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Showing posts from September, 2022

Portpatrick to Bangor 25 September 2022

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  With a forecast of strong winds later in the afternoon we deemed it prudent to head for home in the morning.  We set off at 08.45 and got into Bangor just before 12.00. Even then we had a brisk headwind, giving us a lumpy trip back, though because it was a headwind it wasn’t as uncomfortable as Friday’s beam sea crossing.  A couple of short videos gives a feeling for the trip: The trip was uneventful (fortunately) and finished with a successful docking in Bangor using our new custom made docking ropes.  Very pleasing. Followed by a restorative coffee.  Happy days. Saying goodbye to Portpatrick - we’ll be back. Our route:

Portpatrick - an absolute gem 24 September 2022

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  Portpatrick town and harbour as seen from close to the grand Portpatrick Hotel We have been exceptionally lucky with the weather - a northerly breeze accompanied by clear blue skies and a warming sun. Beautiful. The Southern Upland Way starts (or ends) in Portpatrick.  It is a coast to coast long distance footpath, stretching 212 miles from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath on the east coast.  We decided to walk the first mile or two along the coast to Killantringan Lighthouse at Black Head.  With sun beaming down on us it was a fabulous walk - a bit like walking the SW Coast Path in Cornwall and Devon.  Along the way at the sand beach in Port Mora we were treated to a local driftwood sculpture - some people have a wonderfully creative eye.  A driftwood sand monster in Port Mora A bit further along the path is Killantringan Lighthouse, now disused as a lighthouse but actively used as a private house - what a place to live! By the time we got back  - it was about a 6 mile round walk - we w

Bangor to Portpatrick 23 September 2022

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  Left Bangor shortly before 14.00 to head for Portpatrick for the weekend.  After a calm beautiful morning we thought the crossing would be a sunbathing, relaxing breeze.  It was certainly a breeze - a really fresh breeze from the NNW, meaning it was broadside to us, making what should be a fairly short trip, feel long and lumpy.   Apart from the many lumps the main excitement was playing chicken with two large American navy RFAs.   Lazaway is the small pink vessel crossing in front of the two large turquoise vessels. We made it! We have busy since our last blog posting - at least Gordon has been.  Several jobs that needed doing have been sorted. Clockwise from top left: the inverter, wrongly installed in Plymouth, has been fixed by Brian Hanna in Bangor; a new 400amp fuse replaces the wrongly installed 300amp fuse; new visual cm gauge installed on the two fuel tanks; new double USB port installed at the flybridge helm; all the engine anodes have been replaced (5 per engine - though a