ON THE FERRY GOING OVER

We left Bilbao on the 8.30 ferry to Portsmouth arriving at the same hour on Tuesday 4^th July. The wind was light and the temperature was around 23C. It’s all so easy it certainly is much better than the constant waiting at airports. There is not that much to say but it is relaxing with no need to rush around.

Birds and marine life were very disappointing to start with but we soon had three separate sightings   of dolphin. The ‘ORCA’ representative on board soon enlightened us and I can now tell whether it is a common dolphin or not. I later stood with him on the upper deck and saw clearly the markings of this species. Birding was slow but then there were (possibly) either Cory’s or Sooty Shearwaters skimming the waves. I may be able to tell the difference one day!  Then there were immature Gannets flying overhead. I know that they are not adult because the book says so and the older ones are too busy parenting – it’s that time of year. No bloody whales though – princely or otherwise.  

We arrived and the photo below was our first view of Blighty!