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To Lundy for Church

Words by Martin Longhurst

Pictures by Chris Warner (CW) and Martin Longhurst (ML)

Following two weeks severely disrupted by weather, the Waverley was able to make her annual pilgrimage to Lundy Island to allow some of her passengers to take part in a special service at St Helena's Church. Her voyage south had been interupted three times by bad weather forcing her to seek shelter at Greenock, Belfast and Wicklow. Following her dramatic arrival at Ilfracombe on Sunday 26 May, she spent the next day off service at Avonmouth. Subsequently she suffered further cancellations and one diversion from Clevedon to Portishead.

Sunday 2 June started bright and sunny as the paddler lay at anchor just off Clevedon.

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Having weighed anchor, she steamed the short distance to come alongside at 07.30, ready for her departure at 08.00.

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Once underway, the latest modifications to the engineroom skylight were spotted. Here two followers pray to the mighty steam gods.

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The early part of the cruise was in bright and fine weather. Unfortunately it changed abruptly just before Ilfracombe, becoming cold and misty.

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At Ilfracombe, Lundy's regular ferry MS Oldenburg was alongside for the weekend.

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Captain College made his landfall towards the north of the Island before turning parallel to the coast to come alongside the Pier.

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Shortly after this, visibility was greatly restricted ...

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... by a sudden sidestep by the Editor of Paddle Wheels!

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This view shows the unusual design of the Pier to cater for the large tidal range.

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Returning to Ilfracombe, Waverley used the low water berth.

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At the end of the long day, Waverley's passengers queued up to climb the long stairs up Clevedon Pier.

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