Boats – written May 2019
I love watching the boats coming in to and going out of Douglas Harbour each day. Mostly it’s just the Mannanin, a catamaran ferry built in Tasmania, and the Ben-my-Chree ship (usually just called the Ben, or, by some, the old Tub) but when the Ben is out of action another container ship comes along to bring supplies in. When the sea is too rough for boats to sail, which happens a few times each year, people do panic shopping and supermarket shelves are bare, which is a bit silly as it calms down pretty quickly and anyway there is plenty of yummy Manx produce. It’s amazing how the sea can be ferocious one day, then flat as a millpond the next. Here is the container ship going out:
Ben and Mannanin
Mannanin leaving:
Even little boats have right of way!
Lighthouses keep the boats safe:
Transport options:
This is a random selection of transport pictures, public and otherwise:
Written 2016:
I once challenged myself to spend 3 months without a car. I got to like it so much I went without one for nearly 5 years. I’d rather spend an hour relaxing or exercising than half an hour getting stressed in traffic. The public transport on the Isle of Man is an experience of its own as you can imagine yourself travelling in a bygone era. I had my first attempts at making videos in 2013, a skill that I aim to improve in the future! People who prefer quality can watch some more professional footage about the Island here. And those who are game to watch a beginner’s video can see my first impression of the horse tram here.