tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22414294999734803502024-03-04T21:20:03.365-08:00Stokey's Solar System WalkWalk the 3,660,000,000 miles from Sun to Pluto in 1,019 paces! Ventnor's newest attraction, the Solar System Walk is marked out on the scale of 1 inch to 100,000 miles from Bonchurch Beach to Wheelers Bay.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2241429499973480350.post-24733857746922542332016-05-16T23:27:00.003-07:002016-05-17T00:10:57.731-07:00New Mosaic<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stokey's Solar System Walk is to gain a fabulous mosaic at the start of the walk in Bonchurch. Inspired by the idea of the walk, the Bonchurch Community Association has commissioned the Ventnor School of Mosaic to produce a piece of ceramic mosaic depicting the Solar System.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinxuQfvG3gD17eZj_W3jd82tpj8EdsUiHJ7K3MXhPUHGaZD4puL3KGzYgq8AC965nvl3DsMIm8MmFYlzOQemB3a1xQQPKYmUEb0apPy786lED1Q82UzayIe75ve9C_mzrxgssDrnsf-8/s1600/solar_system-e1429031444824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Artist's depiction of Solar System from NASA" border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinxuQfvG3gD17eZj_W3jd82tpj8EdsUiHJ7K3MXhPUHGaZD4puL3KGzYgq8AC965nvl3DsMIm8MmFYlzOQemB3a1xQQPKYmUEb0apPy786lED1Q82UzayIe75ve9C_mzrxgssDrnsf-8/s640/solar_system-e1429031444824.jpg" title="The Solar System" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The work will be based on this image from the space agency NASA, an artist's montage of the solar system. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The planets are not to scale, and are depicted close together so as to show some of the features of each planet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNH2xP7x5GQXThC7VgahlKyQKUoAHjNzV-T0i8Ivh4q5zMeGKfbazT19-3qzu1gvH4vUtAMq82uhAp_q_s8sMl4AuFGtoBHqNunMVuN12U5YC-8hWyojFYkEC53YJj28osnS_1-UMv3g/s1600/P1130816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Solar System mosaic design" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNH2xP7x5GQXThC7VgahlKyQKUoAHjNzV-T0i8Ivh4q5zMeGKfbazT19-3qzu1gvH4vUtAMq82uhAp_q_s8sMl4AuFGtoBHqNunMVuN12U5YC-8hWyojFYkEC53YJj28osnS_1-UMv3g/s640/P1130816.JPG" title="Solar System mosaic design" width="640" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIhX5mga8VUL2u0hoGT6zNVBtnkfjbgLFmDF60x8AGeekmYMX1hpZBHGbnqrj1b-LTWV19ajFz8IUW-ON8cO7tmQZfx4CoLvLFP2LlyEVSRYGRmtCAPhCJ7K0xBEv44UeYsSF7fK7QWU/s1600/P1130816a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIhX5mga8VUL2u0hoGT6zNVBtnkfjbgLFmDF60x8AGeekmYMX1hpZBHGbnqrj1b-LTWV19ajFz8IUW-ON8cO7tmQZfx4CoLvLFP2LlyEVSRYGRmtCAPhCJ7K0xBEv44UeYsSF7fK7QWU/s1600/P1130816a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ventnor School of Mosaic Solar System Design" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIhX5mga8VUL2u0hoGT6zNVBtnkfjbgLFmDF60x8AGeekmYMX1hpZBHGbnqrj1b-LTWV19ajFz8IUW-ON8cO7tmQZfx4CoLvLFP2LlyEVSRYGRmtCAPhCJ7K0xBEv44UeYsSF7fK7QWU/s640/P1130816a.JPG" title="Ventnor School of Mosaic Solar System Design" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The project was displayed on the Mosaic School's stand at Ventnor Day on May 4th, where Jan Pargeter and Ken Knapman told me the mosaic would take several months to complete. The mosaic will be placed next on the wall to the mosaic of the Glanville Fritillary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you want to have a go, here it is:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First, locate the constellation known as the Plough, Ursa Major or Big Dipper:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3mQVkedI24gHc1Q6NeG1Ye60YFIPZCHB_o1Yl9tEspb0Up25zBhOGmuGFYFkHf_BiBof6rs06_yZAn5z02297VKeN9zhMYH1ExvwHiFXYZEUZUC10R2ixV8bKbL_9Fk_SjuC0MPeiOM/s1600/Star+clock.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3mQVkedI24gHc1Q6NeG1Ye60YFIPZCHB_o1Yl9tEspb0Up25zBhOGmuGFYFkHf_BiBof6rs06_yZAn5z02297VKeN9zhMYH1ExvwHiFXYZEUZUC10R2ixV8bKbL_9Fk_SjuC0MPeiOM/s640/Star+clock.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The s<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tars </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">marked α and ß are Marak and Dubhe and can be used as a pointer to the brightest star in the sky, Polaris. Next, imag<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ine a cl<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ock centred on Polaris, but upside down and back to front. Take the number the pointer shows (the Sky Hour) and double it (1 x 2 =2). <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then take the month and double that (e.g. A<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">u<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gust is the<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 8</span></span></span>th<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> month<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> so <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">16</span>). Add the t<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wo together (18) and take tha<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t away from 41.5<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> = 23.5. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So the time in this example would be <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">11</span>.30pm!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">E<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y! Try it out next time the<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">re's a clear sky!</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2241429499973480350.post-13583198944390621992016-03-03T04:05:00.001-08:002016-03-04T06:24:45.385-08:00Evening of Reflection at East Dene<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">s</span>pring in the air, the Allnatt Centre at East Dene in Bonchurch is gearing up for the new season. East Dene was once the home of the Romantic poet Algernon Swinburne but is now one of the Island's most popular outdoor education venues. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Every summer the centre welcomes school parties from the UK and abroad to enjoy a programme of education, play and inspiration in the peaceful coastal and woodland environment. This week the centre invited the new staff for East Dean and the sister centre<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> a<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t Swanage</span></span> to train up for the season.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMyZwCDth_E1J3pCQcA9XR-nV7OrSBpmqSv7U8DByJ0OzARX_54wOiZKuxXWFPJYEnvH_58Fegdo53pLT4uC31yf9dxg8zql8ng2DD61m_3VSOIjLSFZCebz74xAlsEopwJ2ycD3bXGw/s1600/east-dene-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Allnatt Centre at East Dene, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight" border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMyZwCDth_E1J3pCQcA9XR-nV7OrSBpmqSv7U8DByJ0OzARX_54wOiZKuxXWFPJYEnvH_58Fegdo53pLT4uC31yf9dxg8zql8ng2DD61m_3VSOIjLSFZCebz74xAlsEopwJ2ycD3bXGw/s400/east-dene-2.jpg" title="Allnatt Centre at East Dene, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last night's training focused on Reflection, a regular activity undertaken on the programmes, where youngsters reflect on themselves, their team and their achievements during their stay. Karen Chislett, East Dene's Head of Teaching, who attended Stokey's Solar System Walk launch event, said, "Many nights we finish with a bit of stargazing and I thought Stokey's Solar System presentation was really inspiring and knowing his knowledge on the night
sky, wanted to share this with the new staff to inspire them, as they too
expressed a wish to learn more and to pass this on to the students. Both centres
get great views of the night sky and students love hearing about our very
limited knowledge.<i>"</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXoQnX6q54uqp6M0YglWOPAfIcyVWZ3mDzSW0hATStaTBzZkwESpr7KO1sBLfd_xfDmI_-ybCfJa7iRyAtYRd_1lSyXYvlk_3pkQyS3XMV6S1kNWdnYHwq4zWTNPZ_FW-u86vvuxu6lI/s1600/East+Dene.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stokey Woodall delivers a presentation to staff at Allnatt Centre, Bonchurch" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXoQnX6q54uqp6M0YglWOPAfIcyVWZ3mDzSW0hATStaTBzZkwESpr7KO1sBLfd_xfDmI_-ybCfJa7iRyAtYRd_1lSyXYvlk_3pkQyS3XMV6S1kNWdnYHwq4zWTNPZ_FW-u86vvuxu6lI/s320/East+Dene.JPG" title="Stokey Woodall" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So Stokey once more delivered part of his Wonders Of The Universe course, bringing to life the distances of the Universe and the constellations of the night sky. After the presentation, the team moved up into the woodland, lit a fire and enjoyed putting their knowledge into action, spotting the planets and constellations visible in the clear, dark skies. We could see Orion, the planet Jupiter and Sirius, known as the Dog Star and the brightest star in the night sky.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UUEMYULPVthIsdygVs1pGcwAeuwIjuRgjj74UakqYzffZHDUNv0is0I6U6sbuVuZshSdRCBs2LFx-vg3eSxvf4TMPXUXsxeiH3T3IYND7_nW9UTQt2dGJpbCOAbet5B8-6Rpl9QVTzo/s1600/NIGHT+SKY+EAST+DENE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UUEMYULPVthIsdygVs1pGcwAeuwIjuRgjj74UakqYzffZHDUNv0is0I6U6sbuVuZshSdRCBs2LFx-vg3eSxvf4TMPXUXsxeiH3T3IYND7_nW9UTQt2dGJpbCOAbet5B8-6Rpl9QVTzo/s640/NIGHT+SKY+EAST+DENE.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A</span>lso visible was the orange giant star Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation of Taurus and so huge that our Sun appears tiny in comparison.</span><br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Aldebaran-Sun_comparison-en.svg/200px-Aldebaran-Sun_comparison-en.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Aldebaran and the Sun" border="0" height="318" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Aldebaran-Sun_comparison-en.svg/200px-Aldebaran-Sun_comparison-en.svg.png" title="Aldebaran and the Sun" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The team really enjoyed the evening and practised using their new-found way of telling the time by the stars....which I<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'</span>ll share in the next blog post!</span><br />
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</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Bonchurch, Ventnor, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO38, UK50.598447 -1.195244900000034225.0764125 -42.503838900000034 76.1204815 40.113349099999965tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2241429499973480350.post-45371160253262831002016-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:002017-11-08T02:15:02.473-08:00Who is Stokey Woodall?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hi, Lin here, wishing you all a Happy New Year wherever you may roam!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">Well, we have all heard of Stokey's Solar System Walk and many of us have been walking it over the holiday period, but who, you may ask, is Stokey and how did he come to set up the walk in Ventnor?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">“</span>Stokey”<span style="text-align: left;"> is Peter Woodall, who originally hails from Stoke and is still a keen supporter of that football club. But he is better known as
an ocean sailor who has crossed the Atlantic some 30 times in 33 years and amassed more than a quarter of a million
sea miles. He is a highly respected and much sought after teacher in celestial navigation and
has sailed to the Azores some 89 times to teach students completing
their Ocean Yachtmaster certification. This week will see him delivering a presentation to expert sailors at the London Boat Show.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/0a6d3419-3e2c-420b-9e14-59267cd83167/443cde6d-e106-4f0d-a719-0cfbe423aa61.jpg/:/rs=w:400,cg:true,m" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/0a6d3419-3e2c-420b-9e14-59267cd83167/443cde6d-e106-4f0d-a719-0cfbe423aa61.jpg/:/rs=w:400,cg:true,m" width="251" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">After working in mechanical engineering at British Steel</span><span style="text-align: left;">, Stokey joined the British Army, skippering yachts for all ranks up to full generals. He travelled the world for </span><span style="text-align: left;">5 years delivering vessels </span><span style="text-align: left;">and for 25 years has headed <a href="https://internationaloceanservices.net/" target="_blank">International Ocean Services</a></span>
<span style="text-align: left;">(Britain’s first ocean sailing school and and weather centre).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">He has taught many clients their navigation skills, including Ellen Macarthur, Emma Richards (around the world alone
female sailors), the late Barbra Harmer (only female Concorde Captain),
John Howard Davies (head of comedy for the BBC), Philippe Khann
(inventor of the camera phone), Sir Alex Crampton Smith (world leading
anaesthetist), Dr Wittingham (pioneer of ultra sound), and Leven Brown and Matt
Craigwell (Trans-Atlantic rowing record holders).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Between 2006 and 2011 Stokey set up the Atlantic Circuit Programme, comprising two trans-Atlantic sailing events: the
Trans-Atlantic Adventure starting in Porto and finishing in Barbados and the Trans-Atlantic Challenge from Antigua /Azores to England. Over 450 novices and experienced
sailors had the chance to cross an ocean, of all ages, nationalities and social backgrounds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After over 30 years sailing the seven seas, and having seen pretty much all the world has to offer, Stokey chose to put down his roots in Ventnor in the Isle of Wight which is a pretty big endorsement for the town! From here he plans routes for trans-Atlantic sailors and teaches courses in navigation and ocean sailing and shares his love of the heavens with locals through his popular 'Wonders of the Universe' courses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2241429499973480350.post-67212308165146661912015-12-17T07:57:00.000-08:002016-01-04T08:02:19.886-08:00Launching the Solar System Walk<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once we had secured funding and had set up the walk, all that remained was to get the word out that it was there and encourage some folk to try it out.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The walk is laid out on the 1,000 yard
scale, where 1 inch represents 100,000 miles. At the Bonchurch end is a scale
model of the Sun and the distance to Pluto can be walked in 1,019 paces, the
equivalent of 3,666,000,000 miles! Each planet passed along the way is marked by a plaque with some key facts on.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqZasJlBv5cRU4C36C8C_SR00jpqzCuNwhhN280Y3FJQdTtklz3DABCXXQCl_ZP83wuRriGg98C9YTaiitt2F5I-sqmAc7LfDgOk-AgVVfUXff2KCie6ONnmBcr5byXd6bYSgJgJOtCI/s1600/P1130287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stokey's Solar System Walk in Ventnor with model of the Sun" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqZasJlBv5cRU4C36C8C_SR00jpqzCuNwhhN280Y3FJQdTtklz3DABCXXQCl_ZP83wuRriGg98C9YTaiitt2F5I-sqmAc7LfDgOk-AgVVfUXff2KCie6ONnmBcr5byXd6bYSgJgJOtCI/s640/P1130287.JPG" title="Stokey's Solar System Walk in Ventnor" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">On Saturday28th November,
Dave and Dianne from the Crab and Lobster Tap kindly accommodated us for coffee
and lunch when a group of invited guests attended Stokey's presentation in the Masonic Hall opposite. He used his expert knowledge to deliver an engaging interactive presentation to illustrate the size and timescale of the solar system, and introduced the concept of the Solar System Walk.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sadly
the weather was so inclement that we were unable to complete the whole walk,
but, armed with newly acquired knowledge, most of the guests have since been able to enjoy the walk
in kinder weather.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Among the
guests were teachers from St Catherine's School, The Island Free School and
the Allnatt Centre at East Dene, who were keen share Stokey's knowledge with their students and use
the walk as a resource. Liz and Stephen Izatt came along from Ventnor Arts
Club, as did Helen and Frazer Cunningham from Vintage Vacations. Bernard Cawley
represented Ventnor Enhancement Fund and we were pleased that Wightlink<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>journalist Karen Woods came all the way from
Fareham to see what the walk is all about.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We were very
pleased with the enthusiastic response to the event and have since enjoyed to seeing
locals and visitors enjoying the walk and taking in a bit of knowledge with the
sea air! </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7lQ4OyY0c_0Nf4KLF55tQgQwahuorTrH6RvpvJQa5cVi3XmDsP2xGG6s8HA8vjwLFQxQ_TjzujHqIk4jS7jYEP0OQt7R-pEUTJsEd1-wwZ_g6g9aCKazfPgkN_Yv77RIG_Z_EGxCsnQ/s1600/P1130323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stokey's Solar System Walk in Ventnor" border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7lQ4OyY0c_0Nf4KLF55tQgQwahuorTrH6RvpvJQa5cVi3XmDsP2xGG6s8HA8vjwLFQxQ_TjzujHqIk4jS7jYEP0OQt7R-pEUTJsEd1-wwZ_g6g9aCKazfPgkN_Yv77RIG_Z_EGxCsnQ/s640/P1130323.JPG" title="Stokey's Solar System Walk in Ventnor" width="640" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2241429499973480350.post-82251967936861580802015-10-22T01:47:00.000-07:002015-12-09T00:21:36.716-08:00From Idea to Reality<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lin here...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I came away from Stokey's 'Wonders of the Universe<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'</span> course inspired with the idea of re-creating the walk along the revetment, but with no real idea of how to achieve it. But then I chatted to a few friends about it and one, Joan Barton, felt it fitted really well with her work for <a href="http://ventnorenhancement.btck.co.uk/">Ventnor Enhancement Fund<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">.</span></span></span></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="color: #3333ff;">V</span><span style="color: #009900;">E</span><span style="color: #3333ff;">F</span></span></b></i></span></b></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>was founded as a charity in 2006 <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as</span> a group of volunteers who raise funds to provide decorations and additional facilities to enhance the ambiance of the Ventnor area. Donations from businesses and residents, together with grants have enabled the fund to<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> undertake a number of proje<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cts that have now <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">b<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ecome part of the <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">character of the town.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Their flowerboxes fill the town with summer colour and the fund provides<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span> Ventnor Park and the <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">C</span>ascade waterfall with <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">atmospheri<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">c </span></span>floodlighting. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwFTpKzKZotvI1zoWSqoj38x93pQLqJQfUch7futO67DyxpAM7CtPWMPTETbFcTIOK9Ng2n8IWJEl12XfxA4RzFuDmHd2nt0AG11xDPjl7UKcqHGtr0DhfyTkOWhqdY9akaxfQRxkTtc/s1600/vef+planter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flower planters in Ventnor High Street" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwFTpKzKZotvI1zoWSqoj38x93pQLqJQfUch7futO67DyxpAM7CtPWMPTETbFcTIOK9Ng2n8IWJEl12XfxA4RzFuDmHd2nt0AG11xDPjl7UKcqHGtr0DhfyTkOWhqdY9akaxfQRxkTtc/s400/vef+planter.jpg" title="Flower planters in Ventnor provided by Ventnor Enhancement Fund" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image with permission of Ventnor Enhancement Fund</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The outside gym above Ventnor Park and the children's playpark behind the Winter Gardens were set up with<b><i> </i></b></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="color: #3333ff;">V</span><span style="color: #009900;">E</span><span style="color: #3333ff;">F </span></span></b></i><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">funds. Another project was the enhancement of the Flowersbrook area of the coastal path with wildflowers and la<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ndscap<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclJbHPVJPx3z5Jk0-siPhYt8f5ueg6z2YCQ-EFcExRmRF_Y5bhuFjK0yCHjyv-ifVbq5dMgBFP4saEItIhVdiCLYGSXvdkifszkQ8n4w7i1CTTf_Tj2TjPkwkQG5Fml1ODk5ssB7HVIY/s1600/DSCF5761a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flowersbrook, Ventnor" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclJbHPVJPx3z5Jk0-siPhYt8f5ueg6z2YCQ-EFcExRmRF_Y5bhuFjK0yCHjyv-ifVbq5dMgBFP4saEItIhVdiCLYGSXvdkifszkQ8n4w7i1CTTf_Tj2TjPkwkQG5Fml1ODk5ssB7HVIY/s640/DSCF5761a.jpg" title="Flowersbrook, Ventnor" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Th<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">eir latest venture is the creation of a labyrint<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">h on the grass abo<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ve the car <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">park at La Falaise, dr<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">awn in the shape <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">of a gi<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ant diplodo<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cus.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs1MsjuXK5IysuOmjNcGb9vKsMYEmGXe2fyIdoVtOQ0ZJDjCz8y5RQAdoqL_CUnfhXez_RmIHoaJEKJ8tEaiafQvMeOQ2JHo7JY2nw1XMCjqAjtGUwIsnBB43QudlSvt7ypD3DHZgwVY/s1600/Labyrinth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ventnor Enhancement Fund Labyrinth marked out in white paint in the shape of a dinosaur" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs1MsjuXK5IysuOmjNcGb9vKsMYEmGXe2fyIdoVtOQ0ZJDjCz8y5RQAdoqL_CUnfhXez_RmIHoaJEKJ8tEaiafQvMeOQ2JHo7JY2nw1XMCjqAjtGUwIsnBB43QudlSvt7ypD3DHZgwVY/s640/Labyrinth.jpg" title="Ventnor Enhancement Fund Labyrinth" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image with permission of Ventnor Enhancement Fund</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When approached, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="color: #3333ff;">V</span><span style="color: #009900;">E</span><span style="color: #3333ff;">F</span></span></b></i><span style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">agreed to support the pr<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">oject by providing <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he funding for the plaques to set out the<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> pos<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ions of the <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sun and the planets. Chairman Mike G<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">au<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">kroger desi<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">gned and set up the model of the Sun, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Adam <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">White joined <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Joan an<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">d me<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to put up the plaques.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">O<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ur next ste<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">p was to produce the <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">signs</span> themselves. Our st<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">arting point was the set of facts that Stokey uses to illustrate the walk. Since we wanted to make the wa<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">lk family fr<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">iendly, we simplified these to five or si<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">x</span> key <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">facts per planet<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> an<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">d designed the plaq<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ues showing the distance<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to the next planet in paces.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We then app<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">roached <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://signpostexpress.co.uk/">Signpost </a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://signpostexpress.co.uk/">E</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://signpostexpress.co.uk/">xpress</a>, a</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Newport based company, t<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o advise on <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a suitabl<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">y durable<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> material <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and produce the signs for us.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lee from Signpost Express came up <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">with an a<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ttractive finish that would tone in well with the environment, and <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">made <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the signs for us, also <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">volunte<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">er<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ing to fit th<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">em<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to the railings for us.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY_fS99v9Gm1X-ZyU1ycS7TH_97sf0C4qLF7s5OyI0OUQp8_8y4-zVp5l-ZQxXkY45oazYPRkCAcS7rn3CV5WL4DCzZjnUqPwNhEPDlp7jWAcwPZt4-1TgCQL4BLzNmJueDJ7nPEXzks/s1600/DSCN0411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Signpost Express operative sets up the plaques for Stokey's Solar System Walk" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY_fS99v9Gm1X-ZyU1ycS7TH_97sf0C4qLF7s5OyI0OUQp8_8y4-zVp5l-ZQxXkY45oazYPRkCAcS7rn3CV5WL4DCzZjnUqPwNhEPDlp7jWAcwPZt4-1TgCQL4BLzNmJueDJ7nPEXzks/s400/DSCN0411.JPG" title="Signpost Express sets up Stokey's Solar System Walk" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "tahoma";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All that remained was to let everyone know it <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> there<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">!</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Shore Rd, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO38 1RN, UK50.5975966 -1.188869999999951750.595076600000006 -1.1939124999999517 50.6001166 -1.1838274999999516tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2241429499973480350.post-27474117288331102862015-10-08T13:35:00.000-07:002017-11-08T02:12:19.373-08:00Welcome to Stokey's Solar System Walk!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmrtfkVPyAh_TsZ0H-ZarjyLpGDRt2v0Kr5Jc9Lbk5w_9rzdR1ok0_MOxPiquXaV-EgJDh36oZHe6UQ4Mx2olAfpUR3L_bj2tFr0Br2MM3dbFZKa510Tm7FurCDGLBMN69BnHsrfYmqU/s1600/P1130237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Images of Sun and Solar System" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmrtfkVPyAh_TsZ0H-ZarjyLpGDRt2v0Kr5Jc9Lbk5w_9rzdR1ok0_MOxPiquXaV-EgJDh36oZHe6UQ4Mx2olAfpUR3L_bj2tFr0Br2MM3dbFZKa510Tm7FurCDGLBMN69BnHsrfYmqU/s640/P1130237.JPG" title="Welcome to Solar System Walk" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Welcome to Stokey's Solar System Walk Blog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First of all, I am Lin, not Stokey! This walk is Stokey's brainchild, but he is too busy sailing and teaching to spend his time blogging about it! So I will be keeping everyone up to date with how Ventnor's latest attraction came to be and how it shapes up in the future. Stokey's sailing and training services can be found here https:<a href="https://internationaloceanservices.net/"> International Ocean Services.</a></span>
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In O<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ctober 2014</span>, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">an ev<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ening in<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span>Perks Wine Bar somehow ended in an invitation to attend one of Stokey's 'Wonders of the Universe' courses the following day. Like ma</span>ny people, I had always looked up at the stars and planets and asked myself questions like 'how many stars are there?', 'how far away is the Sun?' and 'what is beyond the Milky Way', so I thought, why not?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stokey's presentation was accompanied by fabulous visuals, models and practical demonstrations that answered these questions and more and included the original walk. The talk was fascinating,<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> as Stokey shared his enth<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">usia<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">sm for the mysteries of the solar system<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and a lifetime of knowledge<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, presented <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">so th<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">at we laymen c<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ould grasp the con<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cepts.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Stokey led the group down to Horseshoe Bay at Bonchurch, held up a large orange balloon and pronounced it to be the Sun. He then walked us along to Wheelers Bay, pacing out the distance between the planets to scale. At each stop, we learned some interesting facts and figures about the planet. Thankfully it was a clear night and we finished <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the course with a st<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">rgazing experience as Stokey point<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ed out the fe<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">atures of the night sky. </span></span></span></span></span>As we walked along it occurred to me that it would be great to see this walk marked out so locals and visitors could discover the Solar System as they<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> enjoyed a str<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">oll<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, and so the <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Solar <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">System Walk was born!</span></span></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0