the Isle of Man and the TT race 2011

Mike and I spent a wonderful 9 days exploring the Isle of Man and watching fast bikes.
Photographing the bikes were a challenge, I took a lot of pictures of just empty roads. Some of this was because I was using either my phone or my old Canon Powershot A95. I wasn't going to take my new camera in a rucksack on the back of Mike's bike, too heavy and too risky!
This was our bike, as we set off...

Still in Wales, at that point. En route to the ferry at Liverpool.
This was the queue awaiting the ferry to Douglas, Isle of Man.



2 days we spent outside this pub, in Ballaugh. Between races being called of from bad weather and even a tragic accident, it was still fun, even behind the Germans that seemed at least 2 feet taller than me. But taking good photos? No way... but please judge for yourself...

They had even brought chairs.... just like the ones who beat us to the sunbeds with their towels, all along the Costa Del whatsit.

I tried.. with my phone.. hands above head... finally I got a picture of something other than an empty road!



2 days later we were in the same place, but I tried with my old camera... better?

The race was stopped
You can see I was not the only one to try and photograph these 2 riders. One, on the burgundy bike, is Connor Cummings, a local lad, who had been in a severe accident in 2010. Now certainly heading for a full recovery.
(the pictures will enlarge if you click on them)

He even had long enough to stop for a cuppa!
Spot the speed camera!
The above picture was taken by Mike, being more able to reach round the Germans and stretch further. I like the way you can spot the speed camera between the 2 bikers. That is to catch speeding motorists all the year round... and bikers!
But it wasn't all bikes. The Isle of Man did seem very similar to Anglesey and had its own beauty.

Castletown Police Station, above.



I did get dragged around the entire course, all 37 miles of it, on the Saturday, when I thought the racing had finished. Unfortunately the road was full of bikers and car drivers who were determined to relive the excitement...it was terrifying... but I hung on because I wanted to see this pub... Creg-Ny-Baa...I had no idea until my cousin told me but this famous pub was once run/owned by a great great uncle of mine. My family used to come here for piss ups many generations ago too.