When the Clipper fleet visited Derry-Londonderry last week, I took the chance to visit the city, attend a crew presentation and get on board on of the yachts. The Geraldton Western Australia boat was open for visitors; a number of the current crew were conducting guided tours… and making sure that there were no stowaways (not sure what gave them that impression and to be honest I’m not sure there would have been any place to hide!)
Thanks go to Matthew and Norman from the Geraldton crew for an insight into their current adventure.
Afterwards, there was time to visit some of the sights that Derry-Londonderry has to offer. The city was buzzing from all the visitors, there was music in the street and the sun shone occasionally. Whilst visiting the tourist information office, I asked if I was there to take a tour on the LegenDerry Roadtrain – so I jumped at the chance to see a bit more of the city. The train reminded me of the tourist trains I had ridden on as a kid in various towns in France – I never expected to see one in Derry-Londonderry or Northern Ireland!
And then the sun came out (something of note after weeks of rain and overcast weather). I took a walk over the Peace Bridge into Ebrington Square; once an army parade ground it has been transformed into a public space and there were a number of open air concerts taking place in the square as part of the Clipper Homecoming Festival. It was a great place to sit, drink tea and look back over the river towards the city centre.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain
Thanks Sis!