Storms hit Douglas and a trip round the TT course

The change in the weather last night was dramatic. First the rain started, then came the gales. We knew we were in for a soaking when the hotel barometer dropped to storm conditions.

When we came down to breakfast, the first thing to greet us was this.

Couldn't finish breakfast quick enough to get outside and take some shots. At one point the waves breached the sea wall and flooded the promenade, sending these barriers skating toward the car park.

With high tide still to come, the waves were brilliant. Most exhilarating to stand outside watching the full force of the tide. Took some photos in burst mode and also managed to get the photos from one of our Gadabouts bedroom window. Wish I had had that room!

From the second floor window.

 I could have stayed to watch for hours, but our coach trip round the TT course was booked for 10am. I would have loved to do this circuit on one of the motorbike trikes advertised, but the driver of the coach certainly put his foot down in places and both of us enjoyed every minute. Took some photos from the coach and only of the 'beware' sharp bend signs. This in itself was difficult when travelling at 50 mph. So this is the best I could do, I'm afraid.

 

Don't expect the racers to appreciate the views

Snaefel

The stands

So this was our last day on the Island. What a fabulous place and one I highly recommend for a visit.
Back to the UK first thing, and hopefully we won't have to experience the conditions that these poor people had to suffer on the crossing this morning.

Seven Kingdoms.

With us buying an explorer ticketfor £20 each at the beginning of the holiday, which enabled us to go to all the Heritage sites on the Island, we decided to take the electric train back to Snaefel for a coffee at the top of the mountain. Seemed a bit eccentric but that ticket had already paid for itself two fold so coffee and cake at the top was a luxury we could afford. The weather wasn't quite as good as when we went last Thursday (sun and showers) but still clear enough to see all around. It’s the only place in the British Isles where you can see the seven kingdoms, (Mann, Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of the sea) just by turning around.

We then stopped at Laxey, caught the electric train to South Cape and walked down to the beach and harbour.

All very well walking down but those that go down must come up and by George it was a steep climb back up. Once at the station, which is a request stop so stick out your arm and hope it stops, we all had a welcome breather and managed to make the shelter just before the rain came. A spectacular rainbow appeared while waiting for the train and it was then that Ian decided to walk down the track to see if it was coming. Sure enough it came round the corner and Ian had to leg it back.

Reaching Douglas we caught the bus to Rushey Monastery, a 25 minute ride away. Of all the attractions we have seen on the Island this was the most disappointing. Most of the explenations were set up for children and I felt the look of the monastery was spoilt by the board walk around the ruins. Still it didn't cost us anything (thank you explorer ticket) and the bus ride was pleasant taking us through parts of the island we wouldn't otherwise have seen.

See what I mean about the board walk.

Exciting day tomorrow. As its our last day on the Island the coach is taking us around the TT race course. Hopefully a bit more sedately then the normal 100 mile plus the bikers do!

To the Sound and the seals

The rain fell relentlessly last night. Was woken several times by water pouring from the gutters onto the fire escape below. Flooding even occurred over parts of the Island. Thankfully it didn't stop us having our day out today. The weather front moved off towards the UK leaving a sunny but windy day behind and on the agenda....... take the steam train to Port Erin and then a bus to the Sound, a southerly point of the Island, to view the seals. So this is more of a photo blog then the written word but I will tell you that it wasn't all plain sailing at one point when we didn't read the bus timetable correctly and missed the last bus! Ended up walking a couple of miles back to the train station! Down hill all the way and views spectacular but oh the aching feet. Still we made it back in time for dinner and the start of Strictly so all was not lost.

No Ian has not turned into a mountain goat, Just setting up the camera for a shot of the Seals.

Next stop  Cregneash – a living museum which shows what life was like in the 19th Century Manx crofting community, and was also where we missed the bus. It was after 2 hours of wandering round  when realisation hit and we knew that the bus wasn't coming.

First sighting of a Manx cat

 

 

Had 6 minutes to spare when catching the train at Port of S Marys