the train from Winchester to Southampton, the ferry from Southampton to West Cowes, the Number 1 Southern Vectis bus to Newport where we will probably stop for some lunch. Then we take the Number 6 bus towards Ventnor, getting off at Niton or Whitwell. We will probably have time to look around a bit. I want to get some geohashing postcards to send to people! The meetup will be at 4pm. We'll probably try to take some food in the hope of having a geohash picnic! Later on we might go to Blackgang Chine ... i particularly want to see the hedge maze there.

Note to others: you can pre-book train and ferry together from thetrainline.com. It was £12.10 from winchester, with a network railcard, £18.30 without.

Planning resources

the algorithm producing the coordinates
an aerial view of the southern part of the island
a closer view of where we're going
a map showing Niton, Whitwell and Bierley

Expedition

Sermoa and David

We met at Winchester train station at a few minutes to 11, picked up our prepaid tickets and boarded a (very crowded) train to southampton. From there we took the (even more crowded) (look, the bus is full, wouldn't it be a good idea to go now?!) free bus to the docks and soon we were on the ferry to the isle of wight!

Cute little Newport

Having got over the shock of a day-rover bus ticket being £10 each, we were on our way down to Newport where we stopped for some lunch and a look around. Newport is the isle of wight's biggest town, which is not saying much at all. But it felt so exciting: because we had got there on a ferry it totally felt like we were in a completely different place. I caught myself marvelling that David's phone still worked - 'abroad' lol! We ate lunch at OGGIES chip shop. I bought some postcards.

The most amazing view i've ever seen from a hashpoint!

Having exhausted almost everything that Newport has to offer, we took another bus down to the south of the island. This is where you see the very best views. It's all hills, fields, sheep, sky and sea. Just beautiful. We were looking out for Mike every time we passed a cyclist, heheh!

We came to Niton and got off the bus. We visited a little shop to get some picnic components and walked about half an hour up the road, stopping occasionally to take photos of the scenery and other random things. We arrived at the geohash field at about 15:45, just minutes after Mike had arrived from the other direction. We whooped with glee at the ease of access into the field and eagerly clambered over the stile (with mike's bike!) and followed the gps to the exact location. Whereupon we got straight to business planting the google pin, taking photos and videos, having a picnic, playing a card game, doing cartwheels, making music on the iphone and, most especially, marvelling at the phenomenal view from the hashpoint.

In summary: the Dow Jones was most excellently kind to us today! What a fantastic day!

Macronencer

Brief summary: Had a wonderful day, did about 65km of cycling which I haven't done for probably 25 years at least. The Isle of Wight is exceedingly hilly!! Due to the aforementioned, I don't feel like writing anything just yet as I'm exhausted. Suffice to say that it was the best Saturday meetup any of us could possibly have wished for! A detailed report will appear, along with photos and a tracklog. Watch this space!

Tracklog

There will be a tracklog soon from Macronencer

Photos

a bus on the isle of wight. they are smart.
the Red Jet fast sea cat
newport, capital city of the isle of wight, heh!
OGGIES chip shop in newport where we had lunch.
Some people on the isle of wight have an awesome sense of humour!
beware of trains on Niton high street. there wasn't a train anywhere to be seen!
beware of ... badgers!
stopped to admire the view on our way up the road to Bierley
made it to Bierley! doesn't that sign just make you feel sooooo welcome?!
the hash point within sight! it's up the top of that hill near the trees.
monica my hashscot having a great time on the isle of wight!
now that's a view worth travelling all that way to see!
David taught us how to play Rummy.
Sermoa playing The Lying Down Game.
Sermoa turning cartwheels.
the three of us celebrating our wonderful geohash (with milk!)
East Cowes just before heading back to the ferry.
geohash postcards written and ready to send ... if they don't blow away in the wind!
A view from East Cowes towards West Cowes
coming home on the ferry, a view of Fawley power station as the sun was setting.