We left the Island of Gigha in Scotland on the 26 June and crossed over to Northern Ireland where we called in at Glenarm, Bangor and Strangford Lough. Some of you may recognise the electricity generator below which has been shown on the Coast programmes and one with James May who was standing on it with the turbine out of the water. It is sited in the entrance to Strangford Lough.

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Note the current speeding past it. We sailed up to the north west end of the lough and were made most welcome at the Down Cruising Club which is an old light ship. Saturday evening we tavelled down to Strangford and picked up a mooring belonging to a local pub whose name escapes me at the moment. We had an enjoyable meal there before returning to the boat for the night. Being in Strangford at the entrance to the lough we were well placed for departure as the tide turned and ebbed the next morning. 

The Down Cruising Club House.

Sunday 01 August we left Strangford and headed east to Castletown on the southern tip of the Ilse of Mann and we stayed here until the Wednesday. 

Monday we hopped on the steam train to Douglas and on the Tuesday we cycled to Port St Mary and Port Erin. Douglas was a nice place with lots there to see and do.

This shot is of Rushen castle in Castletown. The building on the left is the current police station. Castletown was recommended to us as opposed to St Mary's, and when we saw the marina in Douglas we were glad we listened to them. It was a bit messy with lots of rubbish in the water, all the rubbish from the quay side gets blow in. Not to mention some of the boats which need to be removed to make it look more inviting not just to the boating fraternity but general tourist's also.

Wednesday we headed South to Conwy in Wales when we cycled in to Conwy on the Thursday.

We left Conwy marina early Friday 06 August and stayed for the day at Beaumaris on Anglesey before passing through the Menai Straights, going under the Menai and Brittania bridges, and on to Caernarfon where we were moored next to the castle.

Saturday 07 August. Dee's youngest sister (Hilary) together with her husband Neil and their daughter Amelia, brought Dee's mum and dad to see us in Caernarfon for the day.

Then on the Sunday her other sister Melony and her husband Martin and kids Rebecca, Christopher and Jessica spent the day with us on their way to Shell island for a weeks camping.

Monday the day started out raining again but by lunch time it had brightened up and we did Caernarvon Castle.

We left Caernarvon on the Wednesday and called at Bardsey island but didn't like the anchorage so we pressed on to Shell Island where Melony and her family were camping and we spent Thursday with them. 

Friday the 13th we travelled down to Barmouth where we stayed until the Monday. Its open day at the life boat station on Sunday so Ieuan will be happy for the day. Not that he's not anyway, but he's a life boat fanatic. After the life boat station and watching them launch the boats we went swimming. Barmouth has a nice little sailing club right next to the quay side where you can use the showers and toilets.

Monday we sailed to Fishguard just for the night whilst we waited for the tide to get a safe passage through Ramsey Sound the next day. Tuesday on to Skomer Island for 2 nights again, yes we called there at the start of our holiday. Dee and Ieaun went ashore again to view the birds but they said it wasn't as good as in April because most of the birds, especially the puffins, had gone and there were no seals on the beach where we moored like in April.

Thursday Castlebeach Bay in Milford Haven for one night and then on to Tenby where we stayed until Tuesday the 24 August. We were going to leave on the Sunday but it was open day at the life boat station for which Ieuan wanted to stay. Also a boat named Amazon out of Milford Haven joined us on the wall on the Saturday. One of the crew heard Ieaun playing the ukalele and I mentioned that he normally plays the trombone.

He said that Carmarthen Symphonic Wind Band of which he was a member was playing in the town on the Sunday morning and asked would he like to play. A quick phone call and they brought a bass trombone with them and he made a guest appearance. He's at the back on the right under the flower basket.

Tuesday 24 August we sailed from Tenby over to Illfracombe for 2 nights and we left there on the Friday morning arriving home in the evening.

And they all lived happily ever after.