This Time it's for Real

It seems ages ago that we were telling you about looking across to Bear Island and anticipating our visit. I did say at the time that I was whetting the appetite of my friends with the view, and they would have to wait a while for the visit to take place.

However, I couldn't keep them waiting for ever, and I wouldn't be that cruel anyway. And so, as our first weekend in Ireland came round, it was back to Castletownbeare, not just to watch the ferry, but actually to get on it, as foot passengers of course - the bearmobile had the day off on the quayside.

Gilbert feels the cold a bit - and boat trips are usually rather windy affairs - so he used a minder's rucksack as a sleeping bag and reserved us some seats in the cabin, while the rest of us took a short stroll round the deck (it wasn't very big) before seeking a vantage point on the life ring. Don't get me wrong, this didn't indicate that we were worried about the crossing, just that it was dry place to sit. In any event, with a boat name of Sancta Maria, what harm could come to us?

As the car deck filled with the two cars we were taking (there was possibly room for 4) we were amused to notice shop assistants from the nearby supermarket coming on board with bags of shopping, which they deposited on the car deck, as you see below. We found this a quite novel alternative to the more usual Tescos home delivery.

We spent longer waiting to set sail, than we did sailing. In just a matter of minutes we were putting into the harbour at Beara island. Perhaps the interesting fact that, during WW1, the passage of water we were crossing was so full of anchored battleships, that it is said it was possible to cross from mainland to island on boat decks without getting your feet wet, indicates to you that the distance wasn't that far.

We look forward to showing you the delights of the island next time.

Lots of love Patrick and friends xxx

A Strange Looking Shuttle

As our French adventures took place in September, nearly 2 months ago now, you'll probably have forgotten all about the excitement which was inevitably going to affect our journey home.

If you think back to the beginning, you'll recall us happily starting our holiday with a trip on Le Shuttle. Remember this picture ...?


We had every expectation that this was how we would also return home, so does our next picture look a little bit strange to you?


The eagle eyed amonst you should have spotted that there's a whopping great ferry at the back of our picture.

There is a simple explanation. We were due to return home the weekend of the recent lorry fire in the tunnel. We had been warned in advance by our friendly camp reps that the Tunnel was most definitely closed, so we would have to go to the ferry port at Calais and swap our Eurotunnel ticket for a ferry crossing.

We commend all parties for a well organised operation and it was a pain free experience (although sadly we did have to cut our wine buying shopping expedition short!).

We actually like travelling by Ferry especially when it's a fine sunny day as you can see it was.


It was lovely to feel the breeze on my fur and to be able to say a longer goodbye to my homeland.

Lots of love Gilbert & all at Bears Unlimited xxx