Day 12 Ireland Ardglass with a Stowaway
We had a fantastic calm night anchored in Aberdaron Bay. It was lovely and I would have liked to have had the time to go ashore. We left at around 7am and we were heading for Ardglass. No surprise but it was misty with no wind to speak of, that probably explains the lovely night we had.
We rounded the headland and were on our way, the ETA was 6pm. At around 9am I called the harbour to let them know we were coming, the harbour is very small with not much water and I wanted them to keep a space big enough for us. The harbour master said "just come there is plenty of room" Nigel had warned us that he was over eighty and he was and did not inspire confidence.
The trip was very uneventful as we we in thick fog but at about 9am I was buzzed by a small sparrow, eventually it plucked up enough courage to land. The poor bird had found itself lost in the fog at sea with nowhere to go. Through out the day it tried all sorts of positions in the boat electing to travel for some of the time on the transom. The bird remained with us for about 8 hours but sadly it flew away when we were about an hour away from Ireland.
We arrived in Ardglass at about ten past six, the sat nave was remarkably accurate. Graham called the golf club but they had the Presidents dinner that evening so guests were not welcome. There was nothing else in town except a burger/pizza shack - not very appealing. The golf club recommended a pub in the next village. It said that they stopped selling food at 8pm so Graham called them. The owner was delighted to hear from us and even sent a driver to collect us. "That will br £5 please", well who ever head of a taxi fare for £5 these days? Can we have your number for the return journey we enquired, no need he replied I will be in the bar!
The food was great, the service excellent and tomorrow we were only going 30 miles to Bangor so a short sail for a change.
We rounded the headland and were on our way, the ETA was 6pm. At around 9am I called the harbour to let them know we were coming, the harbour is very small with not much water and I wanted them to keep a space big enough for us. The harbour master said "just come there is plenty of room" Nigel had warned us that he was over eighty and he was and did not inspire confidence.
The trip was very uneventful as we we in thick fog but at about 9am I was buzzed by a small sparrow, eventually it plucked up enough courage to land. The poor bird had found itself lost in the fog at sea with nowhere to go. Through out the day it tried all sorts of positions in the boat electing to travel for some of the time on the transom. The bird remained with us for about 8 hours but sadly it flew away when we were about an hour away from Ireland.
We arrived in Ardglass at about ten past six, the sat nave was remarkably accurate. Graham called the golf club but they had the Presidents dinner that evening so guests were not welcome. There was nothing else in town except a burger/pizza shack - not very appealing. The golf club recommended a pub in the next village. It said that they stopped selling food at 8pm so Graham called them. The owner was delighted to hear from us and even sent a driver to collect us. "That will br £5 please", well who ever head of a taxi fare for £5 these days? Can we have your number for the return journey we enquired, no need he replied I will be in the bar!
The food was great, the service excellent and tomorrow we were only going 30 miles to Bangor so a short sail for a change.
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A stowaway!