What was the planned trip, Sundae? I hear you ask.
We were off on the Waverley. That's the Wiki link, but the bottom line is it's the last seagoing passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world.

'Nuff said.

This isn't the actual ship. It's a model.
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Some additional info, also from the Heritage Museum.
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Scenes from a boat.Attachment 52338Attachment 52339

So much beauty.

A pair of reprobates I just happened to bump into.
They look happy though.
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Chug-chug! We're off!
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Wood is the order of the day.
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Well, that and rope.
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As Dickie Attenborough said in Jurassic Park "no expense spared!"
For a reasonably brief trip (two hours) there were probably more facilities than you get on your average Channel crossing. And all a heck of a lot more attractive too.
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Not that people were partaking; aside from me snapping off snaps, everyone was pretty much on deck. Well, that's the point of the trip anyway. Even if you've done it countless times and are taking a virgin along...
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Thanks for the great write up, Cherry.

AAA+ duly awarded. :thumb:

The Waverley plies its paddly trade round Holy Isle, which is a Bhuddist retreat these days. It doesn't stop there, although they do allow day visitors with only minor restrictions.
It's worth seeing the isle closer than you do from the shore.
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I wish I'd taken my mini binoculars (found them on the side in the kitchen when I got back). They're really just pastel pink opera glasses, bought to perve over David Tennant and John Barrowman on stage. But they may have helped me make sense of the sporadic and hard to hear commentary. Limey assures me that the herd of wild zombies was more likely to be ponies.

The machinery. I didn't even notice the dolphins until Limey pointed them out. When you see how the ?pistons? rise up and down in a circular motion it really does put you in mind of them though. And it was warm in there...
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It was a pleasure to be out on the water anyway. Even if the weather turned on us (it did, and SO quickly!)
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And always a pleasure to be in such good company.
Yes, this shot was slightly posed. But not in a tribute to Titanic way. It was a spontaneous expression I asked them to hold while I took a photo. It filled me with love and hope that I'm not unloveable.
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And that was me more or less done.
I cooked pork with mushrooms and creme fraiche to earn my keep. Was duly complimented. I thought it was yummy too.

Then I had to sleep from all the exertion...
Only to wake after a night of dreaming of missed connections and unpacked bags and all that and everything.

We travelled to the ferry together and I was bought breakfast as a final farewell.
I think I held it together okay. I was so distressed at the idea of coming back here again, all I wanted to do was chain myself to the car and demand to go with them to Fife.
I leaked a little at the eyes when I had my goodbye hugs, but I saved my real tears until after they'd gone.

I didn't even cry properly until I reached Keighley station. I've been there before, so I knew I was on "home" turf. Then I gave myself over to the grief. I had to cover my face with a tissue and pretend to be coughing.
But in a way a good thing happened in Leeds. At the bus station I bumped into a really, REALLY boring man, who knows me as a friend of an acquaintance. So all the way back to Otley I was just yawning into my hand and wishing he would shut his cakehole, instead of eating myself up inside.

And anyway, I got back and the toilet hadn't flooded, and my Landlord hadn't served me with an eviction notice, and the bailiffs hadn't called and my rats were alive and well with some of their food (their least favourite, but still edible) uneaten and still plenty of water. AND they hadn't decided to kick their new hideout from the top floor into the basement, which is a wonder. I have Bernard Cribbins rats in that sense.

The End.

That looks fantastic! Happy B-Day to you. The Limey's continue to impress.

Excellent report! I almost feel as though I was there!

Sent by thought transference

^WSS^

All of these pictures are great, love the boys/girls ones. It's nice to see Mr and Mrs Limey too! I'm glad you had a nice time!

What an awesome trip!