Well, a day and a half, actually. We arrived on Friday evening, about 17:00. Louise pumped the dinghy and we went ashore.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Lundy landing"]
[/caption]A long climb up a steep hill, passing signs telling us dogs were not allowed (we already knew that, so Tigger stayed at home with my mother) and that we should call in the pub and pay a £5 landing fee.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Looking down at the moorings from the top of Lundy"]
[/caption]We wandered around the South end and then on up to the old light.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lundy old light"]
[/caption]This was open, and we climbed to the top for spectacular views, East and West, way out over the Bristol channel.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Surveying the channel from Lundy old light"]
[/caption]We wandered down the the Marisco Tavern and duly paid our £5 each. Tested the beer, curiously enough called 'Lundy Old light', I've no idea where they get these names from.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="and very good it was too......"]
[/caption]And thence back to Ishtar. Louise enjoyed a tantalising few seconds stretched between the tender and Ishtar before finally succumbing to gravity and taking a swim. She does so like the water. Cider related? Who can tell.
Friday night is curry night on Ishtar (and off her). Louise prepared a delicious meal, with chapattis, papadoms and a king prawn vindaloo. Perfect.
Up early and shore on Saturday. Walked up to the village and then on Northwards up the East side of the island to the North light.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lundy, East side"]
[/caption]There are many oldbuildings representing Lundy's long history. Some have been restored, others are in ruins leaving one to muse on what they were like when full of life in years gone by.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lundy ruins"]
[/caption]It took about an hour and a half to walk to the light at the North end. Stunning views, but I'd recommend good boots.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lundy, North light"]
[/caption]By this time, our feet were sore, but it was a beautiful late summer/early autumn day, warm and balmy and the Bristol channel sparkled in the sunlight.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Looking West"]
[/caption]We walked back to the village. Bought some more water and juice in the shop. The bells in the church rang out and a folk group performed shanties outside the Marisco tavern. Lundy was 40 years old today!. That is to say, the island was given to the National trust 40 years ago, and the last owner, now an old lady, had come over on the Oldenburg from ilfrcombe to join in the celebrations.
Refreshed, we set off back for the West side, as the afternoon heated up. Found a breathtaking small ruin right at the cliff edge, near the old light.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Ruin, lundy, West side"]
[/caption]
As the day wore on, we relaxed, very tired after our exertions and with sore feet. The duck pond was surprisingly cool, as was the attitude of the ducks towards me refreshing my feet in their pond.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Duck pond"]
[/caption]We finished our circumnavigation of Lundy at the South light, just as the Oldenburg was about to leave. The island became much quieter then, as it was when we arrived the previous night. Selfish, I know, but it felt as if it was our own private island, when all the day trippers had left.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Oldenburg "]
[/caption]I had an excellent 5 bean chili in the pub, with two great pints of Lundy ale. Louise had Mushroom stroganoff. Garlic bread and extra chips were shared. Way too much, despite our appetites. Tired, and slightly sad to be leaving early in the morning, we returned to the beach and Louise rowed us back out to Ishtar. I'd seen this on a headstone earlier. It had many meanings, but summed up how I felt about Lundy, perfectly.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="It's been a lovely day."]
[/caption]It's been a lovely day.
Lundy Island. Beautiful.
