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Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Epilogue |
Day 1 - Killaloe to Dingle (via Ardnacrusha and Limerick) This is a photo log of Ocean Froggie's 2006 cruise and adventure around the Irish coastline from Killaloe on Lough Derg, to Dun Laoghaire on the east coast. The round trip was about 1000nm covering a wonderfully dramatic coastline and the awesome Atlantic headlands that are the Kerry/Cork coast. Map of 2006 Cruise Departed Killaloe on inland Lough Derg at 0945 or Sat 15th July heading for Ardnacrush Dam and then Limerick. Had to wait for the tide to drop in Limerick so we could fit under the bridges.
Starting out from Killaloe on the Ardnacrusha head race canal. Weather was quite
different from
last year.
Down the Shannon Estuary - Passing Shannon Airport. "Skipper, trust me
there is a runway in there somewhere!" Meanwhile there is an electronic
voice exclaiming "Terrain, Terrain, Terrain, PULL UP, PULL UP"
Sheehen Light House - Auginish Aluminium loading jetty and Foynes behind.
The Auginish aluminium plant has so many lights it is the brightest object in
Ireland, the single largest electrical consumer, and is the only place in
Ireland that can be seen with the naked eye from the cockpit of the space
shuttle at night. It's impressive on the ground too.
Kerry Coast - Mount Brandon one of the highest mountains in Ireland. We
were accompanied by multiple pods of playful dolphins along this passage.
We had left Killaloe on the Inland Shannon at 10 that morning thinking it would
be nice to run down the estuary just as far as Kilrush, but then decided the
weather was so nice we would push on to Fenit as it was easier to get a train
home from there. But on passing Kerry head in the Mediterranean conditions
I suggested to by beloved that we could be in Cassidy's restaurant in Dingle
around 19:30 if we pushed on - and we did!
Sleeping Puppy
Three Sisters and the Blasket islands in far right distance. Smerwick
Harbour is a good anchorage tucked in behind the three sisters if your looking
for a quite bolt hole.
Blasket Sound - Inishtearaght Island in background. Out here the
gothic coast is more like somewhere in the far east. This is as far west
as the EU land mass or islands stick out into the Atlantic ocean, next stop the
north American continent.
Dingle Bay looking back at the blaskets.
We arrived in Dingle at 1930 after covering 110nm in one day, and we had a fab
meal in Cassidy's restaurant over looking the Marina. Dingle marina is
excellent and the little town is a wonderful spot to spend a few days in.
Dingle Marina and Folding Bikes. The bikes were invaluable throughout the
cruise as they were light and yet folded up small enough to stow in lockers.
Looking SW across Dingle harbour out towards the entrance Dingle Bay.
Froggie on Berth in Dingle Marina - 28 degrees C!
Day 1 - 110nm @ 15kt AET 9h45m
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