Terrafirma Travels

20th: We woke up early and had to beg a euro from a fellow campervanner to pay for our morning shower. A Full Irish cooked breakfast followed at the hotel kitchen. Then we set off for Athy, through green countryside on an increasingly hot day.  We arrived at Noel and Kevin's house late morning, and had croissants and coffee. They insisted we stay in the house, which is very tastefully furnished with a huge garden, Kevin's project.  When they went out for an appointment, we had lunch on the last of Nic's bread and relaxed, which is code for snoozed. Then it was time to go to Freida's house. She looked very smart, with gold jewellery and pale green pedalpushers. She doesn't look 83. We had a lovely talk about the extended Kane family, with lots of help from Kevin who assembled Noel's family tree.  Freida was happy to go out to the Clannard hotel, so we had a big dinner there and more interesting talk. There was a wedding going on in the huge hotel and the ladies...

Up at 5am, left at 6am having packed 98% of food, clothes and tech gear the day before. Our first long trip in the van. Algernon Van Bear quite excited. We don't like driving long distance to a ferry, due to the risks, so left 1.5 hrs contingency. Which of course we didn't need. Arrived at noon for 2pm ferry. Quietly roasted in the queue, eating our sandwiches and salad. The weather is v hot, clear sky, no wind. Boarding seemed interminably slow but we left at 1415 which was ontime according to the captain. Ship very comfortable.  Rosslare unloading was quick, no-one asked for ID at either end! In Fishguard a burly security man had a brief look inside, opened one cupboard. Very relaxed. Ten minute drive to Coral Gables campsite and a very friendly welcome. Small site, small pitches, all good. We ordered full Irish cooked breakfasts as a treat. Set up camp - roof up, elec connect, table out - and cooked salmon and veg all in one pan with a fish pie sauce to make it tasty. The te...

After a quiet night post the storm, and a light breakfast, we hit Heligan again. Free this time as got weekly pass free yday. Did the Jungle (spectacular & tropical) and the Hidden Valley (hot and birdy - heard lots and saw 2 buzzards). There was even a rope bridge Lunch in van then the 7 minute drive to Mevagissey. Never been. Pretty, touristy, excellent museum, busy harbour. Had ice cream and cheese straw, both shared natch. Saw a turnstone on the quayside. Headed home at 1600, before the school holiday onslaught.  

Left home at 9am, diesel fill-up, slow Kernow drivers, fortifying coffee, into the Gardens at 11:15. Just splendid. Did all the formal areas, not straying too far from the buildings, and the van, because heavy rain forecast later.  Heligan is truly Camelia Central, as well as tulips and daffs. Had our own lunch on a bench, followed by more Heligan coffee. More prowling around the upper Gardens, then Heligan (early) tea with shortbread for N.  Drove round the corner to the campsite at 1500 as we felt the first spits in the air. Just got set up and plugged in, and on came the v strong wind and rain. We had popped the top, but put it down again due to ferocity of gusts. Feeling v smug that we got the timing exactly right. Bit of a snooze. Discussed draft of my short story. Coffee using new mini electric kettle. Reading.

2 Feb: A lot of pitching in the night. Up at 0645 and breakfast at 0730 as usual, though today Iain and Liz joined us. Finished packing and put bulging cases in corridor, from where they were whisked into the bowels ready for offloading. Said goodbye to our lovely little cabin. We set up camp in the lecture lounge, ready for Laura's last talk. It's a pity the windows are so dirty. This and running out of decaf coffee, and having no decaf tea, are the only constructive suggestions we can give in the survey to come. Arrival into beautiful Bergen, disembarking, bus to airport, bag drop, security all very smooth. Flight home also smooth, grateful to fall into Premier Inn. 

1 Feb: Docked Trondheim 0630-0930. Prompt to brekker, thinking we'd have a walk. It was dark and slushy and it's 25 mins to exit the port so changed our minds. Bit of reading and packing instead, before the Gathering at 11 which had disembarking info as well as usual routing stuff. Laura said how lucky we'd been with the weather, just 3 ports skipped due to F9 winds on day 3 but no big waves. The next trip is forecast high winds all the time. We slipped Laura a half bottle of brandy because we couldn't drink it all and couldn't take it home.  Beautiful weather today, and suddenly the lower hills are green, not white. The view from the panorama lounge on deck 7 is splendid as always. Surprisingly few people come up here. After a large lunch, as usual, we gave the Coastal Kitchen event a swerve - didn't feel the need to see how to gut a large salmon and then eat it raw. Lots of reading and gazing. Docked in Kristiansund 10 mins early which just gave us enough time...

Friday was a quiet day, starting with flurries of snow at breakfast. Soon after, there was a ceremony outside, as we passed the globe-shaped marker of the Arctic circle, heading south towards Trondheim. This time it wasn't water down the neck, but a spoonful of cod liver oil down the throat, though at least we get to keep the Hurtigruten spoon. Lesley had a call with the company's PR guy, for a piece she will write for FOOC. There was a certain amount of sitting about with books, until it was time for the Bridge Visit. About 15 passengers crowded on to the bridge, while the ship was moored at Sandnessjoen. We were shown the navigation screens, radar, helm controls and the docking station on the port side. The Captain revealed he will retire next year aged 70, and he is v sad that his ship will be removed from her current service. Then an alarm rang and we were politely given orders to leave the bridge, as they were about to set off.  Cue the usual generous buffet lunch. We pa...