All Aboard

Last week on Midsummer's Evening (the longest day of the year) a crowd gathered to join the "Medina at Midsummer" boat cruise - a tour from the Medina Rediscovered project funded by Heritage Lottery.

Over 60 people crowded into a Solent Jenny boat to enjoy a sedate motor up river as far as the Folly Inn (no, we didn't stop) listening to the Captain's commentary on local landmarks along the way. The river is so peaceful, especially in the evening, and there was plenty to look at in terms of boats, architecture, industrial heritage and wildlife.

Everyone aboard had the chance to test their sea legs as we motored back out of the Medina into the open waters of the Solent, where you can really feel the difference from the calm inland waters of the river. We became caught up in a Thursday evening Isle of Wight Sailing club racing evening, and caught some wash from several large passing ships and a Red Jet, which all added to the exciting finish. The grand finale was a glimpse of Norris Castle, a romantic gothic looking house that can only be seen by the public from the sea. Surrounded on all sides by woodland and water, it really looks like A house from a Daphne DuMaurier novel.