Isle of Wight Holiday - Cruise on the River Medina 05/06/2010

Without a doubt, the highlight of our holiday on the Isle of Wight was on Saturday 5th June when he had a late afternoon cruise on the River Medina on-board the world's smallest Paddle-Steamer, "Monarch". The "Monarch" started from Newport Harbour and sailed up the river towards Cows. However it only went up as far as Island Harbour, where it used to be based when it first arrived on the island. Island Harbour is also where the sad remains of Paddle-Steam "Ryde" are located. "Ryde" was one of the Paddle-Steamers that worked the Portsmouth to Ryde service. She also worked at Dunkirk, and when withdrawn, became a Nightclub at the harbour. When her owners could no longer run her as a nightclub, she was simply left to rust. Scrapping has sort of commenced on her after many years of neglect, although there are some people who are still trying to save her. If she is saved, it will be a miracle, but I personally can't see it happening. Our trip on "Monarch" means that we've sailed on all three of Britain's current operational Paddle-Steamers; the other two being "Kingswear Castle" - two trips on the River Medway (2003 and 2007) and two on the Thames (2004 and 2005) - and "Waverley" - around the Isle of Wight (2005). I have also sailed on the SS "Sheildhall" down Southampton Water (2003) and on the MV "Balmoral" (2003).