Tuesday 5 September
Douglas
Ferry from Liverpool across to Douglas.
Went past Crosby as we went out to sea - could see the Gormley men in the distance.
Went for a walk along the prom.
Drink at the bar Norman Wisdom used to frequent - next to the theatre.
Some proper cinema seats and beautiful glass panels.
Last seen in Redcliffe, Oz where they lived 😁
Wednesday 6 September
Douglas
Beautiful sunrise - from the hotel room 😁
Sitting with Norman 😁
The TT exhibition was fascinating.
Went to have a look at the Camera Obscura but it was closed until the weekend. But chance to have a walk round Douglas Head and look at the fab views.
So much for PAT testing 🙄🫣
Thursday 7 September
Port Erin
Went back to Douglas by car in order to take the electric train up to Snaefell.
Got there just as the horse tram arrived so we had a ride up and down the prom on that whilst waiting for the train.
Electric tram up to Laxey.
Snaefell. 2036' above sea level. Windy!
Beautiful views but couldn't see across to Anglesey as a bit misty.
Walk to the Laxey Wheel.
Mike went to the end.
Mike climbed to the top.
Used to pump up water from flooded mine shafts where they were mining for lead and zinc ore.
Capable of pumping 250 gallons per minute from a depth of 1,500'.
Friday 8 September
Port Erin
Making the most of the weather before it changes we set off for a walk round the bay to Milner tower on Bradda head. We could see it from our side of the bay.
Mike walked round by road until he found the 'easy' route at the top of the hill. I followed the steep up and down cliff path with the beautiful views.
A lovely walk but I came back the easy way with Mike 🥵
Back for a shower before taking the car to the bottom of the island.
Calf of Man.
Very beautiful. Some groups of seals playing in the sunshine.
Back in the car to Cregneash - living village showing life in the 19/20th century - through the eyes of those who lived in the village
Then off to Castletown to see the castle but we were too late as it had closed. Another time.
The car had only been left for about 20 minutes but it was obviously in the sun at 37⁰! It cooled down to a more respectable 24⁰ when we set off.
Port Erin station just in the corner of where we are staying is where the steam train starts and ends its journey between here and Douglas. Not bothered about taking the trip but nice to see the little engine.
Meal in the hotel using our voucher. Surprisingly nice.
Early night. Both shattered 🥱😴
Saturday 9 September
Port Erin
Another attempt to see the Camera Obscura thwarted when we got the times wrong again 🙄
But as we went past the Gaiety Theatre we saw that the doors were open so we went for a look round - and were told that we'd missed the tour so we couldn't go in.
I asked if we could just look round the foyer so we did - and Mike promptly vanished off upstairs whilst I stayed in sight of the man in the ticket office and pretended to be talking to Mike as though he was still there 🤣
Mike reappeared after a few minutes and we said thanks and goodbye to the unsuspecting ticket seller 😁
Then on to Laxey to look round the beach and promenade. Very misty but loads of people on the beach and swimming as it was so warm. Quite surreal really.
A walk to the village - but the long way round up a very steep hill 🥵🤣
Happy accident - found King Orry's burial site then ended up at the Laxey annual duck race.
As we were driving back the electric train was on the track at the side of us.
We then had to stop while it crossed over the road in front of us.
A quick look round the small railway museum then onto the platform when we heard the steam train getting shackled up for its last trip of the day back to Douglas - pulling the carriages backwards.
Mike was allowed up on the plate to take some pics.
Cocktails in the sun back at the Foraging Vintners then fish and chips and a lovely sunset.
Sunday 10 September
Yesterday was supposed to be misty and drizzly but turned into a beautiful day later. Today the forecast was for lightning ⚡but we weren't too bothered as we were moving from the bottom of the island further up the coast.
But first of all back to Douglas again to see the Camera Obscura - third time lucky!
This one worked with 11 stationary cameras showing nearly a 360⁰ view.
If you peered into the darkness inside each little section you could see the mirror things at the top which were projecting the real life views from outside.
Interesting to see but not much happening other than a man in an orange T-shirt chatting on his mobile. We were able to spy on him as he finished his call and went off up the hill though - very funny.
The info on the board outside made us laugh.
You can see the flaps for the cameras on the top of the roof.
Drove the length of the Marine Drive. Lots of walkers looking for minke whales. I spotted a dolphin.
Beautiful scenery.
Decided to zig zag across to Peel as we had plenty of time.
Back on the TT race track route. Seems like a lot of the direction signs stay up all year.
Had a walk round and decided to get a bit of food shopping on our way back to the car - to save having to look for somewhere when we arrived at our apartment Ramsey.
Throwing it down with rain when we came out 🙄
Peel Castle.
Need to find out more about this Fenella lady at Peel Castle.
Off we went to Ramsey.
Ramsey
Went for a walk in between the rain showers.
We are staying right on the TT route.
Monday 11 September
Ramsey
Some interesting facts about the TT races (well I thought so 😁):
* The bike races started on the IoM over 100 years ago as they were forbidden by act of parliament to race on the roads in Britain and the Manx Government was more lax. Originally set up for cars in 1905 with bikes a year later in the Gordon Bennett trials.
* The TT races proper (Tourist Trophy) began in 1911. The original track was largely set up on farmers' fields with the first rider opening all the gates and the last rider closing them.
* There have been 267 deaths since 1911.
* Drivers start at 10 second intervals using a time trial format to minimise risk.
* Many drivers go to Fairy Bridge to leave an offering or greet the fairies for luck.
* The locals on the island rely on the TT fortnight to supplement their income.
* Those who wish to compete have to qualify through several races on closed roads in Ireland.
* Course is 37.73 miles long with over 200 curves for the riders to memorise.
* As the roads weren't built for racing they are just the normal asphalt with uneven bits, traffic lights, lamp posts, curbs, trees etc which the riders need to factor in and navigate.
* So many people are needed to plan and police the event that it wouldn't be possible without the volunteer track marshalls.
* The only way to ensure a quick response to medical emergencies is for the doctors to follow the last competitor in each event - at near race speeds!
* Most TT participants hold down regular jobs such as plumbers, truck mechanics etc for the rest of the year.
* First seven days are trial and practice and second seven days are actual races.
* Different events ( there are 7 classes) have different lap numbers so are varying lengths.
* On race days there is a small window when traffic can flow as normal. Then there is a special time when all those who wish to ride the course can do so.
All very interesting!
A grey, drizzly day - even the tide was out ☔
A leisurely morning then a walk to the Grove museum - a Victorian house bought by the Gibb family from Liverpool in the early 19th century and used by the family as a holiday home. The two spinster Gibb sisters who lived in it until their deaths in the 1970s left it to the IoM trust with the proviso that they must always keep the bees in their hives and the ducks in the pond 😁
Original wallpaper. Early William Morris.
Old sewing machines.
Sewing patterns.
Tennis outfit.
Tuesday 12 September
Ramsey
The weather was better with intermittent sunshine so off we went to Peel.
Lots of kerbs along the TT route are painted black and white.
And some of the spectator scaffoldings are still up.
Some trees, bridges and monuments have padding around them.
We went to the Mannanan museum in Peel. Really interesting and took loads of pics - which have disappeared! Phone was playing up so not sure what happened. Lots of great interactive and immersive displays showing how the IoM developed and changed over the years.
Lunch - queenies and crab sandwiches.
Peel castle.
Walked to the cathedral but it was covered in scaffold and we couldn't get in.
Back home for a rest then a walk down to the pier.
Also covered in scaffold and undergoing extensive refurbishment.
Last minute decision to see if we could see the shipwrecked freight ship ST Passages on the beach at Jurby - visible at low tide.
.. but it was an hour past low tide and we weren't sure where to park to get to the beach 🙄
It was just below the cliff by the church but we couldn't get down there.
We eventually found somewhere to park and walked a mile along the beach. Most of the wreck was submerged but Mike managed to get some pics of the little bit which was showing.
The beautiful sunset was a bonus.
Wednesday 13 September
Ramsey
The sunshine was back so off we went to the top of the island.
First stop was Bride to have a look round. Pretty little church - quite by chance we saw that Norman Wisdom was buried there
Typical Manx thatched cottage - and another one waiting for a new thatch.
Point of Ayre lighthouse.
Had a little wander in the sunshine and picked some blackberries. Quite a few people coming and going - and some bikers from Norway with a drone 😁
The gorse and the heather were just gorgeous.
Good day for a picnic - though we had it in the car to keep out of the wind.
Then the clouds rolled in and it started to drizzle.
We went back to Jurby to look for the proper path down to the beach near the wrecked boat.
It was just two minutes downs track then a few hundred yards to the headland instead of the two mile hike we took yesterday from the opposite direction 🤣
But there was no point in walking to it in the rain as the tide was high.
Back to the digs to wash a load of blackberries ready to take them home to make IoM bramble jelly 🤣
Thursday 14 September
Ramsey
.. and look what we missed last night!.. 🙄
Taken down at the beach and visible by eye apparently. But in our defence it was cloudy at 10.30pm and this was taken at 2.30am 😁
At Peel.
Packed and out for 9am.
Lovely drive over part of the TT track on our way back to Douglas. Beautiful scenery.
Douglas
Decided to have a ride along the coast to Onchan beach to pass a couple of hours before the ferry.
Pretty little cove but no beach café so we drove a bit further on to Laxey beach where we knew there was a good cafe with a pretty view.
Then back to Douglas. One of the first in the queue for the ferry. Pulled into the shed thing for a random check - a pat down for us and the underside of the car checked.
Home
Sea a bit choppy and ferry a bit slow - think the Mannanan had lost one of its engines. But still made good time.
Home
Home about 8pm. What a great holiday 👍😁
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