The Isle of Man

Thursday 7^th April

 

We left for Liverpool early as the M62 traffic can be really heavy. The boat was due to leave at 11.15 with checking in closing at 10.30. The high winds we have been experiencing lately seemed to subside as we drove and the sun appeared, which relaxed me somewhat as I had been worrying about the boat and bad weather. Manannan, the catamaran had just been out of service for repairs after hitting the pier at Douglas and had only been back to normal service a few days.

We arrived at 9.30 but decided to go through anyway thinking there would be somewhere to wait with a coffee. We exchanged our computer print- out for boarding cards and then seconds later had given them up and were sitting in a queue on a moving platform, a pontoon, for the boat to come in. The pontoon rocked like a boat on the unusually high spring tide. The wind had increased and the Liverpool Channel was decidedly choppy.

Eventually the boat came in looking good, steadily cutting through the waves. We couldn’t understand why it took so long for the passengers and cars to disembark. They came off in small dribbles. The pontoon was moving more now accompanied by creaks and groans and the dock personnel moved away from the side of the boat as waves sent it into the platform. The last few cars eventually left and the drivers lay on the ground inspecting the chassis for damage after grounding. It was the pontoon moving which was causing the delays not the boat. The captain ordered a tug to push against the pontoon to steady it. The first car in line took absolutely ages to embark waiting for the waves to subside enough. They were being directed by worried staff. I was glad Bob was driving as it was nerve wrecking waiting for our turn. Loading did get faster though as confidence grew and over an hour late we left Liverpool.

Even the very stable bulk of Manannan rocked as strong winds hit it sending spray up the windows in clouds. I was feeling queasy before we got on the boat and was glad of my sea bands. I am sure it is mind over matter but they work for me! We played cards and had a bacon bap as only breakfast was available though it was lunch time. The boat was only quarter full. It was comfortable and clean. We could have gone to one of the 2 cinemas where it seemed people used it as a place to sleep being darker than the main boat.

On the last 4 miles the sea calmed and it was sunny and welcoming in Douglas. It had taken 2 hours and 45 minutes.

It was a half hour drive to Port Erin where we were in a B and B for 5 nights.

 

                                                                   St Michaels Isle

 

We left our bags and after getting our bearings we decided to tick off the tiny St. Michael’s isle or Fort Island, just outside Castletown. Going through a grand stone gateless gateway we pass by a large dilapidated white building belonging to the golf course that spreads down the Langness Peninsula. Over the water of Derbyhaven is the airport- Ronaldsway named after a Viking king who would beach his boats here and drag them across a pathway to Castletown Bay to supply his fortress. Small planes were taking off into the wind.

A narrow causeway, stone-walled, winds out to the small isle where there are several people with children and dogs braving the wind. There is an area designated for parked cars with antislip covering on its slope.

We pass a fort complete with cannons. The round fort was built around 1540 but reconditioned during the Civil war by James, 7^th earl of Derby whose initials can be seen above the entrance. Today it is all rusting and locked up but you can see through the grilled door.

It looks as if someone mows the paths and despite the wind it is a lovely walk. I watch 2 shell ducks and a cormorant. Tiny 12^th century Norse/celtic St. Michael’s chapel sits roofless as it has done for over 300 years and again you can only see inside through a grilled door.

The black slate rocks at the far end show evidence of violent forces as the strata appears absolutely vertical.  The island has an area of 12.70 acres and is only 400 metres long from west to east. We leave back by the isolated golf course building along the walled causeway.

 

 

We wanted to see if we could get to the Calf of Man. Uninhabited except for wild life, it being a nature reserve, we drove to the nearest point at the Sound Café with craft shops just past Craigneash village. Unfortunately the cafe was closed. Admiring the view though showed us how close the island is, but the Sound is fast moving treacherous water and with strong winds predicted for the duration of our stay it looks like we won’t be able to visit. Small fishing boats do go in the summer from Port Erin and St mary’s but we didn’t see any signs for any trips during our stay.

 

We had a hearty hotpot dinner accompanied by Isle of Man beer in the Bay Hotel and it proved to be our favourite of the holiday. One child could eat free with each adult so there was a family feel to the place and the food and drink was especially tasty.

It was a superb view from our B and B window!