Picto Diary - 01 June 2015 - Ferry (not Brian)
Above: MotoQuest tour leader, Lynn Brown (left) and Keith, who lives near West Point, NY, line up to board ferry, "Manannan," from Liverpool to Douglas, Isle of Man. 01 June 2015.
The logo of the ferry company, Steam Packet, is seen above on the side of the ferry.
The logo is also that the flag of the Isle of Man, showing three legs... always landing on one's feet.
Steam Packet ferries serve the Isle of Man from Liverpool: Heysham, England; Dublin, Ireland; and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Above: A few of a thousand bikes line up to board the ferry from Liverpool to the Isle of Man. 01 June 2015.
The ferry has been specially converted to carry more motorcycles and fewer cars.
I have taken a motorcycle on ferries before, but today's experience was a bit different. The sheer scale of the ferry boarding operation, because it will carry mostly motorcycles, is worth the experience on its own account.
In a light rain, boarding the ferry requires skill handling the motorcycle as the rider must make tight turns on grades, ride up slippery ramps, and across iron ferry floors, with nubs protruding, into a narrow line of bikes. It is amazing how every rider cooperates with the ferry staff, and how, at least as far as I saw, their were no incidents... dropped bikes etc.
Ferry company employees are there to motion which direction you should take. When you arrive at your position, a couple of guys come with ropes to tie your bike to a waist high bar against which your bike leans left on its side stand. After parking your bike at the bar, you must dismount from the right. My bike was so close to the bar that I could barely extract my left foot.
One gets a sense how skilled the riders are as they adeptly conform to the required maneuvers to get their bike secured on the ferry. Most ferry boarders are European riders, most of whom have ridden motorcycles or motor scooters since they were teens.
In Europe there is a strong history of motorcycles and scooters being used as transportation. In the US, most motorcycles and scooters are used for recreation, with many US riders only having started riding later in life.
While many American riders are skilled... there are also a good number who don't have the experience of the average European rider.
Above BMW K1200 GT boarding Isle of Man bound ferry in Liverpool. 01 June 2015.
Bike tag is for Queensland, Oz.
Above: Interior of Steam Packet company ferry "Manannan" configured for motorcycles. 01 June 2015.
My rented BMW R1200 GS is down there somewhere!
Full disclosure, at the end of the ferry ride I forgot where my bike was and squirmed and wiggled past people down the wrong line in search of my bike. I didn't find my bike until the motorcycles were almost ready to go. I would have had 20 or 30 riders behind me, delayed, muttering under their breath about my tardiness, had I arrived at my tied up motorcycle only a minute later than I did.
Note: Bookings for these ferries to the Isle of Man TT races must be made more than a year in advance.
Addendum
I am jealous.
Comic Mom,
Park City, UT
Steve
This brings back many memories. I lived 12 miles from Liverpool as a child. A trip to Liverpool was a special weekend event. I then went to a school in Liverpool for one year.
I have a classmate who lives in Shopshire about 3 miles from Shrewsbury. He bought an old manor house and about 45 acres of land. After the closing he found that on his land he owned a church and the water works for his village. He persuaded the Church of England to accept the church as a gift. He ran the waterworks. He made his land a sanctuary for a herd of deer. The traditional servants quarters he turned into a set of townhouses and apartments that he rents out.
I never made it to the Isle of Man.
Enjoy your trip.
The Pope,
Tallahassee, FL
Hi Steve,
We live 20 miles from Stonehenge and rode with you to Prudhoe Bay. Stonehenge is not what it was. Did you know when it was on private land they would hire you a hammer and chisel to take a piece home!
Enjoy the I.O.M.
Regards,
Colin,
Near Stonehenge, England
Colin... good to hear from you. Interesting to here of your whereabouts. We could have made a rendezvous. I also have friends in Devon... which is not so close. Please get in touch if you and Shirley are riding in Utah.
Stonehenge Visit -my initial visit was similar to yours is we just drove up in the car maybe half a dozen people around look for the meaning and enjoyed; I do remember it was cloudy on this rainy day it gave up a very spooky feeling /:( have a wonderful safe ride.
Mr. Z3
Ojai, CA
That Isle of Man Tour was a tour designed by Andy Goldfine when Aerostich was "married" to Motoquest.....
Redacted note from friend