August 9, 2015: Visit to Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island

We've visited so many interesting places in England during this trip! While staying in Reading, Mike decided to take us to the coast to see the ocean. He drove us to Poole Harbour, where we purchased tickets for a river boat ride to Brownsea Island. This was the place that Sir Baden Powell organized and taught his first group of young boy scouts. Poole Harbour is a large natural harbour in Dorset, southern England, with the town of Poole on its shores.

Shady canopy of trees over the roads throughout England

Our yellow boat at Poole Harbour that took us to Brownsea Island

Fun shopping on the streets of Poole Harbour in Dorset, southern England

The bay of Poole Harbour

A fun place to eat and shop

Mike on the deck of our boat

Approaching Brownsea Island 

Docking at Brownsea Island

British flag on the back of the deck

Brownsea Castle on the island

Baden Powell's monument on Brownsea Island 

Peacock families grazing on the island's grassy field
The baby birds were so adorable

The Baden Powell Stone that Mike was eager to see

Scouters still camp on the island today

One of the original scout badges

A kudu horn that Baden Powell used to call his scouts

One of the interesting trees on the island

The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin on Brownsea Island

The unique Red Squirrel that the island is also famous for
We were lucky to see a few-so cute!

The Brownsea Castle 

Sitting on deck with other passengers as we leave the island and head back to Poole

Cool boats on the bay

The bad traffic on our way back to Reading