Today‘s bike ride took me into Peel at the east coast of the island. I followed the heritage trail of the old steam railway line between the two cities.
The beaches here in Peel are considered to be among the nicest ones on the island. A beautiful day.
Fair winds…
It was a bit of a misty start from Douglas to get to Ramsey, the Riders Village for the ongoing 🚴♂️ tournament. All races today got the start and finish line at Mooragh Lake.
Although biking closely along the coastline, I could not see much of the sea until getting into Ramsey, where the sun took over. Fog. Interesting.
The action was already on at the time I arrived and from six to sixty plus the participants came in from the various races. 1000 riders from 30 countries were either “racing to win or riding to finish”. Nice slogan.
The return ride to my own start/finish line took me through some breathtaking countryside. Tired after 5 hours in the saddle but fully rewarded for the effort.
Fair winds…
The Grand Fondo IOM is happing this weekend, one of the many big biking events increasingly popular around the world. The finish line of today’s Individual Time Trial was placed at the bottom of the Snaefell Mountain. Good opportunity for me to check it out and get some leg training done myself.
Fair winds…
We, the bike and me, took the first departure at 9:50am BST on the Steam Railway from Douglas to Port Erin. This line operates with its original equipment (steam locomotives and coaches) since 1874! Next week is big 150 year Transport Festival on the island. It‘s all about the heritage railways, their specific tasks – very well maintained and still operational.
The 🚴♂️ ride back from Port Erin to Douglas took me through some nice villages and landscape.
Next two days will be a different biking agenda: UCI Grand Fondo – Isle of Man!
Fair winds…
Our time gate was set to 8am at Chicken Rock to catch the NE current up along the southern coastline of the Isle of Man towards its capital – Douglas. 4kn of current were expected.
The Harbour Master recommended me to keep 1nm off this iconic lighthouse and its coastline but I did not want to loose to much windward grounds under the now 20kn of wind from a NW direction. The Lady, performing a slow waltz up to now, turned into acrobatic salsa and the skipper was left with a dry throat again! Oh my lord! Pure nature! Chicken Rock stay away!
Different currents, all friendly, did throw us north towards Douglas Harbour in no time. More than 11kn speed over ground (SOG) is a new record for The Lady.
After a short welcome from Craig at the visitor pontoon we moved into the inner harbour to our allocated berth.
Fair winds…
The passage from Bangor to Douglas was a bit irritating, as we were partly just drifting along south with the tide currents to kill time. Drifting from the North Channel into the Irish Sea. Time well spent on the ocean, if weather permits. A wonderful night at sea.
Fair winds…
Our sail issue got fixed to allow us to proceed with the journey. There was also a bit of time left to explore Bangor, not bad! A nice seaside resort.
We had to catch the last weather window for this month into Douglas.
Fair winds…
Days in Belfast were flying by and my focus remained on recovery to leave this nasty cold behind me, once and forever! The pharmacist the other day recommended with a smoky, rough voice and smiling face: warm whiskey!
Feeling better now and pumped up to hit the ocean again, I left Belfast in the evening hours, ETA Douglas next day 11am, 1 hour before hight tide, 80nm, weather window & tides perfectly arrange. All good until I unfurled the headsail and observed something strange at the top of the forestay.
Picture taken, shared and minutes later, after a very helpful discussion over a phone call with sailing mate Volker from SY Hexe, I concluded: not going to proceed under these conditions, need to be fixed first. Douglas can wait.
Bangor, the sailing mekka of Nothern Ireland and accredited with five golden anchors, was just 4nm ahead.
I informed Jan & Natascha from SY Auryn that they will have to proceed without our accompany.
Looking forward to understand the root cause of this issue.
Fair winds…
It was an interesting passage from Scotland to Northern Ireland. Starting with no wind and flat seas, it peaked up to 26kn gusts and 2m waves while it ended with a pleasant close hauled approach along the channel leading into Belfast. Plenty of dolphins and two young puffins were the highlights.
Fair winds…
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