Dingle dangle Dingle

Dingle.

Well we got here at about 1500. Saw the harbour master got the secret code for the gate and our 2Euro tokens for the showers. Went walk about had a pint at John Bennys Sally thought she was ordering a Beamish but got a Bulmers Cider instead the bartender kindly took it back and brought her the pint and change to boot and didn’t want it(the change as a tip either) so it was put into the pizza retirement fund instead. Dianne met us there and then took us out for a very nice dinner at the Bistro (recommended to us by Whalbix). We returned to the good ship exhausted. Sally noticed that the AIS antenna was at a 90*angle to what it should be! Gosh Darn another job to do! Made arrangements with harbour master for a ladder.  Weather will dictate travel plans for the morrow.

Friday July 8 2016. We’re still here! Weather is the I’ll just leave it at that. I serviced the engine and had a think while Sally and Dianne went for a walk. Tides dictated an 1230 departure for Fenit. Decided not to go. Dianne contacted Kevin and Meta to tell them we wouldn’t be coming to Fenit so they agreed to come to us on Sat. Hammering down rain so we hired a cab to take us out to some of the Neolithic sites and to see some of the scenery. A very agreeable way to spend a half a day. Returned to Dingle and did a bit of shopping

Saturday July 9 2016. Kevin and Meta came for lunch and picked us up and drove us back to their place in Tralea where we spent the night.

Sunday July 10 2016 Tralea. Up around 0900 breakfast downtown for walkabout Garda Station to see about extention and Goodbys to Dianne. Sally and I bus back to Dingle got the ladder and fixed the antenna after everyone had gone home so as not to be a witness if one of us fell off. We had to put the ladder on the boat and lean it against the radar post. Sally then braced it while I gingerly crept up it. It was 1 step to short so I had to stand on the very top against the wobbly post brace myself with my chin on the top of the radar while holding on with my right hand and using my left hand to try and take the wire part of the antenna out. I managed to hold onto the antenna as the wire was completely  loose and I couldn’t tighten it up! Phooy I said so then I had to take the whole thing off and get back down into the cockpit to fix the (*&^%)#@! Thing. It had never been tightened down from the factory 4 years ago! I have no idea how the whip stayed in all the way up to and around Norway for 3 years and 3 winters and this long this year! I put it all together put the crimp on and tightend it right up. Sally then went up the ladder while I braced it and put it back on. I then went up and secured it all.

Monday July 11 2016. Walk about stuff and went in search of propane. After 3 tries we found the right place and they would deliver. Bonus did some shopping and pretty much had an easy day just the two of us. Called the Garda about an extension for our stay. Sally talked to the officer said no problem she would do it if we had our flights booked. We made an appointment for Tuesday as we would be in tralea anyway to meet our new crew Mark. No problem. Emailed our Travel Guru Dianne Webb done deal.

Tuesday July 12 2016. Up early to catch the early bus that we missed by 5 minutes! We also got a Sad call that our friend Chris McKibbon had a heart Attack and died in Kemptville. A Real Bummer. Had a coffee and sticky bun and caught the next Bus and were just in time to see the Garda Officer. Nice lady she came in on a holiday day to help us. We got stamped and walked outside and our buddy Mark was standing on the sidewalk. Our other friend David Brown was driving in to see us for lunch so had a good visit with him and he kindly drove us out to the marina at Fenit to pick up a new radio. And he showed us the big Bronze statue of St. Brenden pointing out to the West. We then went for a pint and we three got the bus back into Dingle walked to the Marina got a cart and went and bought some diesel. Installed the new radio and made the boat ready for the morning.