Holyhead to Douglas, IoM

2nd to 4th May
Holyhead-Derby Haven-Douglas
(route http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/130270 )

Photos all over the place! Blogspot website very troublesome.

Briskly over to the Isle of Man

Unhavenly Derby Haven

Best not to look behind you!

You go under this bascule bridge to Douglas Inner Harbour

Peel, from Peel Hill

IoM is heaven for motorcyclists

The Swellies (from train). To be sailed another day.

It's been a busy few days: luckily I located a spare belt for auto helm near Bangor so took train from Holyhead (fine views of Snowdonia with pockets of snow still not thawed), brisk hot walk to Dickies boatyard, train home (ie. Misty), repaired steering, changed engine battery.
Next day a challenging brisk toboggan ride under furled genoa to IoM. F.7 is 'Mist's' limit - and mine! (In case Moody owners tell me they've been through hurricanes, I'd say that it does get tricky when 'Misty' starts to surf wildly, and my mug of tea is toppled on the cockpit floor.)The forecast had suggested less. Derby Haven was a misnomer and it took nearly an hour to secure to a big weedy buoy, having failed to anchor securely. ( I later learn that Jeremy Clarkson owns the lighthouse just outside the 'haven'. His wife is Manx, and there's gossip I don't listen to! He'd lost a court case to divert a right-of-way. Coincidentally, there's no speed limit on IoM open roads...altogether a most peculiar place.)
Phew! There's not much leisure on board.
Reached the peace of Douglas Inner Harbour early Saturday morning. Had day out on bus to Peel (along with hen party hens in pink), a prettier place for visiting yachts I reckon, than Douglas, and there's a fascinating castle, plus Peel Hill to walk on. The Isle of Man is TT mad (the racing is next month) and already thick orange mats are draped round lamp posts and there are red and white pads on walls. DVDs, books, t-shirts and tattoo parlours offer you anything you want in the way of TT interest and art.
As I'll probably never be here again, I'll stay another day to see some more. There's a steam train and electric train and it is a most unusual place! (Photos another time)