We arrived in Bantry expecting to stay for 4 or 5 days – but then some unusual Irish weather showed up – in the form of 3 named storms within a week! We decided to stay put – even taking a couple of days on a marina pontoon – since the new Bantry marina is very sheltered within the harbour… Winds forecast at over 50 knots came as forecast – but we were fortunate in our sheltered berth to see ‘only’ 43knots! It looked horrendous just outside the harbour – where we’d been!

We ended up staying in Bantry for 2 weeks, making the best of whenever breaks in the weather presented themselves, to get out and about and enjoyed a couple of nice walks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took a bus ride over to Glengarriff to visit the famous gardens on the island of Garinish…

 

What a contrast now – a high has arrived and is sitting over Ireland and England giving us beautiful clear sunny and cool days. We had a cracking sail from Bantry down to Crookhaven and tomorrow we’re debating going just around the corner to Sckull, a little further to Castletownshend or a bit of a reach and go all the way to Kinsale… Since we’re no good at keeping to a plan, you’ll have to wait to find out where we ended up!

The only thing we’re missing is buddies! We seem to be the only cruising boat left in Ireland!

 

Best guess, it was 51 years ago that the Balme family rolled up in their C reg Cortina Estate and plonked a couple of tents in a field by Killmackillogue’s harbour. (Interestingly, the chart has it’s spelling as Killmackiloge and actually where we are is Bunaw Harbour…) Anyway, a story I often tell (actually it was my Dad’s story, but I adopted it)… In the morning, Dad and I walked down to the harbour where there’s only a couple of buildings – one of which is a Pub… Dad looked in and the publican came out to greet him with; “I’m terribly sorry Sir, we’re not open quite yet, but if you’d care to come in, you can have a drink while yer waitin’!”… Instead of staying there just a day or two, we spent our entire 2 week vacation in Killmackillogue.

The pub is still there – though the new owner, Helen, only moved in in 1974 so didn’t remember me and the fact that I drank the pub dry of ginger beer 51 years previously!

What a fantastic place this is. Laurie, skeptical that it was simply a run down memory lane for me agrees – it was a really relaxing week in a very beautiful and secluded spot. We were able to take several walks – even to the top of Knockatee – a distinctive hill above Killmackillogue – and were able to end the walks at a marvellous pub – where Helen provided the very best mussels and crab or salmon sandwiches.

We came for a couple of days – spent a week! Highly recommend this beautiful and quiet spot on the south shore of the Kenmare River.

Notes on navigation – if you come here, especially at night (no, don’t do it!), aim for the channel markers – right at them! If you stray just 20 ft to the right of the last red, you’ll be in amongst the mussel rafts – which are unlit! The leading lights into Bunaw harbour at night would be good – if you dare – during the day, they’re not turned on – but the Navionics charts are accurate, so no worries. We anchored the first night, but were offered the tour boat, Rosa’s 3 ton mooring – so took it. Glad we had it as we had quite the blow one night.

Next stop: Bantry.

 

We’ve been in DIngle for a touch over a week now and it’s been a lovely – sitting on the dock!

OCC Port Officer, Harvey Kenny was very resourceful and entertaining – arranging for Customs to clear us in here in Dingle, taking us on a tour of DIngle Peninsula, regaling us with stories from his time as a judge and then best of all, picking up our Chart Chip from a chandler in Cork. Thanks so much Harvey!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abigail came to visit us – along with her friends Tanner and Christine. It was a bit of a squeeze on Toodle-oo! – cosy! but we all managed. Got to take a nice 8 mile walk around Brandon Point – nice other than it was a wee bit damp under foot for those without waterproof shoes.

 

Dingle itself is a very nice town – touristy but that kind of adds to the atmosphere here. We’ve not seen Fungie – the Dolphin that has made the town famous, and earned it many millions of tourist Euros – but we see boatload after boatload going out for a quick glimpse of the none too shy Dolphin. We’re all wondering what happens when he passes away – he’s been here 40 years and I gather life expectancy is only 24. Hopefully they’re training up a replacement!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strange occurrence yesterday – found a dead seagull on our bimini! It had apparently flown

through the windmill! Poor bugger died with lunch in his beak!

 

We were going to leave this morning for Kilmakiloge up the Kenmare river some 50 miles away – but as we lay in bed this morning at 8:00 (our scheduled departure time!) it was blowing a hoolie outside so we decided better of it and we’ll just head across the bay to Valentia once the wind eases a little.