Belfast and was it?

Assuming your all rested, I shall continue.

Monday August 1 2016.

Slept in. Because we could! Woke to a Bright Sunny warm day! Spoke to Tim the harbour master who showed us how to work the self help pay your fee terminal. Then moved over to a finger pontoon leaving all the seagulls behind. We put the sail covers on and then loaded up some geo caches in the phone and went off to the city centre just up and across the river. Doing geo caching on the way. Got a bunch if you wanted to know. Found the Tourista Office got a bunch of reading material had an expensive not so good coffee and returned to the boat with sore feet, knees and other stuff., there to await our third guest of the summer Margaret (of the Scotland, Toronto Margaret's) who arrived promptly around 7ish or 1900ish for those who use alternate time systems. We then had Beefs Burgundyish for our evening meal.

Tuesday Aug.,2/16 Happy Birthday to my favorite sister Andrea. Breakfast (Cereal, homemade RasinBran for me and something healthy for Sally and Margaret, who by the way is a snorrrrrrrer. Then off to the Titanic. The Centre not the boat as most of you know the boat sank a few years ago after bumping into an Iceberg. We walked to the Centre as it was only about 10 minutes from where we were tied up. Arrived at 1100 and left at the end of the day around 1630! It was fascinating. More about the Ship building and harbour of Belfast and Harlan and Wolf and all of the other ships than the actual Titanic. It also had a ride that took you down and alongside the hull of a ship with the riveters and all that stuff. Sally didn’t scream once! I’m proud of her. We stumbled back to the boat exhausted and Sally made Fish cakes with the rest of the Tory Island Pollock and an Omelet for dinner. After a drink and catchup with Margaret we toddled off to bed.

Wed. Aug. 3/16 0700

 One eye is open! Everything is grey. Should I open the other or close the first occupied me until 0730 then nature caught up and so I got up. Even in port I do the usual, fill the kettle with water from the hand pump in the galley, Something I don’t understand is that Sally and I seem to be the only ones who can make it work. Then I put the kettle on the big burner of the gas cooker, turn and depress the knob on the front of the cooker and then push the little igniter button and woosh the burner is lit and after a little while the water in the kettle boils I then turn off the cooker, lift the kettle off with my left hand, carry it over to the sink, open the top of the stainless steel 10 cup tea pot into which I had already placed a Tetley Tea bag. The holding the tea pot over the sink with my right hand, I pour the boiling water into the tea pot and when full, I replace the kettle onto the big burner and the tea pot onto a smaller burner, Front or back depending on which one if any was in use for something else. I then put the double tea cozy’s (made by my Aunt Ruth many years ago) onto the tea pot and let it steep for 5 minutes. Next I took the milk out of the fridge, got our two cups out of the rack poured the tea added the milk and took one to Sally. Then I repeated the kettle thing and when it re boiled I made a cup of instant Lidol or Aldi coffee for Margaret. Margaret being a coffee not a tea drinker doubled my work load! Then we had a sticky bun breakfast.

Reenergized just like the bunny. We’re off to see the Caroline.

Got there too early so had a breakfast wrap in the pump house bistro while waiting for the ship to open. The pump house is a building that houses the BIG pumps used to drain the dry dock that housed the Titanic, Olympic and the other one during their fitting out. A Very Very big stone lined hole in the ground. You could pay for the pleasure of a walk around in it. We didn’t.

Caroline is the last and only surviving ship that took part in the First World War battle of Jutland. She is a light cruiser armed with 4, 4 inch guns and two 8 inchers plus some torpedoes and 3 nukes. We spent 4 hours doing a self guides tour with the assistance of an Audio guide.

We left the ship did a geo cache then slowly walked back to the Titanic centre and did the Race to the Centre of the world.

This race exhibit was about the race to the South Pole by Scott and Amundsen. Amundsen won. Scott lost and died. Exhibit very good. Especially after having been to Crean’s Pub. We managed to get back to the boat for Soup and Sandwich. A Sandwich in case you didn’t know is named after Lord Sandwich who during the Napoleonic wars or the Crimea war was hungry so slapped some cold meat,cheese, onions and tomato’s into a sliced bun and called it a sub. The wind was getting up so lowered the boom not onto anyones head and removed the Jib sock to reduce the windage. Anyway after that being tired and sore footed we had movie night. Game of thrones part one and two.

Thursday Aug 4/16.

The usual. Then walked into town checking out a couple of geo caches on the way and driving Margaret nuts as an extra bonus. We walked to the bus terminal to check out times for Margaret to get back to Scotland. It was a slow walk as all feet and 4 knees were stiff and sore. Mission accomplished. We went to the Gin Palace for a pint and lunch. Then off to the  tourist office to check out the Game of Thrones coach tours. All sold out until September. Phooooy.  Figured out a hire car was cheaper anyway so we did and made arrangements to pick it up in the morning. Think we did another cache stopped at Lidol for dinner meal (Lasagna) Early night wuppped.

Fri. Aug 5/16. Early up. Usual. Out by 0815 picked up car upgraded 3 times to automatic. I’m the designated driver! Off we go. First stop Bushmill for breakfast wrap. Then to Causway for Margaret. We waited at the top of the hill. And we waited. Eventually she returned and off we went on the Game of thrones self guided driving tour. Lots of fun even Maggie enjoyed herself.

Until,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1730.

Moved over on road to let bus pass, THUMP, What the? Thumpity thumpity thumpity etc etc etc. Bad words inserted! A flat (on all sides) pulled off on the only flat spot in 23,000 sq. Km (km here instead of mi). Check left side front tire. Yup confirmed flat on all sides. Check for spare. NO SPARE TIRE! Haa an inflator kit! Doesn’t work. Hole in side wall! Insert more bad words. Now what? Car pulls up behind us. Young fella gets out. Looks at Sally who returns the look. What’s going on here? “I know you, I never forget a face” Sally’s turn, “I know you too, and I never forget a face” “Portrush” “Yes” What’s the problem? “You’re the 3^rd car this week I’ve helped here, I know the stone. Your about the 30^th car to hit it this month!” Too shorten the story and to conserve paper, he went home returned with two tires on rims, didn’t fit went home made some phone calls came back. “Know a garage that’s open has the right size tire” Off we go. AAA called just in case. 1 ½ hrs later I’m back wheel and new tire back on and we’re on our way and back on board by 2030. Counting our blessings.

As we/I hadn’t payed the 17.95 all risk insurance fee I was on the hook for the tire. Better than a tow for about 500 Euro or more! Made a deal with rental firm (Enterprise) they payed for the fuel we used so tire cost about 40 EU instead of 100+.

Sat. Aug.6/16. 0815

Up and out to unpark the rental. Margaret negotiated free parking for the night because the machine wouldn’t accept Canadian Credit Card! Whoopie! Off to the market for breakfast and some Geo Caches. Then to the Canadian Sports Bar in the SSE centre in the Titanic area. Pub owned and run by Canadians had a pint of,,,,,,,,,,,,wait for it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Canadian!!!!! Lots of Hockey, Baseball and Police parafananial (ha just beat the stuffing out of spell check!) hanging on the wall. Left one of our beat up crossing or Norwegian cruise Canadian flags. Back on board and I did a Roast Beef dinner and finally baked Sally’s Birthday Cake!!!! A short time later I lost all the gained Brownie points!!!

Sunday August 7 2016.

On our way to the Bus terminal. Margaret going back to #2 home in Scotland #1 home being in Linsay Ont and #3 in the beaches or it could be the other way around. Got her to the terminal in good time as we took a cab. Sally and I Geo Cached and walked about until 1500 had lunch and dinner on board and then the 2^nd movie night of the season! We watched About the Us coast Guard rescue of a crew from a broken in half ship. During a Howling Gale outside. Even had the furnace on! Did I mention that I had removed the furnace at the end of last season brought it back to Toronto and had it serviced by my friend Ray Singh of Ray’s Marine. We love our Espar heater!! Then went to bed!

Monday August 8 2016.

Slept in. Just because we could! Did the geo cache at Harland and Wolf and then lunch of soup and buns at the Dock Café.

The Dock Cafe is a café run by 7 denominations of churches. Run on the honour system. You pay what you can into the honour box. Probably everyone pays more than they would in a restaurant just because.

The Geo Cache if anyone is interested? Was out the road that went across the bottom or top depending. Of the H&W yard. Where on could get a good picture of Gargantuan and Goliath.

At around 1400 we decided we’d head up Lough to Carrickfergus to prepare for the jump to Dublin. We got underway at 1430 and had a sail to Carrickfergus. We got tied up on the long pontoon paid our nights fee walked over to the Marina and got some diesel which a nice man put in the back of his car and drove to the YC. We walked back and then went for a walk around the town. We tried to get two caches but couldn’t find either one! Bummer!!. Had an early night in preparation for the run down to Dublin.

  

OK OK so we’re not in Belfast yet!

 No bother
 I’ll just tell you about our doings in and about Portrush. We arrived here at 1700 just as the tide (as in rise and fall of the sea not the washing up stuff) turned. So we were motor sailing in light winds and BIG SEAS narrow entrance that we surfed in. Swung around and secured to the pontoon. Paid our tyth of 75# for 2 nights wandered up to the YC for a pint and then called it a night.

Sat. July 30/16 Up not so early at 0800 had a shower put the laundry. Went up town had breakfast while we waited for the 1025 local bus to do the tour of the rope bridge, Giants Causeway and Bushmills. (the town not the distillery)

Nice cheap bus ride Got off at the rope bridge did the walk of death with 35,000 of our closest friends took the obligatory pictures had a cuppa while waiting for the next bus. It arrived right on time so we leapt aboard and headed off to the causeway.

Arrived at the Causway with 38,000 of our closest Oriental friends. Walked down to the sea shore arrived at Low water did a look around and then took the uphill bus for 1# saved the knees it did. Then we walked down to the narrow gauge railway station purchased our tickets had a snack and the caught the 1530 for the ride into Bushmill. After a 45 minute ride we went to the Distillery.

 Didn’t do the tour as have done those and the last one for the day had already started. But did talk to one of the helpers about differences between regular, black, blue and green. I was told “night and day”. Really what does the rotation of the Earth have to do with the quality of booze? I just wanted to know if I could taste the difference. The nice young fella said sure can. Go into the bar tell them I sent you and you can have a tasting.” Wowzer” I thought to myself as I made haste to the bar, hailed the barkeep, told him ”Hank” sent me.” Whose Hank” says he.” Ooops” I said” not Hank but Hamish”or “Paddy”. That seemed to work as he poured out two measures of the Blue and the Green and I sipped as we discussed the state of the world. Both were excellent! So much so that I couldn’t choose between them so purchased a bottle of each.

We then caught a Bus into Colraine as it was closer than going back out to the causeway for the return bus to Portrush. Got into Colraine asked about the train to Portrush how much and when. The Nice conductor persons said ”that’s it right there and it’s just leaving!” Do our bus tickets work on the train” asked Sally. “No” said they, “Ahhh heck” said Sally. “Ohh go ahead” said the nice conductor person held the train while we leaped aboard. Had an interesting trip in the car with all the drunks! Arrived in Portrush returned to the boat had happy hour finished the laundry. Sally spoke to a couple up on the Pier. Called it a night and had a not so good night due to SSSQQQEEEEEEKKKKKYYYYY fenders!!!! Bahhh. We were the inside boat of a 3 boat raft.

Sunday July 31/16. Up early finished the laundry, Got the sewing machine out and mended the sail cover. Sally shortened our fleece sheets and we sewed them up and finally got underway at 1400 with tide and had a rapid trip down to Belfast past the causeway and the bridge and a bunch of cliffs and a bunch of sea caves etc etc etc. We arrived in Belfast Lough just at Sunset and had a long motor into the harbour proper dodging fast ferry’s, tankers, bulk carriers, slow ferry’s, fishing boats, Lobster Pots, Bally bouys sleeping birds and other flotsam and jetsum. We heard our name mentioned at one point as we were sneeking down along the outside of the channel. Since both our big radios were not radioing we resorted to the little hand held to contact the harbour authorities that we were aware of all the BIG boats and we would stay out of their way. We were thanked for that. Eventually we arrived at our chosen destination, saw an opening on the first Pontoon slid in tied up and alakazami nighty night.

I’m reexhaausted just from writing this never mind reliving it! 

On to Belfast via Killybegs, Leadbarrow, Tory Island, Rathmullan and Port Rush.

Sat. July 23/16 0530. The dreaded 0530 again. Had tea with Mark and saw him on his way. Back to the bunk for another hour because I could. Sally never bothered to get up just rolled over and mumbled something and waved. 0730 Really up and got underway at 0815 for Killybegs. We ran out the river with the tide and lots of water underneath us much nicer than coming in! We got out into the open water hoisted the main with one reef unfurled the 130% and away we flew at up to 7 knots. Under  an overcast day. Couldn’t see much of the coastline or Inish Murray as too much mist. We arrived at Killybegs at 1345 Saw what looked like a new pontoon in the harbour. It was but not hooked up yet. Phooey so we found a mooring and made fast to it.

Sally had been in contact with cousin Caroline and we were to meet her on shore at 1430. Not much time so launched the dinghy installed the motor started it up and it quit! Started it again and it quit again. @#$%$#@&^%$ An 0ring in the connector to the engine had decided it had lived long enough and self destructed so no fuel getting to the engine. No bother, deployed the oars! No fun but we made it to a very high ladder! Sally scrambled up with the painter secured everything then it was my turn I gingerly climbed up making sure one had was firmly clamped onto the next rung and that the toes were curled around lower ones. Up and up and up I climbed just like those characters on game of thrones climbing the wall, Only theirs wasn’t as high! I finally made it. Staggered off to the restaurant had a medicinal pint and visit with Caroline. We were back on board by 1700 with a care package. Then sleepy time.

Sunday July 24/16 woke up after a very pleasant nights sleep in the rain. Then dropped the mooring and motored into the harbour and alongside Westbound.  A fishing boat with a broken gearbox. Ross had arranged for us to go alongside. It made life so much easier. Ross didn’t have the part for the fuel line but told us where to get it on Monday. Went ashore for a 1400 lunch appointment with Caroline and Michael. We then went back to the boat for a nap, got up and met  Ross ,Anna, Connor and Campbell for a visit and a Chinese soup for dinner.

Monday July 25/16. Up early went and got part for the outboard everything good again! Had to get off the fishing boat as it was being moved to a different pier. We went back out to the mooring and had lunch then over to the west pier where we went along side again. Ross came for a visit with 40 litres of diesel and our Laundry washed and dried but he could come sailing with us.

Tuesday July 26/16. 0635 Up and away for Aranmore Island which we reached by 1430. Found an empty mooring made ourselves fast to it. And had an earl night in the spilling rain. Never did get ashore. No point really as it was too wet and visibility wasn’t very good anyway.Wed. July 27/16 0815 dropped the mooring and got underway for Tory Island and it’s King and Tau Cross. The King is Patsy Dan Rogers who is the direct descendant of the first King. He wasn’t around for a visit unfortunately. But the cross was at the end of the pier. We arrived at the island at 1130 and looked for a spot on the wall. No luck so we rafted to another sailboat but needed to use the dinghy to get ashore. Went walk about. Returned to the boat and were given 4 Pollock fillets. Fresh fried fish for dinner!

Thursday July 28/16 0530 Up, Tea and away with the tide at 0600. Rain Rain and more%$^&*%$#@#$%^!RAIN!!!!! Sloppy seas wind on the nose etc etc. Arrived at Rathmullan which is 15 miles in Lough Swilley which is where Uncle John and Auntie Carol used to sail when he worked in Derry at 1200 and secured to a pontoon. Walk about text to Aurial. She might join us or might not.  Went walk about bought spuds went for a walk on the beach. There was a fair on so we watched the kiddies on the rides and went back to the boat.

Friday July 29/16. 0900 We left Rathmullan and saw dolphins in the harbour and a Basking shark off the entrance to Lough Foyle. Had a nice sail along the coast to Portrush where we arrived at 1700.

Sligo

Wed., July 20/16.

 It’s raining oh my. What shall we do? Sally say’s” I know” What about a free walking tour of the town? “Free sounds good” So up to the tourist Office we trudge. Why is everything uphill? Stopped at Lyon’s everything store for a full breakfast and then to the touristy place. Waited around outside in the drizzle because it was too warm inside. The Tour Guide Aurial arrived and off we went all around the circle Old Abbey, Famous and infamous buildings Cathedral Grave yard where Dracula’s mother is buried back to the tourist Office after two hours walking went for lunch to a café recommended by Aurial. We invited her to join us and after a bit of coaxing she did.we got to know her a lot better and found out she is a qualified marine Archeologist and runs her own tour guiding business to keep food on the table. Not much money in digging up old stuff that you can’t keep or sell. On her recommendation we hired a cab to take us to Carrowkeel Neolithic Cemetery. A really interesting place with about 15 visible tombs with one big central passage tomb. We spent about 3 hours wandering around and then got a cab back to the city. Sally wasn’t feeling well at all so went to a druggist who got her an appointment with a doctor so she could renew her prescription for antibiotics. Went back to the boat for drugs then up to the Tesco for shopping and return to boat for a pasta dinner. Aurial joined us for a drink and she brought her doggy Zara for a visit. What a suck!!

Thursday July 21/16.  A lazy start to the day. Sally on drugs! Had breakfast and then we all went up to the Abbey did the self guided tour and Aurial phoned and offered to take us out to Strandhill to show us some Midens. Midens are really really old garbage dumps if you didn’t know that. Sally begged off. Mark and I went. She picked us up at the boat and off we went with Mark cuddled up in the back with Zara and me in the front seat not cuddled up with Aurial. She was driving. Had a very nic. Everyone tie walk on the strand looking at all the fossils in the rocks and the miden was a huge pile of oyster,clam and winkle shells. A Swedish archaeologist had been there some time ago and excavated it and at the bottom of the trench found the skeleton of a girl. It’s the only site found so far with a burial at the bottom of it. Then we drove out to the Strand and had a coffee and a sticky bun then returned to the boat. Being nice I rode in the back with Zara. She lay with her head tucked in under my arm looking up at me with big brown eyes wanting to be petted. Did I mention BIG Suck? Aurial decided against coming on board for a drink and went off home. We had a drink and went to bed.

Friday July 22/16 Up early breakfast and decided we would all take the bus to Eniskillan as it would be Marks last day with us. So we did. A nice ride and we had a nice time wandering around the castle and town and even managed a Geo Cache. Had a Pint and meal at” Spoons” the caught the last bus to Sligo.

Sat. July 23/16 0530 Mark up and away for Dublin and home. We got underway for Killybegs at 0815 with the falling tide to carry us out.

Hookers and up the Creek.

Good morning all. It’s 0630 on a beautiful  Sat.,July 16/16 Irish morning. Wakey Wakey teas on.  That’ really not what I said to inspire the crew to jump to and get underway. But close enough. It was a calm quiet morning with a hint of rain in the forcast. Sally dropped the mooring and we were on our way to Roundstone. Putt,Putt Putt. Then it was swiiishhh swiiishhhhh as the wind filed in and we were sailing.

Arrived at Roundstone at 1115 Just when and where we were supposed to due to my unerring navigational skills without hitting any of afore mentioned stones or any square ones for that matter. Motoring up into the harbour we passed a couple of nice beaches called strands in this part of the world but to enjoy them you need a ¾ in neoprene Hot water heated Dry suit. Have I mentioned water temperature? The only critters you see in the sea are little children. Even dogs don’t run in.

We pick up a mooring ball, make ourselves comfortable, launch the dinghy and head to shore for leave. Turned out to be a warm sunny afternoon shorts and t shirt weather. We’re going to suffer later I just knew it. Had a sticky bun, coffee Americano (it should be coffee Canadiene). Did a walk about to stretch the legs. Captured a couple of wiley geo caches, then had a pint, and people watched, back to the ship for sweet and sour. After dinner drinks in the cockpit and a Hooker came by. Then another one and another one and another one. It was a Galway Hookers convention! All black with red canvass. They all sailed onto the moorings made us feel like right amateurs it did. But a beautiful sight non the less.

Sun July 17/16. 0615 Same old same old get the tea on check the weather wake the crew get underway for InishBofin at 0715 have you noticed the trend here? Lots of Inishes. Anyway we’re away into lumpy seas, zippo visibility without the radar and wind on the nose. My nose has been taking a beating from all the wind on it but that’s another story. Lots and lots of Guillemots when we changed course off Slyne head and the seas settled down. A pretty boring trip really and then we arrived in the fog into the harbour. Found a mooring ball retrieved it, well the crew retrieved it I just controlled the boat from the safety of the cockpit. Made fast went ashore walk about had a pint returned to the boat and Sally and I went over to another island to Cromwell’s barracks.

Cromwells Barracks are in ruins now but when he was running around converting everyone it was built to hold all the Catholic clerics he could find before shipping them out to the Caribbean. We had the whole place to ourselves as Mark need time out. His decision not ours. We even managed to find a Cache there.

Monday July 18/16 Just for a change 0530 up and tea and underway at 0630 a long way to go today. 1400 we were able to shut the engine down and just sail. What a novel experience. We sailed around Erris head and into Broadhaven Bay where we latched on to a mooring ball. And settled in for the rest of the afternoon and night. Didn’t launch the dinghy.

Tuesday July 19/16. The usual. Wait, wait it wasn’t the usual Mark made the tea! I’m all a flutter my daily routine has been compromised! I got over it really quickly though! By 0730 we were underway to the bottom of  Donegal Bay. We motored along enjoying the Sunshine and heat and the wonderful scenery High Cliffs, Sea stacks birds Neolithic sites on top of the cliffs and when we arrived off the entrance to Sligo People on the beach and in the water! We headed up the river with the tide. Well marked channel once we figured out that the green and red poly balls were actually channel markers instead of fishing floats.  We were going to take a mooring out by Oyster island near the entrance but nothing there so we committed to going right up into the town. Even though only 1.5 meters of water at low. We eventually got up to the pontoon after a pucker moment when I saw 4 feet on the depth sounder! Must have been soft as we need 5.5 to float! Lots of boats so we rafted 3^rd out. John the harbour master came for a visit and then we went up to the downtown. Mark bought us dinner.