Reports of events

Mini-cruise to Bilbao - 4-7 September 2008

Bilbao ferry mastNearly a hundred people, from London together with South and Soth East Regions, left Portsmouth on the evening of Thursday 7 September. A rather choppy crossing (the Bay of Biscay isn't always calm!) meant there weren't as many opportunities for whale watching as we'd hoped, but the weather didn't damp the spirits of the party crowd.

Arriving in Bilbao on Saturday morning, different groups set off either on organised excursions to a nearby fishing town or to the famous Guggenheim Museum with its stunning architecture, or a guided tour of Old Bilbao.

Back on the ship, the sun had come out for the first part of the trip home. The bars, cinema and evening entertainment proved as popular as ever. Cruising up the English Channel on Sunday morning, the sun loungers were doing good business.

During the trip we ran photographic workshops ("how to get the best out of your camera") and a fun photographic contest for pictures taken on the trip. After a late night judging session (and an even later session printing the winning entries) we presented the prizes on Sunday morning as follows. The winning photos are below. We'll add some more general pictures from the trip in the next few days.

Abstract
Winner Rosemary Dawson Tulips Tulips - Guggenheim museum
Runner-up Maureen Denmead Guggenheim Guggemnheim museum
Commended Yvonne Hughes Artwork Wall nr Bilbao
Commended Fergus O’Connor Tulips Tulips - Guggenheim Museum
Commended Alan Holland Chessboard Chessbord on ferry
People and Places
Winner Benny Stone Sian in station Sian in station
Runner-up James Jack Ferry corridor Ferry corridor
Commended Pauline Folkes Steps and people Steps and people
Commended Yvonne Hughes Lady preparing fish Lady preparing fish
Wildlife
Winner Yvonne Hughes Dolphin from ferry Dolphin from ferry
Runner up Dan Cassidy Snail Snail
Commended Pauline Folkes Fish in pond Fish in pod