The first week soon passed. Ken left before the weather took a turn for the worst whilst we stayed. The bad weather persisted for about a week which means you’re trapped. This is not as bad as it sounds just assume the role of tourist. When we were trapped in Liverpool our home port we decided to look at it with the fresh eyes of a tourist and we were amazed at the wealth of events and exhibitions available. But because we estimated we only had a week we bought a discount pass that got us into six museums and two art galleries. Also when the weather is bad safe harbours fill up with boats sheltering and provide an interesting mix of salty characters with tales of the deep.
While sitting on the boat after lunch one day a yacht came through the lock gates under full sail and stopped head to wind. The crew looked white with fear. Quickly the sails where dropped and the boat drifted slowly towards the pontoon. Moments later a second yacht reversed through the lock and into the harbour. This boat was helmed by a determined looking woman. There was bound to be a story with this. The boat came over to me and rafted alongside. This was Moira from Bantry Bay who followed the ferry over to Holyhead where she met the man with a yacht whose engine had failed. She agreed to tow him through the Menai Straits to Victoria Warf. Unfortunately something fouled her propeller in the Swellies and she only had reverse. The man she was towing had to cut himself free and sail to safety. This was the yacht through the locks under full sail with the terrified crew. Moira wasted no time getting her wet suit on to dive down to free her propeller. We all had a drink in the sailing club and Moira invited us to sail with her to Bantry Bay. We had to decline the invitation because our next destination was Porth Dinllaen on the Lleyn Peninsula where I had arranged to meet up with my eldest son and the grandchildren.
Porth Dincllaen has always been a favourite place of mine ever since I stayed near there on holiday when I was a child. It is quite a hard place to find from land. The pub on the beach makes it an ideal stop over for yotties.
Menai and the Lleyn Penninsula page three
