Yesterday was spent getting the old girl ready for winter. We replaced all our day to day mooring lines with the more sturdy ropes and snubbers we keep buried away for just such an occasion. We survived the winter storms in a much more exposed Peterhead 8 years ago, so this should be much more protected.

We have re routed halliards and sheets to prevent chafe, we’ve eaten the last of the perishables (chocolate and biscuits are perishables, right?) and we even had time to say hello to Terry the landlord at the Queens Arms.

He’s such a helpful man, as are the rest of the early afternoon drinkers. A casual question about where to find the elusive small calor gas bottles, ends up with people making phone calls to other people and a general sense of disappointment when it turns out that none are available in Northern Ireland.  He also puts us in touch with a friend who now keeps her boat in Donegal, but who used to keep it where Heydays is.

Packing and a takeaway pizza from an Italian restaurant less than 50m from the boat, sees us finally ready for the short walk to the station in the morning.

Its been a funny summer in many ways, not least the weather…

…we were delayed leaving Lymington by about a week in June, as a steady stream of  decidedly unseasonal gales swept through. Even then, we holed up in Portland for yet another blow…

Along the South West coast we dodged both rain and wind and arrived in Newlyn wondering if this time we would finally make it to the Scillies. The Scillies were worth the wait and the effort and made us want to go back.

With more wind forecast we made the decision to take advantage of a brief lull and hop over to  Cork, but even then, the sting of an earlier than expected heavy blow took its toll as it hit us halfway across.

The Irish Republic was simply amazing for both the welcome and the scenery with the last leg to Malahide being in almost dead calm. With Heydays ashore and a break at home, we return to a broken hoist delaying being put back in the water…and another 4 days of gales blowing through.  With a deadline of today to get back home, we spent less time exploring than we had originally planned, but even then we had to hang around in Carlingford Lough, waiting for the next weather window. A long hop all the way to Glenarm  got us back on track….and another 2 days in harbour waiting for the northerlies to blow through.

With two brilliant day sails to finish, we get to Coleraine feeling exhilarated, rejuvenated…and just a little bit blown about!

That’s just about it until the spring.  We’ll go back from time to time, to do one or two bits and then get her ready for the next northern adventure.

Broad plans…always subject to change…

…we want to spend some more time in the western Isles, having whetted our appetite 8 years ago….we want to get to the outer Hebrides, and we definitely want to go back to Orkney. ….and then???

Off to the station and the airport, so Heydays out for now…