Day 129, Tuesday 9 May
With Sligo Airport, Sligo City, Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station and brother Phil’s choice of “B&B in Sligo” all being very well spaced, it became necessary to call upon the good services of Vincent and Joe, the good-humoured, patient local taxi drivers with The Sligo Knowledge. I could get used to being chauffeured around. Here’s a thought: work out the value of your car, add the running costs, including tax, insurance, service & repairs. Divide that figure by the cost of the average taxi fare. How many taxi rides would you get?
Better than that, get on yer bike more often.
Many thanks to Thomás and Ash at the excellent Red Lodge B&B for the help, advice and local contact information, and to Phil for finding the place!
The two Flybros joined me for today’s first Lifeboat Station visit at Sligo Bay. No, they didn’t cycle down to Rosses Point. Taxi for them, Fondo for me. Another beautiful setting on another fine day.
Thanks Dermot, ex Lifeboat crew and now all important shore crew and chairman of the Station fundraising committee, for the full tour and loads of useful information. The Station’s beautifully maintained Atlantic 85, fastest class on the fleet, was one of many boats involved in last month’s extended search for the missing crew members from the recent Rescue 116 Coastguard helicopter tragedy.
Onwards and upwards. Farewell to Neil & Phil. Mind the sheep and the mountain on take-off. There’s almost always a bit of a climb up, away from a Lifeboat Station. They’re usually found at the useful altitude of sea level, or a few feet above. And so to the next port of call today, via the beautiful setting of Drumcliffe, where W.B. Yeats is buried.
Bundoran ILB Station has an identical Atlantic 85 to the one seen a few hours earlier in Sligo Bay. Luckily for me, this visit coincides with this evening’s regular exercise and crew training.
It was a privilege to meet so many of you and to see the launch and recovery of the Lifeboat, watching an Atlantic 85 effortlessly motor out of Donegal Bay and head out towards its name-sake Ocean, then return at sunset.
Many thanks to crew members Killian (Helm), Rory, Mark, Hugh, Chris, Fergal, Oisín and Shane (PO & Comms). Good luck for a safe and successful summer.
rnli coastal cycle ride 
Great to see you at Sligo, Steve. Many extra thanks to Dermot for kindly giving us a lift back to the airport. The trip back was uneventful, except that head wind meant we arrived at Haverfordwest ten minutes after the tower closed and there was nobody on the radio.
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Anyone still manning the fuel bowser? Or did you have enough?
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