14th - 19th October. Bowls break in Westport. Part 2.

While at the Castlecourt Hotel in Westport, all of our bowling takes place in the Dome Suite. The dome in the ceiling changes colour, so look out for it later. As the bowling mats here are laid on top of carpet then they are very slow. This means that each bowl has to be sent down the mat much faster than usual, to get it to the other end. It takes some getting used to, but is the same for everyone.

We were drawn in teams of four at the meeting on the first night. Andy is in team P in the green section, while Sally is in Red J. Sally's first game is at 9.30am on Monday. No lie-in this morning!

Andy is in action too, but not until later on.

Team Red J were pleased as this head of bowls began to develop. At this point we are holding three bowls, with the jack hidden in the middle of them, between Sally's second bowl and Marjorie's two orange ones.

Team Red J was made up of Ronnie, Marjorie, Sally and Jim Joe, our skip. We won three of our seven games this week, so we were pleased with that.

Meanwhile, Andy's team are fighting for a place in the Green finals. It all depends on this game.

With only the skips to deliver their bowls, this last end is crucial. Susan and Andrew are counting shot possibilities here for Team Green P, while Andy watches the shot. Sadly it was a drawn end, but they came a creditable second in their group.

Andrew, Marlene and Andy get together in the evening to celebrate their success.

We all enjoyed the Gala Dinner on the last evening. It has been good to get to know so many new bowling friends, as well as being with all those from Enniskillen.

14th - 19th October. Bowls break in Westport. Part 1.

Having left The Puzzler at the Round "O", we went to join our bus at the Forum, for a Bowls Break in Westport. Westport is on the West coast of Ireland, in County Mayo, so our route there took us down Glencar to Sligo, then South Westerly from there.

The clouds became quite impressive as we neared the Atlantic coast.

 We were all staying at the Castlecourt Hotel in Westport. All our bowling will be  in the Dome Suite, but there is also a swimming pool here, with sauna and jacuzzi too.

When not bowling or swimming we went out to explore the town. Carrowbeg River flows through Westport and is very picturesque.

We walked to Westport Quay, which is about two miles from the centre of town.The tide was out when we were there.

The lobster nets were piled up on the quay beside the fishing boats.

Across the bay we could see Croagh Patrick, which is 765 metres high. We met two people in the sauna at our hotel, who had just returned from climbing this mountain. They told us that it is quite difficult as the route to the top is over scree.

This crow did not mind our presence.

This hooded crow found a golf ball, and spent several minutes throwing it at stones to try and break it open. Eventually he accepted that it was not an egg!

The Greenway is a walking route along the former railway line, which skirts the south side of Westport.
The Greenway Insect Hotel was rather a contrast to our hotel! It seemed to be quite popular with its residents.

In places the path is cut through the solid rock.

Back at the other end of North Mall, the floral decorations on the bridge are still lovely, despite it being mid-October.

 As our room was at the far end of the hotel, our quickest way to bowls was outside, through the garden, where we often met this friendly cat.

We worked out that the floor area of our room at The Castlecourt Hotel was very similar to the whole floor area of The Puzzler!
Details of the bowls side of our Bowls Break will be seen soon in Part 2!