In the morning we took a ferry over to Inis Mor, one of the Aran Islands. Half way across, an Irish Coast Guard helicopter came up behind us and proceeded to hover over the boat, close enough that they could lower a man down. The boat never slowed as the helicopter maintained this position for about 10 minutes. People took pictures and the three of us looked around for suspicious individuals and planned our escape routes. The war had just started and it was a little nerve racking not knowing what was going on. Then as quick as it had showed up, it left.
Upon disembarking, we asked the captain what had happened. "Didn't you hear my announcement?" Announcement? "The Coast Guard uses the ferry for training exercises all the time. They are really good at maintaining speed and height. You should see them in a storm they are very impressive. Sometimes they even lower a man onto the ferry." Well, it would have been more impressive if we had heard that damn announcement.
We rented bikes and biked all over the island, then back to the ferry area for a pre-departing drink. As we boarded the ferry, the crewmembers helping people on board told the people in front of us to watch their heads. As we approached, they didn't say a word. "How come you didn't tell us to watch our heads?" I asked. "You three wouldn't have felt it." Nice.
On the way back in the ferry, Elaine and I were downstairs and Robyne was on the upper deck when we heard the "announcement." It sounded like it came straight from the Charlie Brown teachers. "Waw, wa wa wa waw." Elaine and I looked at each other, "Coast Guard!" and bolted upstairs. This time the Coast Guard did lower someone onto the deck and raised him back up. They were so close you could see the facial expressions of the people in the helicopter. Much more enjoyable after hearing the announcement!
