Vistas and Movies

Just about any road you travel on the Island will give you fabulous views, especially the mountain and coastal ones.  One narrow road takes you down to an especially superb seascape... Niarbyl.

It looks down the south western coast, until your eyes land on the
'Calf of Man'

 Looking out towards the west, if it is a clear day, you can see Ireland
(squint a little and look to the top right)

 

A little known fact about the IOM is that it has starred in many films, one in particular, Waking Ned Devine, which was filmed in Niarbyl.  This lovely cottage was featured.

There are stunning panoramas everywhere you look

The drive home over the mountains provided more spectacular vistas.....

One last day at the races to come....

Burning Rubber at the Ramsey Sprints

If you have never been to a sprint (a kind of drag race),
Ramsey is the place to go to be initiated.

Racers try to achieve maximum speed between the start line and the finish line, (an automated timer).

It is an individual test, with each bike trying to best its last time.

 They spin their back tires to heat them up so it gives them better grip when they 'launch', leaving a plume of smoke behind them.

 Check out the burning rubber in action

There is more to see than just noisy bikes showing off....
There are some pretty impressive hot rod cars on display too...

 There were even fudge samples...Shirley says "yum"

Once we got back to the cottage, I had to try the 'throw away' BBQ I bought at the local 'dollar store' to cook some hamburgers.....

 It worked and they tasted pretty good!

Junior Manx Grand Prix

This 4 lap race featured bikes from 550cc to 750cc.

We watched from Bradden Church, 

 a lovely spot as the view is great and 

the church ladies put on quite a spread of sandwiches, cakes and tea!

The riders come down a steep hill and have to make a high speed right hand sweep, giving a perfect vantage point to take some photos

Andrew Dudgeon, race winner and IOM lad!

 We spent all day at the church, 

so thought it would be fun to go out to dinner at

The Shore Hotel in Gansey

 Christine opted for seafood pasta

 I had to have fish and chips with the traditional mushy peas (don't you think....?)

 ...but it took 5 forks to finish off the crumble

While walking Shirley to her hotel, Port St. Mary was fading into dusk

With a final glow of night

Ramsey Sprints up tomorrow

Charming Port St. Mary

We love the south end of The Isle of Man.  For many years we stayed in Port Erin, but for the last 2 years, we changed our location to just around the corner in Port St. Mary.

 In its past life, it was a very important base for fisherman, as well as its beach being a draw for tourists.

Many stately Victorian row houses lined the promenade.

They are just as grand today, with a few currently being used as BnB's.

 At low tide, you can stroll on a sea wall walkway 

from one end of the bay to the other

We walked around it at low tide....

 which gave way to picturesque smooth rocky landscapes

 Who do you think we bumped into, but a few 'tailless' residents

It is such a quaint, lovely village.....it is well worth a visit

Closer to the Bikes

Even if you have no interest in motorcycle racing, you have to be impressed with how close you can get to the racers as they fly past you at 140 miles per hour.  You block out the fact that they are so close, any mishap could not have a happy ending, for them or you.  

Ignorance is bliss and the thrill of being right in the thick of  it keeps you riveted to the action.

Look at this relic from the past...a Victorian era mailbox right in the middle of the stonewall

 We chose our spot to watch, in Barregarrow, and waited for the action to start. The farmer who owns the land provides every amenity you could wish for...a lovely viewing spot and numerous CLEAN facilities.

Here they come!

 You can't imagine the speed they are whizzing past you at. 

I am lucky to have a professional camera that lets me capture it all.

As much as I love the racing, I am drawn to the scenery that provides postal card images at every turn.  The farmer pointed out to me that the view I was admiring, as I was exploring his field, was the Mull of Kyntyre, in Scotland, off in the distance.

Listen to Paul McCartney sing about it.... 

Look way off in the distance to see Scotland

The afternoon races took us to the other side of the road where the excitement and closeness of the riders was even more exhilarating.  They flew past our feet at an unimaginable speed. 

 It is hard for someone not there to imagine how close the riders are to the spectators....who needs an amusement park....!

 After a full day of racing, time for a humble meal at the cottage.

Come explore Port St Mary next....