As kayaking is one of our favourite pastimes, I managed to reserve an evening paddle from Peel with Keirron Tastagh from www.adventurousexperiences.com .
Of course, I was very proud of actually managing to organise something in my life but it only occurred to me afterwards that the 5pm start would be smack bang in the middle of Wimbledon Final.
Cue 'Operation Media Blackout!' (And the use of Sky Plus ;) )
This required turning off all the mobile data and wi-fi from our telephones and Irene and I catching a bus to the middle of nowhere, which in this case, we deemed to be Glen Mooar.
After a quick trip down the lane to the beach, we opted to join the old Northern Railway Line to walk back to Peel. At least we tried to opt to join it but actually ended going around the Glen as we missed the turn off to find the end of the old viaduct. Now I've been on this route at least twice before and I was pretty sure that it was almost immediately after you go through the gate but even on our second lap, we failed to discover the correct way to go.
The Manx Northern Railway was opened in 1879 and must have been the most spectacular of our network but was unfortunately, never a financial success and closed in 1952. It does remain as a pathway except for the viaducts which have long since been dismantled.
It travelled along the inland side of the road until it tunnels (has to be the longest tunnel on the Island?) under it onto the sea side not far before the Devils Elbow.
Unfortunately, the footpath has not been very well maintained and where the drainage, which in fairness must be very difficult because it is in cutting at this stage, is very poor and it is extremely overgrown and wet under foot.
Instead of running through to Peel, it turns towards St Johns at St. Germains Station and so we rejoined the road. With a little more time in hand, we would only have had to be on tarmac for a few hundred metres before you join the clifftop path at 'White Strand' and it is a lovely walk along the headland and then onto the Promenade.
However, hunger and thirst had struck and the minutes were disappearing, so we had a toastie and a pint of beer outside the Peveril, having taken the direct road.
I'd approached the bar sideways and must have appeared a little shifty, hardly making eye contact, so I had to apologise to the barmaid as it was all in an effort to ensure I didn't accidentally see the tennis score.
Because there were some very inexperienced kayakers in our group, we entered the water in our boats in the harbour, just opposite Fenella Beach, so we could all get the hang of propelling our vessels in the direction required without sinking ourselves or anyone else.
We journeyed around the bay, along the beach and around the cliffs to the old swimming pool at Traie Fogog beach, where we stopped for a rest and a well earned flapjack. Or in my case, three well earned flapjacks - I did make sure no one else wanted them. Honest!
We retraced our paddle strokes back to where we had began before jettisoning one lady who was a little nervous about rounding the Castle and headed off past the Breakwater, avoiding being hooked by any of the fishermen/women.
By far my favourite part of the evening was managing to catch a wave, surfing in to Fenella beach but any chance of appearing to be a cool expert canoe dude, disappeared when I didn't alter my steering quite quickly enough and ended up with a bit of a dunk in the Irish Sea. Superb fun!
At £55 each, it isn't perhaps going to become a weekly hobby but with almost 3 hours on the water, I think it represents good value.
Back in our vehicle, we endured radio silence on the drive home and finally sat down to watch Mssrs Djokovic and Federer just after 9pm, having successfully managed to avoid any mention of it.
A great day out!
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