53 Members and Friends boarded the Blue Funnel Ship at Southampton for a cruise down the Solent to Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
We departed Swanage by coach at 8.30am picking up passengers until we reached Wareham railway station. Then on to Southampton with a comfort/coffee stop at Avon Country Park nr Ringwood.
We arrived at Ocean Village Southampton at 11.15 am and boarded our ship. Departure was at 11.30 am and we cruised down a calm Solent in wall to wall hot sunshine with a lovely breeze to keep us cool.
The journey to Cowes was just over an hour and we berthed in Cowes near the chain ferry.
At Cowes we had two hours ashore which gave time to find lunch, shop and explore on a very warm day. On leaving Cowes we followed the shore of the island until we were off Osbourne House then across to Lee on Solent and back to Southamptom where we inspected the P & O Cruise liner Azure at close quarters!
Back at Ocean Village where our coach was waiting and back to Swanage.
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