The premium lounge was only about 1/3 filled, and most of
the travelers were either small groups or business people working on their computers.
It was extremely quiet – even the TVs were turned down. I watched the Olympics
without sound from commentators, which I thought improved the coverage.
The sea was flat. The ferry passed by several wind farms,
with dozens of windmills planted in the sea, as well as a few oil and gas
platforms. Fortunately, the captain was not watching the Olympics. He announced that the ferry traveled at 18 knots, which seemed
about the speed the 8-oar crew teams rowed.
The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea, approximately
equidistant from Scotland, England, and Ireland. The island, itself, is about
33 miles long and about 13 miles wide. Its highest peak has an elevation of
just over 2,000 feet.
There are several main hiking routes on the island, all of
which appear to be accessible from a comprehensive public transportation
system. Once I get the transportation figured out, I’ll start planning some
walks. It does seem strange to think about spending yet more time on
transports.
