Harry's Manx Sea Quest Adventure Snooze Cruise

There is more glorious weather at the moment, so as we had our 3 year old Grandson, Harry for the day, we decided to go to Peel where they were holding the London 360 Viking Longboat Races.

We parked the on the Promenade at about 10:30am and there was a freezing cold wind.

Therefore, we opted to go to Fenella Beach which is on the far side of the causeway to St Patricks Isle underneath the castle. We passed a sign for Manx Sea Quest and a quick telephone call later and we had booked for 11:45.

Fortunately, where we had chosen was sheltered and had top quality castle building sand, though our attempts to introduce Harry into the construction business this were somewhat unsuccessful, though the way he knocked down Irene's entire village showed potential for the demolition industry, we feel.

We spent nearly an hour paddling and watching the dogs swim before heading off to catch our boat.

Manx Sea Quest is run by Marlyn and Bob who were excellent hosts and we cruised South for a while, seeing several puffins, guillemots, shags and lots of other aquatic bird life.

By coincidence that you probably wouldn't believe if it was in a novel, Nobles Hospital anaesthetist and fellow Parish Walker, Keith Wilkinson was on the same trip and he had eaten the previous evening in the Welbeck Hotel Restaurant. His particular interest was photographing the bird life.

Harry had been on a day trip to Chester Zoo the previous day and by this stage, the excitement was just too much for him and this made for a very peaceful cruise.

All sorts of mammals can be spotted off the West coast, including killer whales, minke whales, dolphins and porpoises, not to mention the huge basking sharks but off course, the presence of Irene and me probably ruined it for the rest of the passengers because we saw only one seal and even the ones that usually populate Peel Bay were absent on this occasion.

We still however saw some stunning scenery.

The cost was £25.00 per head (they didn't charge the snoring one) and with waiting for traffic to come in and out of the swing bridge, it took in excess of 2 hours.

The website is www.manxseaquest.com www.manxseaquest.com (sorry I have days when I can do a link on /blogger and days when I can't)and they also have a facebook page and their phone number is 07624 450688.

Another Brilliant Manx Telecom Parish Walk but Without The Welbeck

A very strange feeling at the weekend, as for the very first time since 2003, Irene did not compete in the Parish Walk and for only the second year since then, I too, wasn't among the starters. There was not one walker from The Welbeck in this edition which is very unusual(sorry we couldn't fit you in Chris Moore a very good 17th ) , though Trevor & Linda McDermott did come over to officiate.

I had said I would do an 800m lap of honour in the number 1 shirt but I didn't get to the N.S.C. in the end. I'd like to say this was because I thought the focus should be on this year's competitors because I am such a good bloke but the honest truth is that I overslept and missed my opportunity to pose before the cameras.

Perhaps I saved myself the embarrassment.

I had promised to help the judging team led as usual by London Olympics Chief Race Walk Judge, Steve Taylor and in a moment of complete and utter madness decided the best way to do this would be by bicycle. I wouldn't have attempted to walk 85 miles without training but for some reason I thought doing it on a push bike would be easy.

Early leaders, Chris Cale & Brian Kelly. I'm not sure their early pace was especially wise but the former did hang on to finish 10th.

It was a beautiful sunny day, although it did become a little cool during climb to the highest part of the course in the Sloc and Round Table areas and after the sun went down.

Having made the ascent, huffing and puffing up the hills, I felt able, unlike the other 10 occasions I'd been there to avail myself of an glass of the excellent Bosun Bitter, brewed by Parish Walkers Paul Phillips & Dale Farquahar at the Shore Hotel in Laxey.

They weren't going to let me have one because they said I was cheating by using my mode of transport but I reasoned that actually, they owed me for all the times I hadn't drank one and they relented.

South African Support System. They were there to back up some of the 17 South African competitors rather than prop each other up.

By this point the eventual winner, Richard Gerrard had established what was to prove an unassailable lead, though even he struggled with the effects of the heat during the 3rd quarter of the race.

Winner Richard Gerrard with David Mapp and Sinethemba Bono

Sinethemba was the first African to finish Cape Town's 'Big Walk' in November and his prize, sponsored by Old Mutual Finance for such an achievement was to leave his homeland for the first time, come to the Isle of Man and suffer for 85 miles. He was sucked along with the pacemakers to Rushen and I feared for him when I passed in on the infamous Ballakillowey only less than a quarter of the way into the lap but with much bravery, he toughed it out to finish 16th in 17:46.

First lady home was Janette Morgan who confounded the pundits by easily (though I'm not sure this adverb should be used in any context in a Parish Walk report) beating the champion Janice Quirk, though with her excellent efforts in Roubaix 28 hour 2012, last year's 100 mile walk and her progress over last winter in the shorter events, it should really have been no surprise.

Lighter moments of the day came when I popped into Kirk Michael Filling Station to be asked about the state of play. After I had relayed the first half dozen positions, he said, 'Where's Michael George?' And there I was. |

Just after the hell that is known as Ballajora, I caught another bike rider who was riding a strange contraption with 12" wheels and drop handle bars. It turned out that we were both chasing Richard Gerrard but for different reasons. I needed to be a witness to validate his performance but the other chap had followed the action in 2013 but had been half way along the Promenade when the winner crossed the line and he didn't want to miss the climax. On this occasion I kept quiet.

There are many businesses that remain open during the event, though I suspect it is more for community involvement rather than to make their fortune. One of which is the café at the Dhoon. As I waited for my cup of tea, the lady serving enquired about the leading positions. 'It that fellow from the Welbeck not doing it this year?' to much laughter from the queue.

I could write for many hours about this year's Manx Telecom Parish Walk but time has beaten me. There is lots of coverage on www.parishwalk.com or buy this week's Manx Independent http://www.iomtoday.co.im/

Bradda Hill Walk-a-Blog and Lunch with Mr McGuiness

We seem to be receiving a strange old mixture of weather at the moment with probably more than the traditional four seasons in one day.

Last Sunday was my first full day off for a while, so although we had a family BBQ with my sister and some visiting relatives planned for the afternoon, we wanted to ensure that we made full use of it especially with the decent weather forecast.

The plan this time was to walk up Bradda Head, Bradda Hill and down to Fleshwick before coming back to Port Erin to complete the circle.

Firstly, having driven up to the Glen, we walked past the café and along the sea side of the path. There are actually quite a few different ways to access Milner's Tower which was built in the shape of a lock in honour of Liverpool safe maker and locksmith, William Milner who was a great benefactor to the village.

I had always understood the Village Commissioners had ran out of money and he had had to finish the project himself but in researching for this blog, I found that it was supposed to have been a secret but he found out and insisted that he help with the finance but I don't know which is true.

A Welbeck connection is that a descendant, Ray Milner stayed in the Hotel in the 1990s when he brought cricket team to the Island.

This section of the journey took us about half an hour and you can climb up the 40 steps to the top and the view is tremendous. There is much evidence of disused mines in the area, as well as a World War Two gun emplacement.

If you thought this was the end of the ascent, you will be sadly mistaken as it is quite a hike up to the cairn which marks the top of Bradda Hill. The first time that Irene and I came up this route, very inexperienced, it was in November and we had packed the kids off to my mother and father in an attempt to walk to Dalby where there used to be a hotel called the Ballacallin.

Our guide book of the Raad-ny-Foillan (literally Road of the Gull or the Coastal Path) told us our trip encompassed three peaks, our current pace of being, Lhiattee Ny Beinnee, and Cronk Ny Arrey Laa. Of course with it being deep Autumn in the Island, the weather had gradually worsened on the way down and by the time we passed Milners Tower we couldn't even see the sheer drops to our left and the paths became streams.

We became totally disorientated and by the time we found the stack of stones, we thought we had completed the three peaks and were nearly at our destination. Therefore, it came as a complete shock as we descended to find that we had only reached Fleshwick, barely a 30 minute walk from Port Erin. |Needless to say after becoming very cold eating our packed lunch on the bench looking at the sea, we abandoned trying to do the other two hills, found a pub for a couple of hot whiskeys and finished our journey by bus.

No such problem on this occasion as you can see.

The drop down to sea level is very steep, so you need a certain degree of fitness, not to mention strength and flexibility for this walk. Fleshwick bay itself is very peaceful and if you are lucky, basking sharks will come in quite close (as they do in Port Erin Bay itself from time to time.)

On the way back to the village, you walk back along the road for a little while and if you take the first footpath on the right you miss out the hill but also on a very interesting garden obviously tended by someone with much experience in topiary and collecting strange artefacts.

Either way, after a short time, you end up in the same place back on to tarmac and the final mile or so takes you past some fine houses, though it is possible to cut across the golf course. One of the poorer aspects of walking on the Island is that unfortunately, very few of the public footpaths actually inform you of their destination.

The round trip took us about an hour and a half, though you may be better allowing a little more time to stop and enjoy the views. Luckily, the new Bradda Glen Café has just re-opened and there cannot be many more wonderful places in the World to sit outside on a sunny day. Our lunch wasn't perfect but allowances would probably have to be made for it being their first day.

In the background in my final photograph, you can just make out the famous Thomas family who stay with us every TT but nearer to the camera is a certain John McGuinness whose injured wrist wasn't preventing him wolfing down his sandwich and scones.

Wonder The Percy Cat

A Non-Welbeck Blog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-QhipEhakA

Now Irene's cat, Percy has never been revered as the most intelligent member of any species by our household (witness video above) but I'm starting to think that maybe she has been misjudged or undervalued.

Very early last Sunday morning, I felt the customary swipe of her paw against my foot, telling me that I needed to get out of bed.

In honesty, I was a bit miffed because, I hadn't been there that long and was due into work at 7.00am but with her second reminder, I grumpily jumped from my comfort, ran downstairs and opened our front door.

If we can't find the remote control, Percy, from now on we'll just ask Percy.

There I was, stood with the wind whipping through, in my boxer shorts, freezing cold and Percy nowhere to be seen.

Eventually, I decided to go through to the kitchen, thinking that perhaps she had no food and that's why she had woken me.

However! Flipper can just get back to fishing, Skippy can bounce off into the Bush and Lassie can go home because Percy was sat at the back door, staring at the gate which I evidently hadn't properly closed!

What next?

Maiow! What's that Percy? Tree down in Woodburn Square! Okay I'll be right there. Maiow! What's that Percy? Sha's cats have escaped and are threatening to rob the local jewellers!

Harry obviously picked up on Percy's superpowers long before we did as they can be seen here in deep conversation.

Absolutely Sound

I've written about the Meayll Peninsula before(and walking round it) but was shocked to discover that it was just over three years ago and having read my efforts http://michaelswelbeckblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/meayll-peninsula.html I reckon I can add a little to it, especially photographically.

Irene & I set off from Douglas, opting to take the bus this time. It costs £5.70 each return to Port Erin (or that zone)

A couple of herring gulls perching above the old marine biological centre.

Having just had a knee operation just over two weeks before this walk and also because I stopped to take so many photographs, this time the journey times were 1 hour(3 years ago just 45min) to the Sound Cafe and a further hour and a half from there to Port Erin, though we do still maintain a fair pace, so allow a little longer if you are not used to this type of terrain or if you like to break off to enjoy the views, flora or fauna.

I've been slightly disappointed with the quality of photograph from my i-phone 5c but my daughter patiently explained (yes right) that I've inadvertently being using the wrong setting, so you'll have to imagine the colours.

As I alluded to earlier, this walk is at times challenging under foot, particularly if there has been rain and there are places where it is muddy and others where you have to rock-hop a little. On the section between the Sound and Port St. Mary, there is a particularly steep hill, so it would require a certain level of fitness and though I have done this route with young children, be warned that you could end up carrying them at times.

The Calf Sound is one of the most visited areas on the Island and there is a cafe which is supposed to blend into its surroundings and therefore looks a bit like the Telly Tubby House but does generally provide decent food and drinks.

Invariably you will be able to see seals on Kitterland (small islet between mainland and the calf) and they often swim right up to the rocks, so there is an opportunity to get quite close to them if you fancy a bit of a climb.

On the way around Spanish Head you also pass the Chasms which is well worth the detour if you have the time.

On this occasion, we didn't follow the footpath right along the coast into the village because my aforementioned joint was starting to ache a little, so we sneaked between the golf course, missing Perwick Bay where there used to be a hotel.

You can eat at Port St. Mary in the golf club and there is also a cafe about a mile further along the coast, though on this occasion, we opted for the Albert Hotel which is a pub.

Unfortunately, the other pub, the Bay View is closed at the moment

The cat walk which runs over the beach which was damaged in the winter storms but is apparently now re-opened.

If you have left your vehicle in Port Erin, there are two ways which should get you there in about 15 to 20 minutes, though the bus and the train do run directly from Port St. Mary.

Harry Birthday Happy!

Almost unimaginable that it could be three years today since Lucy's twins, Harry & Christopher were born and that the premature tiny sack of breathing bones could have grown to be a fully fledged monster with such alacrity!

Last Saturday, Irene, Harry and I made the trip to Silverdale Glen which is situated probably about a mile outside Ballasalla (which is a 20 minute drive from The Welbeck) and it's a lovely walk via Rushen Abbey if you've travelled by bus or train.

There is a boating lake, (not yet open last Saturday) a mixture of businesses (more of which later) a large field with picnic area, some pretty areas to walk around and of course the main purpose of our visit, the children's play area, the main feature of which is a Victorian Carousel built in 1890. This roundabout is powered by a water wheel originally from the Foxdale mines.

Not the best picture, I'm afraid but most of my time was spent chasing Harry, so it was a matter of positioning myself to block the routes of escape/danger rather than finding the best photographic angle.

The buildings are part of an old mill and there has always been a cafe which has enjoyed varying degrees of success. They make their own ice cream but their menu is somewhat limited at the moment. https://www.facebook.com/SilverdaleGlen

Our view while we enjoyed a pot of tea and an ice cream outside

Over the course of the last ten years or so other businesses have opened and there is a gallery: garrettsgallery.webs.com run by local artist, Karl Garrett.

There is a studio where you can paint your own ceramics and pottery: www.craftworks-studio.co.uk/

On the level of the boating lake is Dolittle's which houses a small selection of animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs that you and the children can stroke as well as a big selection of toys for the little ones who haven't the slightest interest in small furry things (no names mentioned ;) )They had a little puppy too. The cost was £2 per adult and £1 per child.



There will also be a shop selling hand made and second hand toys opening in the near future.



Whilst I was trawling the internet looking for information, links and perhaps some photos better than my my feeble efforts with my phone, I found a virtual tour of Silverdale. Have a look:

http://www.vrisleofman.co.uk/isle-of-man-virtual-tour/Silverdale-Glen.html

Mayhem in the Curraghs Wild Harry Park

It's a hard job being a grandparent as I referred to a few weeks ago but as we find it marginally easier to have our monster out of the house rather than creating mayhem inside it, it is giving us opportunity to keep current with our various tourist attractions.

A few weeks ago, we added to the Wildlife Park at the Curraghs by visiting with Harry. We did leave it a little late in the day but I suggested that we had to go because we'd told him we would. Irene didn't think he'd really be bothered because last time we had been, albeit a year earlier and not nearly three, he took no notice of them whatsoever.

I was on the verge of agreeing with Irene, a moment later a voice piped up from the back seat, "Amnals! Amnals! I want to see the amnals!" and off we went, 'Amnals, Amnals!' all the way and he didn't seem to believe we were going there at all!

gov.im/categories/leisure-and-entertainment/curraghs-wildlife-park



(New website coming later this week on )

Of course, people who have read my previous blog will probably have already gathered what happened next.

A portrait of our Grandson Harry.

Having shelled out the best part of £20, we had a look at the first display which is the Humboldt penguins and his next words were, 'Gaddad's car! Gaddad's car! I want to go to Gaddad's car!' (Note I am 'Daddad' no more!)

'You will see the blooming Amnals and you will enjoy it!'

I think we lasted just over an hour before his determination to take us in every direction but the one we wanted to go and see everything but the 'Amnals' in wore us down.

However, there is a lot to see and on Sundays, there is also a mini railway run by volunteers.

The play park is now a much bigger and in a new area than when we used to take our children and they have extended the outside area of the cafe.