Late July 2020 – We’re Off. Troon to Stranraer

29th July – Wednesday – Troon to Stranraer

We are on our way at last.  An 08.00 start to make the 43 miles to Stranraer.

The log piles

We past the log piles for the final time for a while.  Ships arrive here loaded with logs which are off-loaded by a big grabbing machine.  They are then moved to the wood mill across the road.  Hence there are particles of wood and chippings in the air which land on the boats all the time.  There are also many lorries coming and going from the Wood Mill all day long.  Aeroplanes fly over from Prestwich too.  So not a haven of tranquility.  We are ready for a change.

Outside Troon is never a smooth ride.  Heading out past Lady Island, the sea rolled us around for a couple of hours.  So I was at the helm, having taken the seasickness pills.  After 10 months of not sailing anywhere this trip has brought on more pre-trip anxiety than normal.  But we soon realised that ‘It’s like riding a bike’.  The well oiled machine kicked into operation.  We know our jobs and get on with it.

I think the smile says it all.

The turbulence lasted for about 4 hours in the outer Firth of Clyde as we passed Ailsa Craig.

The sea calmed considerably as the sun appeared in the afternoon.  The approach to Loch Ryan was almost glassy.  No dolphins today, but our neighbours in Stranraer had been treated to an acrobatic dolphin display.

Loch Ryan looking out.

Loch Ryan dries out on the southern side, so don’t be tempted to stray right.

We arrived in Stranraer at 16.00.  The entrance is located near the old ferry terminal.  There is a breakwater on the right into the buoyed channel.

We were advised to take any berth by Lesley the Harbourmaster.  3 other visiting boats waved us in and took our lines.  Mission 1 complete.  Phew.

30th July to 1st August

The first day was very wet so we took the opportunity to do the washing, in the free washing machines in the marina complex.

Nice pub meal on Thursday night before my second Craft and Chat Zoom meeting afloat.  I usually really miss my craft and chat buddies and Zoom is a welcome bonus, acquired in this strange year.

We had a good walk along the side of the Loch and found Agnew Park and a lovely modern cafe with a sun terrace.  A glimpse of normality.

There are many of these small old fishing cottages all over town.  It would be so pretty if they all had an imaginative paint job.  There is a decent town centre with all the shops you would need.

The 16th century Castle St John is planted slap bang in the centre.  Sadly it is currently closed, as was the museum.

Fleur on her mooring after our neighbours departed.  We had a good chat with Mark and Leslie on Donagh Dee.  They are heading off on their sailing adventure next year and we hopefully answered some useful questions.

Sailors Info – Stranraer Marina

The harbourmaster Leslie Smith is the capable and amicable person in charge.

The marina complex is relatively new.  The church behind in the photo is a good marker for the entrance to the marina as you approach from the Loch.

The facilities are spotless.  The washing machine and dryer are currently free of charge, as the cost of conversion from old £ coins to new ones was not worthwhile. 

At £32 per night the marina is not cheap, but it is central to the town and well sheltered.

Morrisons and Tesco Extra are a 10 minute walk away.

There is no wifi.  There are electric sockets in the laundry for hair drying, if you don’t mind being on show.

We visited Stranraer for one night several years ago, it was raining and there was only one chip shop open.  This visit has given us a much better impression of Stranraer and we won’t hesitate to revisit.

The next hop is a big one, I don’t want to jinx it.

July 2020 – Troon

6th July – Monday

We drove to Troon, with the contents of Mick’s shed in the back of the van.  Mobile Shed.

The boat had been taken out of the water in June by the marina staff.  The first time the boat has ever been moved without us being present, and they did a really good job.

The 7th and 8th were spent cleaning, anti-fouling, replacing anodes and refitting the life-raft.

Spit Spot.

She went back in the water on the 9th and we spent 8 days cleaning and nurturing her back to normal.  A little mildew here and there was the worse problem we had, which after 10 months is pretty good going.

On the 14th we did the big shop with the van.

On the 15th we went to Irvine and Largs for old times sake.  Then northwards to meet friends Irene and Iain for a Chinese takeaway and a catchup.

Home on the 16th in time to see Izzy and Luca for their 18th and wish Izzy a happy holiday.

20th July – had my hair cut by Tracy and Salon 130 who could not have made it a better experience, all things considered.

22nd July – Wed – The train to Troon.

There were only a few people on the train from Clitheroe to Blackburn, all wearing masks.  Blackburn station had about 50% coverage, but more on the actual train to Preston.

We had 8 seats to ourselves from Preston to Glasgow.  We were sat diagonally and well apart.

There were no refreshments available on the trains or at the stations.  But being old fashioned travellers, we had a bag of butties and a drink.  We managed to grab a coffee at Greggs opposite Glasgow train station and then on to Troon.

People seem to be taking the mask wearing much more seriously up here.

We went to Scotts at the marina for dinner.  It was the first night they were open and it was a real treat.

The weather was poor for a few days so we just stocked up and enjoyed the rest.

Tuesday the 28th Bunty and her friend Donna came to visit during their Motorhome holiday nearby.  It was lovely to see them both and we really appreciate them visiting.

They thought the boat was quite new, which justified all our work.

We went for a good walk on the beach at Troon, it was very blowy but nice and sunny.

After the beginning of the year we count our blessings.

Next stop Stranraer, having not sailed for 10 months!!!!

2020 – We didn’t see this coming! Our Covid Story.

Our winter was spent in the same way the last few winters have with no inkling of what was ahead of us.

I did a talk to Clitheroe Civic Society about Low Moor.

Mick carried out work with Nigel at my dad’s old house.

Checked up on the boat and made sure the big ropes were secure.  Thankfully.

I had the flu which went around in Jan/Feb.

The new craft club locally was getting regular attendees.  The Craft and Chat in Grindleton continued to bring joy.

Mick’s Ukulele group had some great performances and practices.

The lifeboat was serviced in Liverpool for the season ahead!

Great trip to Dublin to see Evie and Laura and Damien.

Our dance moves were progressing and we were looking forward to a dancing weekend in April.  Hmmmm.

Along with seeing friends and eating out, life was pretty good.

On the 6th March we left cold Britain for a Caribbean cruise on P&O Azura.  I had my doubts as news of the Corona Virus COVID 19 was getting worse.  Anyway for lots of, what seemed like goods reasons, we decided to go.

We left Bridgetown, Barbados on the 7th March, visited Martinique on the 9th, St Kitts on the 10th, St Maarten on the 11th and Tortola on the 12th.

On Friday the 13th we were refused entry into Grand Turk, then Antigua, St Lucia, Grenada and Barbados.  So for the last week we were either at anchor or sailing around in circles servicing the ships systems which need the ship to be moving.

On board social distancing was put into place as much as possible.  Anyone with a cough was thoroughly scowled at.  But the entertainment and food continued as normal.  Well as normal as it can be when the guests and performers are captive together until further notice.  Everyone pulled together and performers dredged all their previous acts to keep us cheerful, the work of all the staff on the ship was excellent and much appreciated.

We were repatriated from Barbados on the 21st March, having docked on the 20th, but obviously not allowed onshore.  Ourselves and another 6 cruise ships were being moved over that weekend, approx 24,000 people.

The airport was very busy, which was obviously worrying.  The plane had been in Barbados for several days and we were assured the aircrew had all been together.  Azura had not reported any cases onboard. 

We arrived home early on Sunday the 22nd March.  There were no precautions at all at Manchester Airport.  Passport control had no distancing.  Baggage reclaim was the usual scrummage and a flight from the far east had off-loaded recently.  We had been told by P&O to isolate for 2 weeks when we arrived home and were happy to comply.

Mick quickly went to Aldi where he took his own precautions, while the toilet roll buyers pursued their quarry.

Mick stated feeling hot on the Wed, 5 days after we arrived home.  He went to bed on Friday and did not get up for several days.  We were both in the full throes of Covid by Saturday.  Saturday and Sunday are a blur for us both.  I seemed to manage to get up up make drinks and simple food.  My paracetamol stash, which I always have, took a severe battering.  A packet and day between us.  2 every 4 hours.

Information at this point was sketchy.  The only piece of information we clung onto was that, if you could hold your breath for 10 seconds without coughing, you did not need to go to hospital.  The hospitals were filling up and it was the last place we wanted to be.  The only entries in my diary read Wiped Out and V. Weak for the next 9 days.  Our friend Graham brought us a bag of food after the first week and Annette brought us another in the second week, for which we could not be more grateful.  Bunty’s brownies were a welcome treat as we started to regain our sense of taste.

Mick had the cough, but I didn’t, we both had flu like aches and chills, we were both quite delirious in the nights, thoughts circling and never ending.  We both had pain in our back, near the kidneys and I had a rash there too.  We both lost our sense of taste and smell.  Tea, which is normally a joy tasted like brewed sawdust.  We realise we were coming round when we could smell the Pears hand-soap we were using so often.  Tinned peaches were heavenly.

Not many people were aware we were actually sick during the process, but those that did kept us going with advise and support.  Laura, Liz, Annette, Graham, Greg and Mark if I have forgotten anyone I apologise.

We took a short walk to our local bridge 10 days after we started feeling unwell, less than 1 mile and were absolutely exhausted when we got back.  We did not go out for 3 weeks to anywhere where other people were around.  Over the next 6 weeks we walked a little further each day and tried to eat well.  The beautiful weather helped and we spent time outside chatting to our neighbours.

We spent the reset of lockdown keeping ourselves busy.  Mick was the local version of The Repair Shop.  I sewed and repaired items for neighbours.  I started making masks and handing them out.  When I was able, I joined the Ribble Valley Scrub Hub, started by Fiona at Patches and Buttons.  I was assigned to the ‘Scrubbers’ making scrubs for local Care Homes, Chemists, GPs and Health providers.  The other groups made Masks, Bags and Ear Protectors.  It was a privilege to be part of a team effort. 

I had a positive antibodies test in June, which I was lucky to get, so I am a statistic, but Mick is not as he has not been tested. 

By July it was time to start thinking about the boat, marooned in Troon. 

We are very lucky to still be here, very lucky to have got through the virus, and very happy to be alive together to continue our journey with a new perspective.

September 2019 – Bangor to Troon and Home

26th August 2019 – Bangor to Troon

The sail from Bangor to Troon has previously been in our top three worst sailing trips, so we were hoping for better, more well-behaved weather this time, as we left the harbour at 05.30am with the first light. (above).

The first 5 hours where quite cold and misty but the second half of the day was warm and sunny. 

The mist was mostly clear as we passed Ailsa Craig, which is an island of 99 hectares in the outer Firth of Clyde, 16 kilometres west of mainland Scotland, upon which blue hone granite has long been quarried to make curling stones. The now uninhabited island is formed from the volcanic plug of an extinct volcano. (According to Wikipedia).

It is a welcoming site to sailors and marks approximately the half way point in our journey.

We were extremely lucky to see four pods of dolphins today. 

Mick also managed to photograph this helicopter which came very close.  We knew he was around as we had heard messages on the radio between him and a ship during an exercise.

We arrived in Troon after almost 65nm at 16.30pm.  Two periods of good tide made it a quick crossing.

Annette and Julian waved us off from Troon 5 years ago and it is great to be back.

Over the next two weeks we had 3 sunny days out of 14.

On the sunny days, Mick took down the front sail, serviced the steering cables, and went up the mast to look at the Aerial and the Mast Head Light.  Going up the mast provides entertainment for us and any passerby, who always insist on passing a wise crack. 

Our train tickets home were super cheap £10.80 each with our two together rail cards.  We collected the physical tickets the following day just to make sure it wasn’t a mistake.

There is a christening to attend at the end of the month, so we are off home now.

Sailors Info: Troon Marina

The marina has good facilities with friendly and helpful staff. 

Scott’s Restaurant overlooking the marina is great and really good value.  It is operated by Buzzworks and there is a Buzzworks cafe called The Lido in town too.

There is a large Morrisons store, just a 10 minute walk into town.  The town is small but has a good variety of shops and cafes. 

The washer is only £1 and 80p for a dry.  There is currently work underway and I suspect when relocated they may become more expensive.

The wifi is good and the train station is only a 20 minute walk away.

Summary 2019

Top of the list is the safe delivery of Evie and the joy she will bring to us all.

We have visited 21 harbours of which 17 have been new to us.  We have covered 946 miles.  500ish of those miles have been challenging, mostly due to weather conditions. 

The weather has not been kind.  The East coast of England was very windy and the wind was mostly freezing until July, after which it became just cold.  My shorts have had very few outings this year and will easily do another season.

Some of the highlights have been Hartlepool, Whitby, Port Edgar, Caledonian Canal, especially Loch Ness, Tobermory, Oban, Gigha and Bangor.

On the tourist front we had some good day trips from the boat to Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and the Giants Causeway.

In Hartlepool, Whitby, Port Edgar and Dublin friends and family went out of their ways to make our stays memorable, a big thank you to you all.

Our reliable and indomitable ‘Fleur’ is resting in Troon for the winter, ready for next years adventures.

Thanks for reading XXX

Late August 2019 – Bangor, Belfast, and Dublin

4th August – Sunday
After arriving in Bangor we had a nice few days reacquainting ourselves with the town and carrying out the tasks, which are so much easier in a town marina with good facilities.
On Sunday we walked south to Ballyholme on the seafront from Bangor. 

A beautifully sunny and calm day, we watched the Sunday Yacht Club Racers in the bay.  We managed to track down the café and ice cream parlour, a street back from the seafront.  Once again, more signage required.
7th August – Wednesday – Train Trip to Belfast
Trains to Belfast are every 15 minutes from Bangor.  We were on a reconnaissance to find the coach office for our next day out, so after 50 minutes we got off at the Botanic Station and then walked into town.  We have previously been to all the Titanic exhibits, though whilst passing it was obvious that much building has taken place since.

Our first stop was the Victoria Square shopping centre, as I had read they have a rooftop dome with 360 degree views of the city for free. 

Piccy in the dome.

It is a very impressive centre for shopping and eating.
We did not want to pay to go into the cathedral, St Georges Market was sadly closed (open Fri to Sun), Castle Court Centre was a welcome shelter from a rain shower and then we found Queens Arcade.

Queens Arcade.  I really love an old arcade.

Again, mostly due to the showers we went into the City Hall as there seemed to be visitors milling around.  Sadly we missed the last guided tour, which are at 11, 1 and 2pm.  However there is a free 13 room exhibition about the city which passed the next hour very well.

Inside, under the dome.

There are some really interesting exhibits including this cabinet which missed the boat, Titanic, as it was not delivered in time.
Back in Bangor we ate out at Little Wings Pizza restaurant.  Just as good as we remembered.
12th August – Monday
We had an impromptu trip to Donaghadee.  A friend had told us to go while we were here.  We were just walking through town when we saw a bus displaying the town’s name, so we hopped on. 

It was a 30 minute bus trip, past some very impressive sea front properties.  There is a nice sea front and a couple of shopping streets with a good variety of shops.

The Moat sticks out on the horizon, so we climbed to the top.  After a bag of chips we hopped back on the bus to Bangor.
13th August – Tuesday – Grand Day Out to Giants Causeway
I have to start by saying that Game of Thrones (GOT, which neither of us have seen) is pulling in the punters at present, so any mention of a GOT connection gets some folks very excited.
We woke at 6.00 and caught the 6.50 train from Bangor to Belfast.  During our reconnaissance, the lady at the train station who directed us to Allen's Tours office said that we should arrive early and set ourselves up with an Ulster Fry at the top 10 rated café for Ulsters Fry's which is located across from the tour office.  Rude not to.  We arrived 20 minutes before it opened, hungry.  The Causeway Café is connected to the YMCA next door and opens at 08.00.  We were not disappointed, the full works including Fried Soda Bread for £4.95.  We met an older Canadian guy who was visiting relatives and was staying for £40 for 2 nights. 

Being the people who turned up super early we managed to nab the two fronts seats on the 70 seat bendy bus.   After several delays with people, pickups, the driver selling tickets for tours etc we arrived in Carrickfergus.

Carrickfergus Castle.  This was a short stop for photos so we just walked the prom, while the bus driver did a sterling job extricating the bus from the car park, as he had got well and truly wedged, due to people parking without any thought.  My dad, who was a driver, would have been very impressed.

Next stop, GOT The Dark Castle set, in a quarry.

The coach driver paid not attention to several large signs.  The locals are quite cross at the amount of vehicles being attracted here.  So our stop was more of a slow fly-past.
The coastal road up the East coast of Antrim is beautiful and the morning was quite bright. 
 
Next stop at Carrick A Rede was the Rope Bridge.  It is £9 to walk across.  By this time it was raining and neither of us fancied it.  The people who went said it was a 20 minute walk and then a number of steep, slippery steps.  They were told they had to be back at the bus quite quickly and had to return back quickly, so as not to miss the bus.
GOT fight scenes were also filmed in another quarry near the bridge.  We then advanced to our lunch stop at the Giants Barn. 
We arrived at the Giants Causeway and our coach driver dropped us off with a return time firmly implanted with us.  Some of the coach guests alighted to join a tour, booked on the coach. 
The Giants Causeway is free to visit.  The National Trust have built a substantial visitor centre.

The visitor centre costs £12.50 and we had been advised not to pay as it should be free.  Inside was a large shop and café.  A display and video were the items paid for.

Entry is via this impressive tunnel from the car park.

It is a half hour walk downhill from the visitor centre.  Buses are available for £1.50 each way.  The walk is very picturesque, and a relief after several hours on a coach.

Us and rocks.

We managed to get these pictures, which just like the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, do not represent the sheer volume of visitors which surrounded us.

The iconic shot!
The walk down and back and the stones themselves were incredibly busy.  Any thought of a spiritually deep experience need to be shelved.  Though drier now, the stones were slippery from the previous showers. 
Ireland has been very successful in attracting Chinese visitors and GOT has attracted another audience.  Laura and Damien came here on a bleak January day, which might appeal if you want the place to yourself.  There are currently 2,000 people per day visiting and due to travel schedules I suspect they arrive at similar times.
We did not expect the place to ourselves and found the comings and goings very amusing.  The walk back up hill takes a bit longer.
Our coach could not park anywhere near and appeared on the dot at the time advised, then became hemmed in.  By now we were running quite late.
The last stop was another GOT location.

The Dark Hedges.  There is a Throne from GOT in the Hedges Hotel nearby and photos can be taken.  (The King’s Road, Series 2 Ep 1).
The end of the day was a 50 mile dash down the motorway back to Belfast.  At the last set of traffic lights before the tour office the bus stopped, and would not start again.  We were asked to get off and make our own way back to the station.  We had already tipped Rodney the driver and felt he deserved it even more at this point.
This trip was the best value £20 trip I have ever been on.  We travelled the length of the beautiful coast line and saw many new and interesting sites over a 11 hour marathon.
Back to Bangor for another late Pizza.
17th August – Saturday – To Dublin to visit Laura, Damien and Evie
The only hiccup in the day was the bus replacement service from Lanyon Place, Belfast to Newry.  The buses were very plush and our trolley was placed in the hold with the suitcases.
We took the opportunity to celebrate our wedding anniversary in Dublin and had a terrific Chinese meal at the Good World restaurant as recommended by Laura.  We were collected by Damien on Sunday morning.  Excitement was high.

Very Proud Grandad with Evie

Beautiful Evie.  Yes we are biased.
We had a very good visit to their new house.  Sunday lunch at Fallons in Kilcullen.  Lunch at the Merry Plough Boy and another lunch trip to Avoca, a lovely lifestyle pavilion, full of lovely things.  Laura made us some great food and we watched films and played games.  So lovely to see them all.
23rd August – Friday – Back to Bangor
The bus replacement service finishes after today, lucky us.  More Little Wings Pizza on our return.
It was the Open House festival last weekend and The Specials were playing on the seafront as part of their 40 year anniversary tour…….40 years since Ghost Town.  We could hear the band very well from the boat and the weather was kind.

We enjoyed the Bank Holiday sunshine on the coastal path at weekend.  A great end to our Ireland adventure.
Sailors Info: Bangor Marina
We have been here before and having experienced the full range of marina facilities since our last visit, we appreciate a well run and welcoming yacht haven.
Visitors are generally pointed to pontoon E, which involves a circuit around the marina.  Fuel is located on the pontoon on the left was you enter.  Wifi is good.  Facilities are good inc Hairdryers and sockets. 
Asda is the nearest shop at the top of the main High Street.  Lidl and the Bloomfield Shopping Centre are a 30 minute walk, and have every type of shop you may require. 
Washers £4.50 and Dryers 70p but require two cycles.
Maud’s Ice Cream is a local delicacy which is found all around Northern Ireland.  Poor Bear a honeycomb flavour is the local favourite.
Next Stop Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Early August 2019 – Oban, Gigha to Bangor N.I.

27th July  - Saturday – Tobermory to Oban

The forecasted rain was lighter than expected as we left Tobermory at 09.30.  The Dutch Armada had departed very quietly at 05.00.  The Sound of Mull was relatively quiet, except for the regular ferries.  Big ones on this route.

We went through the overfalls with no problems and arrived back in Oban at 15.00.  Just under 6 hours for 25 miles.  It was a good day for wildlife with 5 seals and 1 dolphin.

Fish and Chips at the Oban Fish and Chip shop, as previous.  It was much busier this time but just as good.

The evening view from the boat looking towards Kerrera.

28th July – Sunday

Big stock up today for our next island stop and a Wetherspoons breakfast.

Sailors Info:  Oban Transit Marina

Although this was a return visit to Oban we stayed in a different marina.  The transit marina has only been open a few years and allows boats to stay for up to 3 days.  Literally in transit.

£30 per night, very convenient to the town centre.  The facilities are new and excellent. 

29th July – Monday – Oban to the Isle of Gigha

It was a sunny start as we left Oban at 10.00am.  But the showers soon came. 

We caught a glimpse of the castle on the south of Kerrera, which had eluded us on foot.

One of the reasons we left Oban after only two nights was the imminent arrival of 72 boats on their way to take part in the Highland Series of Yacht Races.

We met them before the narrows and they were quite a sight to see.  They just kept coming.

The Flabba Lighthouse.

The lighthouse indicates the narrowest point in the Flabba narrows.  Todays calculations had to be particularly precise, as we had to arrive here and then punch the tide for an hour.  At one point we were only doing 2 knots with the engine at 3,000 revs.  But as we squished through, then the tide was with us for the rest of the journey.  The sea here was very disturbed and a challenge on the helm, not in a rock n roll way, but by the fact that the merging water was in conflict with itself.  Very interesting patterns on the surface of the water.

We past the Gulf of Corryvrecken at a respectable distance.  It is a narrow strait between the islands of Jura and Scarba.  For the braver souls there is a whirlpool to be seen, tours can be taken on powerful motorboats to see it.

As we enter the Sound of Jura the rain and mist descended.  Cold thick fog stayed with us for a few hours, and we emerged from it 10 miles from Gigha.  We had already had a good day for wildlife with 4 seals and 5 dolphins and then we were rewarded with a whale.  We discovered later it was a Minke Whale.  It had a dark black back, with defined lines and a small sickle-shaped fin, which seemed small for such a large creature.  The boat is 10.5m and they grow to about that size, so we think it was a fully grown adult.  It only broached the water once, quite slowly, but sadly not slow enough for a picture.  We did log it with Whale Watchers and they have put it down as a ‘probable’ sighting as we are not professional whale spotters.  We arrived at Gigha at 20.00 at 49 miles in just over 10 hours.

It was difficult to see if there were any spaces on the pontoon and we had to pick our way through the moored boats, but we were lucky to find a space near to the shore.  It is only 1.8 deep at low tide but we were fine with our lifting keel.

30th July – Tuesday – Isle of Gigha

The first thing that strikes you is the clarity of the water.

Photo taken from the pontoon.

The shallow lagoon near the harbour.

A sunny morning prompted us to walk to Achamore Gardens, one of the tourist sites on the island.  Created by Colonel Sir James Horlick from 1944 the gardens are home to a renowned Rhododendron collection.  Sadly it is the wrong season for Rhododendron but the 54 acres are well worth a visit, especially the viewpoint.

Viewpoint looking towards Islay and Jura.  The garden operates on donations and the handsome mansion is currently for sale.

We made up for my birthday meal by eating at the very popular and award winning BoatHouse restaurant near the moorings in Ardmish. Scallops, Lobster Tails, Fish and Chips and Fish Curry.

If you order Lobster, as one of our fellow diners did, the lobster is retrieved from a pot strung from the pontoon.  Very fresh and reasonable at £36 for a whole one.

31st July – Wednesday

We walked North as we had walked South the previous day, options are few.  Lovely countryside like we have at home.

The only shop, the Ardmish Stores does the best and largest ice creams.

We later had a chat to Robert and Liz on ‘Elimi’, she gave us some of her homemade bread and we had a drink prior to their visit to the BoatHouse.  Happy sailing.

Sailors Info: Isle of Gigha

There are regular ferries here, more popular with campers than campervans.  There is a camp site at Ardmish near the pontoon.

The pontoon at Gigha was built only two years ago and is therefore modern and substantial.  Beware the inner moorings are only 1.8m deep.

Fleur at the front of the pontoon.

Mick on the pontoon showing its size and length.

An honesty box system operates for payment.  The box on the right holds envelopes which explain the rules.  £20 for the pontoon, £15 for a mooring.  Some of the bigger ships cannot get into the pontoon.  A chart on the left explains the tidal heights and events and attractions.  Place your money in the envelope and post it into the secured box.

The island was bought by the islanders, currently 160 people live here.  In 2002 with grants and loans, the islanders paid £4million and the island is now part of the Gigha Heritage Trust. 

The facilities are adequate with a £1 charge for a 10 minute shower.  No wifi, no TV.  We really enjoyed our 3 nights here.  The mild climate was a welcome change.

1st August – Thursday – Gigha to Bangor Northern Ireland

We crept away from the pontoon at 5.20 with a couple of other boats heading south.  The light was good enough to dodge the moored boats and make our way out into the Sound, missing the rocks, we had been warned about.

The Mull of Kintyre, had mists rolling in from the sea….da de de….

The Mull is notorious with sailors and demands respect.  We registering 9.8 knots around the lighthouse, which gave us a sling-shot towards Northern Ireland.

The first 6 hours were pretty gloomy and then the sun came out.  The shipping channel was quite busy with ferries and tankers.  We saw 2 seals, 2 dolphins and a final Puffin.  Love Puffins!

 

Technically, we completed our 5 year unofficial circumnavigation today.  Above shows us crossing our track of 5 years ago on the electronic navigation system.

The N.I. coastline is dramatic and beautiful and we enjoyed it in the sunshine.  We arrived in Bangor at 16.00 after 65 miles.  A long but good day, with many renditions of ‘Mull of Kintyre’.

We are now having a break in Bangor.