DOVER

Back in Blighty, but only for one day, tomorrow Rotterdam then onwards to the Arctic circle. This is an odd cruise - it disembarks and picks up passengers at both Dover & Rotterdam. We didn't get the option of Dover, which is only an hour away from London - go figure. Went to the station & caught train to Canterbury. Nice easy trip if you get your timings right, we just missed a train - wait one hour do not pass go.

As it was a nice warm day we took a punt ride that takes you around the back of the old buildings.

Very low bridges, dark dingy, full of spiders webs & pigeons. We had a party of 3 enjoying a 60th birthday, all that freaked them out

Ducking stool, apparently Lin is a witch with green eyes & living in London. She didn't volunteer.

Helen of Troy.

Made the mistake of walking back to the ship from the station. Port guide suggested it was a pleasant 30 minute walk. Not it took an hour, wind tearing around you and the last half out on to the West Dock was featureless and grim apart from;-

A charming cafe and the South East & Chatham Railway station. This was started in 1909 to connect London with Paris by rail & ferry. WW1 intervened and the army took it over to transport munitions & troops over and wounded back. The railway took it back in the '20s and developed it with their own ferries. WW2 cropped up and after that in the '40s they built ferries to take rail carriages and joined with the French to make 2 luxury trains, all sleeper Pullman - Fleche d'Or & the Golden Arrow that could get you to Paris in 6.5 hours. Probably quicker than now what with all the airport security taken into account. The channel tunnel put the Kibosh on it in the '90s.

CORK

 Back in Ireland but down south now. We are docked at Cobh a 25 minute train ride from the city centre, convenient and easy to use. Another blustery day with showers. Second largest of Eire's cities, busy and a big pedestrian shopping centre reminiscent of Oxford St. Couldn't find too much to interest us. It is built on the River Lee (never noticed it when I was cycling) and has some pretty spots.

Cobh was formerly a naval port, the ground is contaminated from the munitions work carried out there. It still hosts the Irish navy, 4 patrol boats.

HOLLYHEAD

Bora dar! We're in Wales, having fun, still raining!

This is Holyhead, the ferry boat town itself. It's quite nice there, if a bit run down. Old church, Roman ruins. Probably the best kept bit of town.

Researched the surrounding towns, Bangor looked nice, oldest city in UK, university town & seaside with prom. Wasn't the case, really run down, big Asian population - not very nice, but the buses and trains worked well, even if our bus pass doesn't work there. About 20 mins by train from Holyhead station.

St Deiniol cathedral founded in 525 or so.

Bangor University - get fit climbing up there everyday.

GLASGOW 2

 Full blown tour today, 8.75 hours with lunch. A big circular tour, out over Erskine bridge over the Clyde(left turn Clyde!), along the banks of Loch Lomond, stopping at the pretty village of Luss, then over the mountains with a stop at "rest & be thankful" viewing point over the lochs. Finally at Inveraray and the Duke of Argyle's seat at Inveraray Castle. We returned on a different route, this time taking a small vehicle ferry from Dunoon to Gourock. We needed to be thankful & get a rest after all that.

Luss & Loch Lomond.

Rest & be thankful.

Inveraray Castle. Could have spent longer here and less time in the village. The Campbell family live here, 2 of their ancestors were beheaded for being on the wrong side. Downton Abbey filmed here. Lerner & Lowe visited and wrote My Fair Lady at one of the Campbell's pianos. The current Duke's granddad's 3rd wife was pretty scandalous, many photos circulating with her having sex with MPs and other strangers. They made a film about it "A Very British Scandal". The producer told the current Duke he was going to make the film despite any attempts to stop it. The Duke said fine, how about filming it here - and made money out of it himself.

One of the old Duke's wives was a former wife of the Duke of Hamilton - she's known as the double duchess.

Our ferry across the Clyde. Saw 5 lochs, can't remember their names.

2 DAYS IN GLASGOW

 We were docked in Greenock which is actually 25 miles outside the city centre. Rain was worse these days and we werebonly off the ship for a short while. Went to the fire museum and spent an hour with retired fireman, Gordon. Really interesting guy.

Fire dog, Gordon told us that despite all the hi-tech stuff, the dogs were better at finding the accelerant source in arson fire investigations.

This engine was a film star.1940's vintage it was in the film Battle of Britain.

In the evening we had a Scottish singing & dancing night. The girls were terrific with their flings, unlike the Irish they know what to do with the arms. It took me right back to Andy Stewart and the White Heather Club - Donald where's your Trousers. We even had to show the Dutch how to do Auld Lang's Syne.

Greenock

GREENCASTLE

 Derry, or Londonderry to you, depending on your persuasion. Took a walking guided tour around the city. There is a lot of focus on "the troubles" army shootings, hunger strikers, peace marches but mostly from the Catholic viewpoint.

After Derry, we visited a hilltop fort, terrific parking muddle with all the coaches in the little car park. The fort was a healthy & safety nightmare, no hand rails, uneven slippery steps and old decrepit people with walking sticks trying to manage the steps.

Weather has been pretty grim, warm but raining on & off all day. The result was two pots of gold.

KILLYBEGS

Weather's turning bad, rain & wind is up, sea bumpy, but we did see wildlife - a pod of dolphins and a seal was inspecting us in the harbour. We were supposed to see Sliabh Liag which at 201 metres is one of the highest cliffs in Europe. Couldn't do it as the sea was too rough.

Nice harbour tour, raining on & off. Boat was a family business, Dad, captain, Wife does all the organising, son & nephew are the crew. Really nice people, chatted about football, one was a gooner, free drink included, I had a local distillery Irish whiskey, mum a local G&T.