Devall Travels

As I had to cancel our trip to Gouda a few days ago after months of planning, we were left with a Shuttle booking that I need to change before the Gouda trip, this Friday (the 6 th July) or lose the fare as a no-show. We both thought we'd like to go to Holland again. On the Gouda trip our chosen day out was to have been Amsterdam, so we decided to make this new trip to Amsterdam. It so happens that Arsenal are involved in the Amsterdam ArenA Tournament over the week of 2 nd and 4 th August, which fits in nicely when we want to get away. Although getting one of the 1800 (!) tickets allocated to Arsenal supporters may prove a problem as it is so close and the away ticket people get first bite at the cherry over us mere Gold members. Okay we have paid at least £885 for a season ticket this year. I've re-booked the Shuttle for 3rd August earlier than we were going with the Kent Centre to Gouda. This is purely so we can plough up the motorways to get to the hotel ASAP and then d...

Not really a TT day, as it's all over and today it is home day. We were up early and down at the sea terminal for 11am to check on the boat and found that it had been put back to 3pm from 2pm. We had a teacake in Capone's and passed a couple of hours before returning well before 1pm to start loading, only to find about 60 bikes already through the gates. I can't say I am all that enamoured with the service from the Steam Packet. Compared with P&O or Eurotunnel it is a case of amateur hour. The bike was tied up and once again I was lucky that there was no body contact with the boat. Leaning the bike against a padded rail seems primitive! But I suppose it works! I didn't see anyone complaining of damage! The crossing time was up to 2h 50m from the 2 hours on the ticket. Once back in Liverpool it was a palaver to untangle all the bikes and get off into the fresh air. It was gone 6.10pm as we emerged both by my clock and the Liver Buildings clock. Signposts seems hit ...

Last full day of the holiday on the Island. So we decided to do the south and for once it meant not going to Peel! I know but there you are! Sacrifices have to be made. Firstly we went to Port Erin and stayed there for ages. The usual cup of tea (or rather coffee this time) but it was too hot. One of the locals said it was 82 degrees. Not what you expect from the weather on the Isle of Man. We had to move as the white painted walls of the cafe acted like an oven. I remember from metalwork years ago to use a corner to heat metal quicker to reflect heat back! We had a walk around the town and to the bank, then into the newsagents for a paper to read on the seafront. All very nice. Even better when the sun went in for a while. Yes, I am complaining there was too much sun! Lunch was in Cafe Roberto, with a back drop of a Vincent single. I guess it was a Comet but I am not an expert where even this level of British bike lies in the pantheon of great bikes. Across the road was a shop that...

No more racing to occupy our days. So today was spent travelling around the Island. Firstly, we went into Douglas and avoided the town centre but by the grandstand to let Claire see it. Then on to Laxey and the Lady Isabella Wheel. Then we needed a cup of tea and so went down into Old Laxey. Old Laxey is quiet and like the beach places we used to go to years ago. After a pot of tea we set off again for Snaefell. Sadly the museum and cafe was closed. You might get the idea that our trips revolve around tea. You may be right! From Snaefell we dropped down to Tholt Y Will and the Wheat Free Bakery. Time for lunch? A roast pork bap and another tea later and we were Peel bound. Continuing down to Sulby and on to the track, but going against the race direction. It was very quiet going our way, but there were still loads of loonies bombing around the track as though they are Mini-Me John McGuinness's! We were in Peel for hours. Walking in the sun and of course eating. This time another of...

Moving day. Packed and paid Sarah Everest and set off south to new B&B at Foxdale - Clag Mooar . As it seemed too early we stopped in Peel for a coffee and a walk round,then rode down to Foxdale . Good job we did as they were getting ready to set off to Castletown and the Southern 100 Club's Billown road races. We dumped the luggage and changed into lighter clothing. We set off as well towards Castletown to where the road was closed. We arrived in time for the practice for all three races and found a good viewing place, right by a convenient tea bar! I took a few pics, but as with the Senior TT , the camera's shutter speed is too slow. By the time it decides to take the pic, the subject has left the viewer! In the end I started to anticipate and press early! After practice the road was opened and we decided to head off back to Peel for a walk and perhaps a paddle. In the end we had one of Davison's excellent ice creams. Gorgeous! Later on we found that where we ha...

John McGuinness sets new outright lap record and race record. Damned Honda! That aside what a great winner and an exciting race to watch. When we arrived at the Bungalow it was hot and sunny. By race time it was freezing (in comparison) and the mist came and went obscuring the track way back from our bit. I managed to get a few decent photographs of the race, but having to use full digital zoom means that until you see them on the bigger computer screen you have no idea how good they actually are. The MCN Parade of Champions was held up for a while as there had been an accident on the Ramsey end of the mountain. A rider had crashed and his bike flew into some spectators. He was killed and two of them also died. The Parade was at a pretty hectic pace with Carl Fogarty off first and harrying the leading travelling marshal as they passed us. Once it was over we went back to our B&B to change and then head out to Douglas for dinner. Sadly on arrival the Austrian selling goulash had ...

Up early and off up to the Bungalow. There were loads of cars and bikes already there but we were able to get a space about 200 yards from the footbridge. Everyone was so spread out we got a spot on the hill where we could see the bikes come over the Veranda and sweep down across the railway line.. Perfecto . Until the mist descended on us. Paul Devall - sent from my BlackBerry ® wireless device