Tarbert to NewRoss

Wed., Aug.,12 2015.

So we left the last lock or first lock at Ardrishaig depending on which way your  going and headed to Tarbert 7 or 8 miles down the coast. Another Motor boat trip with the only interesting happening was seeing a steam powered paddle wheeler coming up the coast at about 20 knots! Turns out it was the last Clyde steamer in operation.

We arrived at Tarbert at low water and there was a very narrow marked channel into the inner harbour where the marina was. We threaded our way in found an empty pontoon and secured the boat hooked up the hydro (know as Electric over here). Sally and Margaret went and caught the bus back to fetch the car. Tony had phoned and made reservations for us all for dinner at Stone Fish. Very nice and not particularily expensive! We returned  to the boat and had a good nights sleep.

Thurs Aug. 13 2015. Good thing it isn’t Fri!

All up early as the sun is out and it’s actually Hot! Whoopee summer is here! We went for a walk about and up to the castle on top of the hill! Margaret just made it! Nice walk tried to do some geo caches without any luck. Returned to the boat for lunch and then got Margaret to the Ferry as she was heading home. Still not over her cold. We had T&A and D&D for drinks and an early night.

Fri. Aug 14 2015 up early  Quick showers and off the dock by 0700 heading to Campbell Town another MB trip in foggy hazy conditions so not much scenery and pretty boring all in all except for the last hour when we had 15 to 20 on the nose! Go figure. We made our way up to the Marina and the marina manager was on the pontoon waiting for us and directed us into a slip and took our lines. We secured the boat and went off up town for a walk and a whiskey tour at the local Still. Didn’t like the product so didn’t buy any! Went to the Hotel for a pint and internet to check the weather for tomorrow, then returned to the boat for lamb chops for dinner.

Sat. Aug 15 2015 Woke up to heavy rain and wind Oh Joy. Forecast was for it to diminish later in the day. Hope so! As we determined we needed to leave at 1400 to catch a fair tide across the North channel to Ireland. We’re really just on a delivery now! Running with and dependent on weather windows with favorable tides. We went up town for breakfast  and to the Library for the internet. Checking the weather again, window still open.

The wind dropped as forecast and off we went for Bangor Northern Ireland. It was back to our usual summer weather 4 layers and when it got dark we were up to six. Sailed most of the trip at 6-7 knots. Nice sunset and arrived at Bangor early Sun. morning.

Sun. Aug. 15 2015.

0001 We are having a nice night. The stars are out and this is the first time we have seen them all summer! Dark on the water but the lights of Bangor and Belfast give us enough light for us to see the buoys, but dark enough we can see the other boats and ships that toing and frowing from Belfast harbour.  0100 we entered the Marina found an opening on the hammerhead of a pontoon tied up and hit the sack. Tired campers we were. 0430 Wide awake! Whom m I kidding? Stumbled out of bed put the kettle on checked the weather, Still OK so underway at 0500 with the tide that will carry us South for 96 miles to Dublin we hope.

Well it didn’t. we had a nice ride until we were off theSkerries and then the wind wind filled in from the S/E where it wasn’t forcasted which put it on our nose at 15 knots so our speed and comfort went for a dump! We were down to 2 to 4 knots with lots of banging , thumping and rolling. We persevered only because we didn’t have a choice and made it to Howth  at about 0830. Dark windy an no stars here! Also they had taken out all the marks we were used to and replaced them with small cones. Low tide so we gingerly entered into the marina saw a spot on the outside of a hammerhead started to turn around and touched bottom! Came to a stop! Reversed, ¾ throttle popped out like a cork from a bottle! Wiggled foreward in 4ft of water. We usually need 5 ½ made it along side. Had a drink and collapsed into bed. Oh and Rain to finish off the day!

Mon. Aug 17 2015

0400 UP! Baahh!! Tides remember. Underway at 0500 for Graystones. It was just light enough we could see all the marks. Didn’t touch and we motor sailed all the way arriving at around 0830. First time here. A nice new facility still under construction with a huge breakwall surrounding the whole place. We tied up had something to eat had to pay our tyth of 10 pounds as we were only staying to catch a favourable tide. Underway again at 1400 for Arklow. We only have 24 hours to make Kilmore Quay before the excrement hits the fan again An uneventfull passage in sunshine and down to 2 layers! Found space on the pontoon secured and went up to the mall for some shopping and had burgers for dinner as neither of us wanted to cook! Early to bed getting exhausted!

Tues. Aug 18 2015

0100 I should be going to bed but getting up instead! We got under way with the tide and no wind. Cleared out of the Harbour course set to round Arklow head which we did in ½ hour then set the auto pilot to take us down the Irish Sea. Sally went back to bed for a while. It was a nice fast passage at 7-9 knots and we arrived at Kilmore Quay at 0830. John and Carol Gibbon joined us for the trip around the Hook and up the Barrow river. The tide change and we were underway at 1300 with a bit of a breeze on the Nose but with the tide we made it around the corner and headed up stream Sailed for about 2 whole hours without the Motor on! Wow!! Tide changed wind got fluky and dropped so on went the motor and we made good time up the New Ross Boatyard our winter home again!