The forecast is really against us with an inshore strong wind warning for our area and force 6 to 7 predicted in the weather forecasting models. Indeed it was really blowing hard when we woke up so we caught the bus to Downpatrick, had a coffee and then caught the bus to Stangford and immediately jumped on the ferry over to Portaferry. You see these places as you enter and leave Strangford Lough and although they have pontoons and visitor buoys they all seem too much in the main current to be comfortable, so a visit by land seemed called for.
Portaferry was a little disappointing although we met a nice lady in the craft shop who was making silk and felt scarves. Beautifully soft and tactile. There wasn’t really that much more to see (gave the aquarium a miss), so we caught the ferry back to Strangford, wandered around and had a nice lunch. Then there was time to do some shopping before catching the bus back to Downpatrick.
We didn’t have long to wait in Downpatrick for the bus back to Ardglass and we were soon back onboard by around 5 o’clock. The forecast is still not that great for going south.