Stormy Weather

The forecast wasn’t great. Since we’d left home a couple of days ago, we’d been warned about the two storms coming in off the Atlantic. We were already experiencing the first of two “named storms”, Austen and Boelo was following close behind, it appeared. This might not have been the best time to be sailing across the Irish Sea on a ferry.

All of this needed some serious consideration. With tickets for the 0130 departure, Saturday morning, we’d spun out our time in St Davids as long as we could, and wondered what on earth we were going to do for the rest of the day/night with Fishguard a mere half hour’s drive away. It’s times like this that we recall the time when we spent 14 or 15 hours in Auckland Airport waiting for our flight home, or the time we did the same thing in Lima. We can do this!!

Setting off from St Davids, everything looked sunny. There was a brisk wind blowing, for sure, but nothing to concern us unduly.

As we drove, however, we noticed several cables dangling from the poles and making the steep descent into Whitesands Bay, a crew was there repairing one of them.

I think they were going to have quite a long day’s work ahead of them, whilst we could relax and try to do nothing for the next few hours.

There weren’t many folks around today and this normally lively surfing beach was deserted. The chap in the parking booth waved us through without the need to pay, for which we were grateful.

I jumped out of the car for some fresh air and just about managed to keep my feet on the ground, the wind was so strong. I spotted someone out there by the waters edge and thought them crazy. The tide was coming in fast and I’d already seen news reports of people being knocked over by a surprisingly strong wave.

I jumped back in the car and joined my Hero, sitting watching the waves and reading. How long might we stay here? How might we spend the rest of the day?

The last time we were in the area, we’d enjoyed great fish and chips a little further along the coast at Porthgain. Maybe we should aim for a (very) late lunch at The Shed there?

So here we were, sitting in the car watching people coming and going for some time before we couldn’t wait any longer. Let’s do lunch!

We smiled as we realised that, when we are in this part of the world, we seem to dine out mostly in sheds…

The fish and chips were so good, just like last night’s pizza, I didn’t even take a photo!

In fact, this shot of the table adjacent to ours was the last photo I took all day!

I didn’t take another in Portgain, because when we returned to our car, the tide was in, the waves were crashing against the sea wall and the car was coated in a film of salt. That did give us our next challenge: to find a car wash in Fishguard!

I didn’t take a photo of my Hero having fun with a pressure washer, nor did I take one of the shiny clean car that took us on further into town there. We stopped in a supermarket car park, thinking we’d get a couple of hot drinks, until I discovered the machine wasn’t working.

By now it was seven o’clock or so, the sun had gone down and we were wondering at what time we might go to the port. Maybe eight-ish? We knew check in didn’t begin until 11.30pm, but felt sure people would roll up well before then.

We were the first to arrive at just gone 8 and I had the bright idea that we could watch The Traitors on a phone!. For the next two hours, we watched the programme first and then the follow up discussion. What an excellent way to pass the time! As we watched, other cars rolled up and joined the queue.

Eventually, around eleven, we moved forward into the checked in area and we watched as the incoming ferry unloaded. What excitement! We were directed on board around 1am and the ship left at 1.30am as scheduled.

Phew.

The seas were what the Captain described as “moderate”, though I can say I wouldn’t want to sail on this ship in worse conditions! We tried to sleep with limited succcess and were glad to arrive at 5am. We made it!

There was just the three and a half hour drive to Killarney now.

Thankfully, my Hero had thought ahead and, knowing we’d be arriving at our hotel well before check-in time, had requested our room be available earlier than usual.

Our enormous room is comfortable, quiet and has a wonderful view of the lake. I’m hoping the weather will improve!