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Ray Fitzsimmons
Wednesday morning dawned quite overcast and damp. So with heavy legs He dragged himself to the Groudle Glen railway tram stop. Realising that the first bus, of only two that call there, was due. He boarded and acquired a day ticket for £7.00 intending to travel a triangular route, St. Marys, Port Erin, Peel, back to Douglas.
The ride to Port Erin via St. Marys was by double decker bus. Sitting atop, at the front, was very entertaining with many a sharp bend and roller coaster roads, taken with over confidence by the driver (maybe an ex TT rider!) Wonder if he greeted the little people residing on Fairy Bridge. Ray did plus a quick Hail Mary under his breath.
Port Erin welcomed him with a stiff breeze blowing from the sea. Hats off to John Rowell whom he noticed riding into town from the bus. A brisk walk around the town to the Prom, postcards sent, coffee drank and hello's to Traders patching and repairing the cafes and shops preparing for the season to come.
Back on the bus to St. Marys and its cosy arched bus shelter built into a wall. He loves those seaside settlements, the buildings, harbours, ozone wafting from the ocean and the sturdy sense of permanence.
He had to make sure of reaching Castletown for a connection to Peel. By this time the school day was ending and the bus was rather full, some of the pupils having quite a long journey to Cowley Hill Farms. Peel was reached via St. Johns and part of the TT Course. Peel prom was bathed in sunshine. Acontrast to the sart of the day. The view across the Prom to the Castle was a delight. Poor old Peel is quite run down and some parts are quite derelict. What would bring investment and change to this place? To him it felt very isolated and frontier like but great light and big sky reminded him of St. Ives in Cornwall.
Soon on the road back to Douglas via Tynwald Hill, Crosby and Union Mills. A no 3 bus was joined which travelled via Onchan to the Liverpool Arms just in time to rendezvous with the rest of the gang.
Bruce
Great plans were made for a ride around Douglas using one of the routes in the excellent island cycle guide. On reaching Douglas the weather had really turned foul with high winds and rain, so all retreated to the Steam Railway cafe for a brew. Brenda, Bruce and Maggie decided that another lesson in how to cycle in pouring rain and high winds could be put off for another day and that stocking the bungalow up with culinary delights would suffice for the day. So off we went to Tesco and managed to load 33% of the store into our panniers! The results were magnificent, a superb poached fresh salmon dish with all the trimmings, sausage jumble and chicken Provencal. All accompanied with an excellent choice of wines. These gourmet offerings coupled with the excellent home cooking of the Liverpool Arms fed us well for the week.
Brenda Saturday Douglas to Peel
We decided to go on the cycle path along the old railway track. Great I thought - no hills! Little did I know what lay in store! It was raining so we were all kitted out in our rain gear (which was very fortunate for me!). The start of the trail was tarmac and all was going well. There were a large number of scout groups walking the trail with their leaders and they were all surprisingly cheerful in spite of the weather! The trail then became rough track but we were cheered up by a cup of coffee at the Crosby Arms. Back on the bikes and still rough track but not too bad. Then the conditions got worse with lots of water about and it was still raining! We had to detour up a small muddy slope to avoid a very large puddle, but guess what Brenda didn’t! One minute I was on my bike, the next going down the side of the slope straight into the puddle! It was a very deep puddle but at least it was a soft landing! I stood up dripping wet, somewhat taken aback, but the sight of Bob’s grinning face and Bruce’s amazed one made me laugh and all I could say was ‘I am very wet’. Bruce and Bob lifted up my bike which was not damaged and everyone gave me sympathetic support and we carried on to Peel which fortunately was not too far. When we arrived at Peel the sun came out and it was glorious! We had lunch at the Bowling Green cafe and I dried out my gear on the railings outside. When we had finished lunch I was beginning to feel cold, Raymond kindly offered to come back with Bruce and I. We called in for some Manx kippers and then set off back to Douglas in glorious sunshine which helped me warm up and dry out!!
Joe
On Tuesday Joe Frances and Dianne went to Ramsey by car taking our bikes with us. After having a coffee in the cafe by the boating lake we set off for Bride arriving with time to spare before lunch we decided to go to the Point of Ayre according to our information it was 2 miles on arriving back in Bride we had done 6 miles.At the Bride cafe we met up with the rest of the group who had cycled to Bride for lunch. After lunch the group cycled back to Groudle Glen via Andreas and Ramsey Joe Frances and Dianne cycled back to Ramsey On a shorter route to Andreas and back to Ramsey.
On Thursday Joe Frances and Dianne went on a walk with John Rowel. We drove to Port St Mary where we started our walk. We set off round the harbour to the coast and then followed a footpath up onto the cliffs to chasm house and the chasms. After viewing the chasms we headed inland to Cregneash which is a village museum of thatched cottages with a nice cafe where we had lunch. After lunch we headed back to Port St Mary via the road and back to the car to return to Groudle Glen. John was an excellent guide cheers John.
On Friday Joe Frances and Dianne drove to Castletown for a look round and then went onto Port Erin to meet up with the rest of the group who were coming by train. When they arrived we all had lunch in the station cafe. After lunch Dianne Frances and Joe drove to the Sound to do some bird watching before returning to Groudle Glen.
On Sunday Frances and Joe drove to Ballasalla to ride part of the Castletown cycle route. We set off from Ballasalla to St Marks and returned via Ballamodha to Ballasalla. After we had lunch back at the cottage we went to visit the Groudle Glen railway we walked round to the sea lion cafe but couldn’t resist a ride on the train.
John Sunday 11th May.
Saturday night in the Murphy cottage, with the map open on the table searching for the easiest route up Snaefell.
Cheerful Bob kept saying it's nothing; Roy just sat there agreeing with everything while Sue made the tea and coffee.
After a lot of ifs and buts it was decided on a route, now all that was needed was a fine day and no wind.
Waking up to rain and the tops of the trees blowing in the wind was not the most welcome site.
Over breakfast the rain stopped which was one good sign, with rest of the group doing their own thing; only John R decided to join the Snaefell group.
Leaving the cottage behind, (at 156ft above sea level) the first two hundred metres were downhill, while the next nine miles was virtually all up hill.
Arriving at Creg-ny-baa the group joined the TT course for the ascent to the highest point on the mountain at 1472ft at Hialwood's Hieght.
But to get there one had to battle against a strong side wind, not a place to be on a bike.
It was not long before Bob and John R were disappearing in the distance with Sue out on her own followed by Roy and John M some distance behind.
Approaching the most exposed section of the climb aptly named Windy Corner so a regrouping. Sheltering behind a small building from the wind, a local runner having been out for a run said we had almost got to highest point. (Hialwood's Hieght)
Back on the bikes we cycled to a point where the Manx tram way crosses the road.
Again sheltering from the wind we made our way into the Station to inquire about a tram ride to the summit, because of the time of the next tram we decided to make our way back down to the pub at Creg-ny-baa for a hot drink.
Photo's Stewart Grant and Joe Kendall
Ray Fitzsimmons
Wednesday morning dawned quite overcast and damp. So with heavy legs He dragged himself to the Groudle Glen railway tram stop. Realising that the first bus, of only two that call there, was due. He boarded and acquired a day ticket for £7.00 intending to travel a triangular route, St. Marys, Port Erin, Peel, back to Douglas.
The ride to Port Erin via St. Marys was by double decker bus. Sitting atop, at the front, was very entertaining with many a sharp bend and roller coaster roads, taken with over confidence by the driver (maybe an ex TT rider!) Wonder if he greeted the little people residing on Fairy Bridge. Ray did plus a quick Hail Mary under his breath.
Port Erin welcomed him with a stiff breeze blowing from the sea. Hats off to John Rowell whom he noticed riding into town from the bus. A brisk walk around the town to the Prom, postcards sent, coffee drank and hello's to Traders patching and repairing the cafes and shops preparing for the season to come.
Back on the bus to St. Marys and its cosy arched bus shelter built into a wall. He loves those seaside settlements, the buildings, harbours, ozone wafting from the ocean and the sturdy sense of permanence.
He had to make sure of reaching Castletown for a connection to Peel. By this time the school day was ending and the bus was rather full, some of the pupils having quite a long journey to Cowley Hill Farms. Peel was reached via St. Johns and part of the TT Course. Peel prom was bathed in sunshine. Acontrast to the sart of the day. The view across the Prom to the Castle was a delight. Poor old Peel is quite run down and some parts are quite derelict. What would bring investment and change to this place? To him it felt very isolated and frontier like but great light and big sky reminded him of St. Ives in Cornwall.
Soon on the road back to Douglas via Tynwald Hill, Crosby and Union Mills. A no 3 bus was joined which travelled via Onchan to the Liverpool Arms just in time to rendezvous with the rest of the gang.
Bruce
Great plans were made for a ride around Douglas using one of the routes in the excellent island cycle guide. On reaching Douglas the weather had really turned foul with high winds and rain, so all retreated to the Steam Railway cafe for a brew. Brenda, Bruce and Maggie decided that another lesson in how to cycle in pouring rain and high winds could be put off for another day and that stocking the bungalow up with culinary delights would suffice for the day. So off we went to Tesco and managed to load 33% of the store into our panniers! The results were magnificent, a superb poached fresh salmon dish with all the trimmings, sausage jumble and chicken Provencal. All accompanied with an excellent choice of wines. These gourmet offerings coupled with the excellent home cooking of the Liverpool Arms fed us well for the week.
Brenda Saturday Douglas to Peel
We decided to go on the cycle path along the old railway track. Great I thought - no hills! Little did I know what lay in store! It was raining so we were all kitted out in our rain gear (which was very fortunate for me!). The start of the trail was tarmac and all was going well. There were a large number of scout groups walking the trail with their leaders and they were all surprisingly cheerful in spite of the weather! The trail then became rough track but we were cheered up by a cup of coffee at the Crosby Arms. Back on the bikes and still rough track but not too bad. Then the conditions got worse with lots of water about and it was still raining! We had to detour up a small muddy slope to avoid a very large puddle, but guess what Brenda didn’t! One minute I was on my bike, the next going down the side of the slope straight into the puddle! It was a very deep puddle but at least it was a soft landing! I stood up dripping wet, somewhat taken aback, but the sight of Bob’s grinning face and Bruce’s amazed one made me laugh and all I could say was ‘I am very wet’. Bruce and Bob lifted up my bike which was not damaged and everyone gave me sympathetic support and we carried on to Peel which fortunately was not too far. When we arrived at Peel the sun came out and it was glorious! We had lunch at the Bowling Green cafe and I dried out my gear on the railings outside. When we had finished lunch I was beginning to feel cold, Raymond kindly offered to come back with Bruce and I. We called in for some Manx kippers and then set off back to Douglas in glorious sunshine which helped me warm up and dry out!!
Joe
On Tuesday Joe Frances and Dianne went to Ramsey by car taking our bikes with us. After having a coffee in the cafe by the boating lake we set off for Bride arriving with time to spare before lunch we decided to go to the Point of Ayre according to our information it was 2 miles on arriving back in Bride we had done 6 miles.At the Bride cafe we met up with the rest of the group who had cycled to Bride for lunch. After lunch the group cycled back to Groudle Glen via Andreas and Ramsey Joe Frances and Dianne cycled back to Ramsey On a shorter route to Andreas and back to Ramsey.
On Thursday Joe Frances and Dianne went on a walk with John Rowel. We drove to Port St Mary where we started our walk. We set off round the harbour to the coast and then followed a footpath up onto the cliffs to chasm house and the chasms. After viewing the chasms we headed inland to Cregneash which is a village museum of thatched cottages with a nice cafe where we had lunch. After lunch we headed back to Port St Mary via the road and back to the car to return to Groudle Glen. John was an excellent guide cheers John.
On Friday Joe Frances and Dianne drove to Castletown for a look round and then went onto Port Erin to meet up with the rest of the group who were coming by train. When they arrived we all had lunch in the station cafe. After lunch Dianne Frances and Joe drove to the Sound to do some bird watching before returning to Groudle Glen.
On Sunday Frances and Joe drove to Ballasalla to ride part of the Castletown cycle route. We set off from Ballasalla to St Marks and returned via Ballamodha to Ballasalla. After we had lunch back at the cottage we went to visit the Groudle Glen railway we walked round to the sea lion cafe but couldn’t resist a ride on the train.
John Sunday 11th May.
Saturday night in the Murphy cottage, with the map open on the table searching for the easiest route up Snaefell.
Cheerful Bob kept saying it's nothing; Roy just sat there agreeing with everything while Sue made the tea and coffee.
After a lot of ifs and buts it was decided on a route, now all that was needed was a fine day and no wind.
Waking up to rain and the tops of the trees blowing in the wind was not the most welcome site.
Over breakfast the rain stopped which was one good sign, with rest of the group doing their own thing; only John R decided to join the Snaefell group.
Leaving the cottage behind, (at 156ft above sea level) the first two hundred metres were downhill, while the next nine miles was virtually all up hill.
Arriving at Creg-ny-baa the group joined the TT course for the ascent to the highest point on the mountain at 1472ft at Hialwood's Hieght.
But to get there one had to battle against a strong side wind, not a place to be on a bike.
It was not long before Bob and John R were disappearing in the distance with Sue out on her own followed by Roy and John M some distance behind.
Approaching the most exposed section of the climb aptly named Windy Corner so a regrouping. Sheltering behind a small building from the wind, a local runner having been out for a run said we had almost got to highest point. (Hialwood's Hieght)
Back on the bikes we cycled to a point where the Manx tram way crosses the road.
Again sheltering from the wind we made our way into the Station to inquire about a tram ride to the summit, because of the time of the next tram we decided to make our way back down to the pub at Creg-ny-baa for a hot drink.
Photo's Stewart Grant and Joe Kendall