Day 11: Shanklin to Ryde

Instead of clifftops for most of today we will be walking along Promenade or beach. No danger of missing the sea!. Special sights to look out for- Sandown Pier, Dinosaur World, The Nab Tower and Bembridge Harbour ( circumnavigating for 15 minutes so difficult to overlook! ) Generally flatish, with the exception of Bembridge Down including the imposing Culver Cliff, topped by the Monument to the Earl of Yarborough erected by his grateful peasantry - no pressure exerted I'm sure. We approach Ryde through the stunning bays of Priory and Seagrove - swim and ice cream mandatory and ample opportunity to observe the current shipping - ferries, liners, naval vessels and myriad pleasure craft, all to a background of the forts, a tribute to Lord Palmerston's outdated obsession with the threat of French Invasion. For all the expense n'er a shot in anger! Then we enter Ryde with our final Prayer stop, the famous Benedictine Convent of St.Cecilia. A fitting climax to a gentle day strolling by the sea.

After a later night than usual last night, we were up, fed and packed just about in time for mass at 9 o'clock. Mass was celebrated for the repose of the soul of Pat Olivier, and Nicola joined us, and talked afterwards with pilgrims.

It was another day with a full scale Doran turnout, including the rarely seen Ben.

This hotel sign pointed out the obvious.

We walked all along the seafront, past Lake and Sandown...

...including Sandown Pier.

At Yaverland we started to climb over Culver Down...

...over the top...

...and down the other side.

The view back.

Lunch at the Crab and Lobster.

A short walk to St Michael's Church...

...and its patron saint.

Sophie explores the windows and condensation patterns,

Patrick led the reflection.

The back markers met all the challenges laid down by the frontmarkers - here Francis swims out for a "all at sea" arrow; Bernie climbed a tree, and "Irish" John scaled a telegraph pole.

Some of the groynes were the worse for wear.

As we walked round Bembridge Harbour on the busy road, we passed various interesting houseboats - this one is a B&B which describes itself as a "floatel".

Drink stop by the ruins of St Helen's Church.

Around Priory Bay the going got tougher - mud, fallen trees, and steep steps up and down.

Dannie plays with sepia effects.

Another backmarking challenge - this one Bernie retrieved.

On round the coast to Seaview, and an ad to attract walkers.

Holy Cross church was hidden in a residential road.

Gill led a brief but moving reflection on why she is making this pilgrimage - in thanksgiving for blessings since she walked the Camino to Santiago de Compostela.

Drink stop on a breezy sea wall.

On into Ryde, and a stop at St Cecilia's Abbey - we gathered outside...

...then Father Richard gave a reflection based on his experiences in Africa, and Helen sang for us.

Afterwards we were treated to tea and biscuits - even their visitor's were roped in to serve us!

Sister Louise-Marie, the extern of this closed order, makes sure there were enough Nice biscuits.

A chat over tea.

And so, on through Ryde town to the Methodist Church, our home for the next two nights.

Today's editor: Aidan Simons (with help from Dannie).