Sunrise on Marine Drive

This post is especially for our friend Caroline who is unfortunately, one of those SAD people whose mood is greatly affected by the long dark nights stealing our mornings and early evenings during the winter.

Spring is officially on the way! Over the last three weeks on Wednesday mornings, thanks to Alex & Nina taking the strain at the Hotel, I've been up and instead of going to work, hitting the road to go training.

One of my favourite place walk is the Marine Drive, so taking advantage of the quiet roads at such an hour, I usually I head out along the Old Castletown Road (Can the New Castletown Road really still be described as such. Perhaps they should be renamed the 'Ancient' and 'Middle-Aged') through Port Soderick Village, before turning on to the road where the railway station is and towards the sea.

For those uninitiated to the Island, the great attraction of the route for the sportsperson, apart from the beautiful views is that because of rockfalls in the 60s and 70s, a small section is closed to through traffic, so that you can exercise in pace and relative safety.



Unfortunately, it has also greatly restricted the bay as a tourist attraction and although it remains very pretty, there are now no facilities, the buildings deteriorate and childhood memories of a vibrant little resort fade in the memory.



Every Wednesday, it is brighter and so, Caroline, there really is light at the end of the tunnel; in fact a blooming great big one called the Sun. Not having to rush back home yesterday enabled me to take these photographs on my mobile 'phone but I can tell you that although we've been far luckier than the U.K. with our weather over the last few days, it was far too cold to hang around.

The last few pictures show the 'Broogs,' at Little Ness, the favourite place of my Dutch friends Martijn, Cisca and Alex who are returning once again to compete in the Parish Walk after being absent since 2009. This time they are bringing another of their compatriots who will be attempting our 85 mile course for the first time, Antoine Hunting. We will also be joined by Belgian walker, Ludo Schaerlaeckens who will be travelling with his wife Martine.