We awoke to calm – no wind buffeting Henrietta, not even wind noise. Pulling up the blinds we inspected the sea – not even a ripple! With great confidence we phone the National Trust ticket office, Lockley Lodge (01646 636 800) at 08:30 to ensure that the ferries were running. “I am sorry, there will be no ferry trips due to the strength of the wind”. There wasn't any wind! However, our protests wouldn't do any good, we weren't going to get to Skomer today.
Unlike yesterday, it was overcast and none too warm. We sat outside with jumpers on and in the late morning it became almost warm as weak sunshine appeared. Rob Thomas, the tenant farmer for the National Trust farm, came over and had a chat, expressing surprise that we hadn't gone to Skomer and we explained that it was due to the (non-existent) wind. He surmised, as I had, that there must be a forecast of stronger winds later in the day. The first ferry off Skomer back to the mainland is at 15:00, so any change in the weather before then would be a problem. As we chatted, a breeze started, the weak sunshine disappeared and the temperature dropped. We abandoned the outside chairs and retreated inside the van. By early afternoon Henrietta was swaying in the wind and the sea was decidedly rough – they had been correct to cancel the ferries.
We wrapped up well and went for a short walk in the afternoon, calling in to the National Trust Lockley Lodge to ask about the prospects for tomorrow. 50/50 we were told. There was still a northerly wind in the morning (bad news) but it was moving around to the west in the afternoon. If the wind wasn't too strong in the morning, the ferries would probably run.
Whilst we were in Lockley Lodge we were also able to confirm that the bird that we had seen yesterday was a Marsh Harrier.
Photos: The closest we have got to seeing a puffin. Two concrete puffins guard the gateway to West Hook Farm. One of the campers has even written an ode to them!
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