Tonight we are sailing the short distance from Plymouth to Port St Peter on Guernsey, the Channel Islands.

Sunday 11 August 2013
Day at Sea

When I left off yesterday’s blog (departure from Dublin), the plan was to sail north then westward around the top of Northern Island.  But this morning Captain Tim tells us that the weather report for that route was not good, so instead we are sailing south around the bottom of Ireland and then up the west coast and into Galway Bay early tomorrow morning.  Since today is a sea day the change of route does not affect passengers in any way except to insure smoother sailing (which has been pretty smooth the whole trip so far). 

It’s a good day to relax and catch up on the blog and, of course, eat:  formal tea at 3pm, cocktails and hors d’ouerves with a group of other passengers at 7pm, and the second formal dinner at 8pm.  The sliced duck breast with sweetened figs (yummy) is so much better than on that other ship that shall go unnamed.  The cream cheese gateau for dessert is not bad either.  The folks at the large table next to mine (the group I had drinks with earlier), continues to invite me to join them at dinner, but I continue to beg off.  I am sure I will join them one night, but their table is a bit too crowded right now.
 

Monday, 12 August 2013

Galway, Ireland

Since the tenders are delayed this morning I have time for a leisurely breakfast in the dining room before heading ashore at 9:15.  I don’t have to wait long for the tender to depart, but it is a 20-minute ride across Galway Bay to the shore—and the boat (also used as a lifeboat during emergencies!) stalls out.  It takes a while for the pilot to get it started again, but we eventually make it to shore.  Galway is a pleasant small city suitable for walking, although the weather is typically Irish, shifting from clouds to sun to blustery winds.  There isn’t much to see in the city itself, except for the aptly-named “Shop Street” that cuts through the center.  There is, however, a lovely walk along the river to the RC Cathedral.  A large inland fisheries installation provides excellent salmon fishing right in the urban environment.

 

 

Back at the pier, I’m at the head of the line for the tenders.  The first tender unloads but won’t take any passengers back to the ship because of mechanical problems.  It starts to be a long wait as one or two tour buses arrive back at the pier.  There is now a pretty long line of pretty unhappy folks standing (no seats anywhere) in the rather warm afternoon sun.  A second tender arrives, but—you guessed it—this one has mechanical problems as well (it’s the one that stalled out earlier this morning).  Finally one of the wounded tenders is ready for service and we make it back to the Prinsendam safely.  Everyone is very happy when Captain Tim announces that tomorrow’s call at Foynes will use the dock rather than tenders as originally planned.

On the ship I have a late lunch of cheeseburger and fries, and the tuna tartare with jumbo prawn, the appetizer at dinner, is very good.  Tomorrow morning we sail up the Shannon River Estuary.  The last time the Prinsendam visited here it was the largest ship ever to dock.  Captain Tim believes we will keep that record tomorrow.