The pick-ups were due to start at the Temple Bar at 8am, with the last one being from Pontrilas at about 9 am, but everyone got to their position so early (!) that we were all on our way earlier than expected. The coach sat all 30 of us comfortably so we relaxed for the 4 hour trip to Poole. We stopped for a break at about 11 am at the Lakeside Garden Centre just south of Warminster. At that stage, everything seemed to be going according to Ray's well-worked plan (get to Poole in plenty of time for 2pm boarding of ferry to Jersey; get off ferry at St. Helier, Jersey, at about 6.30; short trip by coach to hotel then dinner soon after 7pm). However, soon after leaving Warminster, Ray heard that there was a problem with the ferry. We got to Poole in good time only to find out that the ferry to Jersey had been cancelled. Instead, at about 3.30pm, we got onto a ferry to Guernsey (4 hours) where, after a short delay, we got onto another ferry, this time to St. Helier (Jersey). A coach was there to take us to the Merton Hotel where we checked in around midnight. The problems of Condor Ferries made the national news the next day and were headline news in the Channel Islands.

Photos contributed by: Peter & Jackie BG. Contributions sought from others.

Reference	Description	Images : maximum size : 600 pixels in either direction
E15M1A	The coach whilst at the Lakeside Garden Centre where we stopped for coffee & cake or similar.
E15M1B	Waiting in the Poole Ferry Port. The cancellation of a ferry could not be dealt with by simply shuffling times around because approaching & leaving Jersey had to make due allowance for Jersey's tides. Guernsey does not have major tides but Jersey is reputed to have the world's 3rd most significant routine tides.
E15M1C	Leaving Poole.
E15M1D	Entering St. Peter Port, Guernsey. It was too dark to take any photos on the onward trip from Guernsey to Jersey!
E15M1E	The Channel Islands comprise Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou & Brechou plus various uninhabited islets. They are part of the British Isles but are not part of either the United Kingdom or the European Union, having a 'special relationship' with both. The islands were part of the Duchy of Normandy when William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England in 1066. When King John lost much of his lands in France, the Channel Islands decided to remain with England as 'Crown dependencies'. They have their own legal & economic systems but their residents have full British citizenry.

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