Thank goodness for the Boathouse. In 2020 Marguerite, Jude, Ben and Holly really did make great use of this little gem of a getaway.
This was the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of August ........ a time when this gang should have been in Spain ...... but instead they made do with a little holiday in Portaferry.
Ohhh .... and Jude cycled down from Glenavy today ...... all 40 miles of it ..... 2 hours 35 minutes. It was a lovely day for it!
2020 has been a tough enough year. No camping, no summer concerts, no foreign summer holiday, no Lilly Johnston's .... the list goes on. You had to make your own fun and these regular trips to Portaferry were just perfect.
This particular trip to Portaferry would finish the summer off nicely ..... just before Ben would start P4.
And Ben's homeschooling ran all the way through the summer ...... 2 hours a day Mon - Fri ....... it helped keep some kind of focus to the days, rather than each day just being the same on repeat ....... since March. So Ben was delighted to get the last week in August off!!
With Covid still widespread restaurants and bars were still operating on social distancing ....... but with Holly on board now, Marguerite, Jude and Ben blended in well enough anyway because eating outdoors had become their new normal anyway.
They have a few favourite spots. Here they are tucked up on a nice waterfront bench at the Portaferry Hotel. Many beautiful afternoons were spent there this summer munching on a family size portion of Mussels!
While Marguerite and Jude would have a beer .... or two ....... Ben would climb on the railings ...... like a monkey. Often Marguerite and Jude would send him off down to Blaney's shop to get himself a sweet or two ...... to keep him happy like.
Portaferry is a beautiful place. Of course Jude grew up here but nowadays it is more like a holiday each time they come down.
A visit over to Strangford is usually on the cards .......
....... and a nice pic or two can be taken on the Ferry boat.
Having Holly along is great. As mentioned above .... she loves these little getaways. And it's great that the Boathouse is dog friendly ...... had they not have been then 2020 would have been a lot less fun for this family ...... that's for sure.
Another great venue (also dog friendly) is the Lobster Pot in Strangford. Here is Marguerite enjoying the outdoor space in the beer garden / restaurant area.
Having Kevin Og's shop right next door to the Lobster Pot means Ben is in and out of there a lot ...... single handedly keeping Kevin's business well and truly in the black!
Holly loves her walks on the beach. This spot is right in front of the Boathouse. Beautiful!!
Holly blends in so easily at the Boathouse. The owners also have a Ladradoodle ....... he's black ..... and called Harry.
The last time Ben and Jude caught a fish was Halloween last year. Wha? Yes, seriously ....... Oct 2019!
And they had no success on this trip. Maybe next time!
Ben and Jude enjoy the fishing ....... it's peaceful, you are in the middle of such beautiful scenery ...... and it is exciting ...... even if you are not the greatest fishermen around.
The scenery. This pic was taken from the decking at the Boathouse ....... you can never tire of the views here.
'We're all going on our summer holidays ...... no more working for a day-or-two ....... fun and laughter on our summer holidays'.
Ben loves strolling along the waterfront. There is always something to do ........
.......... searching for creatures and treasures.
Portaferry is surrounded by beaches. This one at Knockinelder is one of the favourites.
Picnic time.
When Jude was a kid he and his friends would cycle over to here a lot during summer time to spend a day running around and playing on the beach.
Ben soaked!
Ben and Marguerite ........... you can't beat a day at the beach in summer time.
And so ended another lovely weekend in Portaferry ...... and Ben's summer holidays. He would start P4 the following day.
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