mjkinch1
New member
Dave (Baffled) was moving his boat from Conwy down to the Menai straights, and was kind enough to invite me and my son James along for the trip, with Kawasaki providing the all important support. The weather was pretty afwul the weekend (take note all you southerners basking in the sun), so much so Son Vida aborted his trip over from Ireland.
Anyway Monday was slightly better, although still windy. We all met at the Menai park and ride, and jumped on the rib, for our ride across to Conway. (Much more fun than going by car).
Well first thing was a couple of hundred (well seemed like it) yachts all racing up and down a marked run, so which way to go!
Didnt take long to figure a very slow exit, then finally away. The bridge in the background was the 1st Iron suspension bridge of its kind in the world and completed in 1826 by Thomas Telford and each chain weighs in about 23 and a half tons - 16 chains in all.
Up past Bangor Pier, looking a little deserted considering it was August.. Started in the 1890's it handled steamers from the IOM, liverpool and Blackpool, until damaged in 1914. Finally closed in 1971, it was reopened after about 8 years of work in 1988. It is the 9th longest in the british isles
..and of course just when you thought all the yachts had gone, another shoal appeared ahead, nicely sidestepped by Kawasaki without knocking any over or ne'er a ripple.
The sea was still pretty OK, but we had the shelter of the land at this point, now which is the best way to go? Aha! Puffin Island, lets take a run over there..
We had a tour around the island with its resident seals, who didnt particularly think we were worth getting up for
Although one particular one didnt seem very happy at seeing us.. As a bit of trivia the island was called Puffin island, because of the, yes you have it, Puffins. These were decimated by rats and now very few pairs are seen, but most of the rats were poisoned in 1998 by the countryside council. For the record it now has one of the largest Great Cormorant colonies in teh british isles with about 750 pairs. We know this as most of them have been snapped speeding by the over enthusiastic welsh police.
There are lots of bits missing now, as we got wet, well I did at the back and on the windward side, so the camera had to get firmly tucked away whislt we bounced away across to Conwy.
This is the entrance to a much calmer Conway, which is a good couple of miles run to just enter the harbour..
and finally as we made our way into the harbour, the wonderful Conwy Castle came into view. Designed for King Edward I and built between 1283 and 1289. The walls are still seen as a masterpiece of military engineering with walls on average 24ft thick!
No time for mucking about, a quick u turn under the bridge, and the tide is right to get into Conway Marina, get some fuel and moor up for a rest..
Quick drink. sarnie and collect Daves boat
and then round to the fuel quay to top up for the trip back
Now all fuelled ready to go, Kawasaki in the Rib leading the way to a somewhat bumpy exit (Camera back in bag so few pics once again, and it was too wet to get a decent picture what with the spray)
Kawasaki very nicely smoothing the way for us
Once we got into the entrance to the Menai with some shelter the wind dropped and we started to get some calmer seas. Both boats handled really well, and it was a great fun ride across
Here is a pic of Kawasaki thanking us for coming alongside, you may be able to see the extended two finger salute!
Other than that a fairly smooth ride back into the park and ride, with Dave putting the boat on the trailer perfectly - a Perfect end to a perfect day!
Anyway Monday was slightly better, although still windy. We all met at the Menai park and ride, and jumped on the rib, for our ride across to Conway. (Much more fun than going by car).
Well first thing was a couple of hundred (well seemed like it) yachts all racing up and down a marked run, so which way to go!
Didnt take long to figure a very slow exit, then finally away. The bridge in the background was the 1st Iron suspension bridge of its kind in the world and completed in 1826 by Thomas Telford and each chain weighs in about 23 and a half tons - 16 chains in all.
Up past Bangor Pier, looking a little deserted considering it was August.. Started in the 1890's it handled steamers from the IOM, liverpool and Blackpool, until damaged in 1914. Finally closed in 1971, it was reopened after about 8 years of work in 1988. It is the 9th longest in the british isles
..and of course just when you thought all the yachts had gone, another shoal appeared ahead, nicely sidestepped by Kawasaki without knocking any over or ne'er a ripple.
The sea was still pretty OK, but we had the shelter of the land at this point, now which is the best way to go? Aha! Puffin Island, lets take a run over there..
We had a tour around the island with its resident seals, who didnt particularly think we were worth getting up for
Although one particular one didnt seem very happy at seeing us.. As a bit of trivia the island was called Puffin island, because of the, yes you have it, Puffins. These were decimated by rats and now very few pairs are seen, but most of the rats were poisoned in 1998 by the countryside council. For the record it now has one of the largest Great Cormorant colonies in teh british isles with about 750 pairs. We know this as most of them have been snapped speeding by the over enthusiastic welsh police.
There are lots of bits missing now, as we got wet, well I did at the back and on the windward side, so the camera had to get firmly tucked away whislt we bounced away across to Conwy.
This is the entrance to a much calmer Conway, which is a good couple of miles run to just enter the harbour..
and finally as we made our way into the harbour, the wonderful Conwy Castle came into view. Designed for King Edward I and built between 1283 and 1289. The walls are still seen as a masterpiece of military engineering with walls on average 24ft thick!
No time for mucking about, a quick u turn under the bridge, and the tide is right to get into Conway Marina, get some fuel and moor up for a rest..
Quick drink. sarnie and collect Daves boat
and then round to the fuel quay to top up for the trip back
Now all fuelled ready to go, Kawasaki in the Rib leading the way to a somewhat bumpy exit (Camera back in bag so few pics once again, and it was too wet to get a decent picture what with the spray)
Kawasaki very nicely smoothing the way for us
Once we got into the entrance to the Menai with some shelter the wind dropped and we started to get some calmer seas. Both boats handled really well, and it was a great fun ride across
Here is a pic of Kawasaki thanking us for coming alongside, you may be able to see the extended two finger salute!
Other than that a fairly smooth ride back into the park and ride, with Dave putting the boat on the trailer perfectly - a Perfect end to a perfect day!
