2010-08-13 Fenit to Portumna via Kilrush and Limerick
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Looking back at Kilrush Creek Marina as Besie and "Arthur" head for the lock.
"Arthur" approaches the lock...
Besie approaches the lock...
Calum...lock-keeper of the day...
13.50...Besie in the lock...
"Arthur" about to exit Kilrush Creek Marina lock...
Besie exiting Kilrush Creek Marina lock.
Unbelievable!
13.55...Looking down the estuary. There are not many days that one would enjoy such calm waters on inland waterways!
And more unbelievable...
Shane exits Kilrush Creek Marina Lock whilst keeping an eye on the leading markers that assist navigation through this narrow channel...
Besie and "Arthur" leave Kilrush behind...
Besie against a backdrop of the Shannon Estuary with Carrigaholt headland visible in the immediate background.
14.30...Moneypoint on the left and Tarbert, in the distance, on the right.
Passing Moneypoint...
15.00....Tarbert Lighthouse....established on 31st March 1834, converted to unwatched on 1st April 1919 and electrified on 8th December 1966.
The twin towers at Tarbert dwarf the lighthouse
Besie approaching the bend at Tarbert.
Besie on the right side of "Arthur" for a nice shot...
And the sun still shines...
16.08...Looking up towards Foynes (right) and Aughinish Alumina. Mary had gone 'below' to prepare a light lunch of crab meat mayonnaise on Carrs water biscuits and sliced cucumber on brown bread and then she came back up top....
This was what Mary saw when she came up top with the lunch... 'Where did that come from' she exclaimed! I turned around to see the large cargo vessel, Amira, heading our way...
I am sometimes a slow learner and I obviously had not learned the lesson from our encounter with 'Lucky Sunday' when we were making the passage from Limerick to Kirush approximately four weeks earlier. On that occasion I thought I could out run her. And again i thought the same thing on this occasion. I gave it about five minutes of effort and noticed that she was gaining on us fast as she relentlessly ploughed her way up the channel.
16.40....So, I took "Arthur" to port and simply waited for Amira to pass. This shot shows the displacement of water at the bow. And of course we got ready to deal with the resulltant wake which duly ensued as she passed by. I directed "Arthur" into the wake and then simply followed Amira from a safe distance.
Lesson learned...do not try and outrun any of these large tankers/cargo vessels. Simply let them pass...and record some good shots in the process!
17.10...Two tugs came our from Foynes to assist Amira to dock at Aughinish Alumina.
Looking back towards Tarbert...
17.20...Eddie & Maura Dempsey with friends on (S)enna2 heading down to Kilrush....
The two tugs nudge Amira against the dock at Aughinish Alumina.
17.30...Amira, almost docked...
17.40...Beeves Rock lighthouse near Aughinish Alumina. The lighthouse was established in May 1855 and subsequently converted to unwatched on 11th February 1933.
Beeves Rock Lighthouse.
18.00...Approaching Shannon Airport...
Looking astern...I almost feel guilty for disturbing the water so...
19.20....Approaching Limerick after a fabulous cruise back to Limerick. And the weather held well the whole way!
19.40...Exiting Sarsfield Lock and bound for Custom House Quay, Limerick.
Dick Sparling,,,Lockkeeper at Sarsfield Lock, Limerick.
And who was there to greet us...Mr. Abbey River himself...the one and only Pat Lysaght...
Monday, 16th August.
Nauti Buoy arrives in Limerick having made the run from Kilrush with Pantou Pau.
Nauti Boy, with Pantou Pau bringing up the rear, exiting Sarsfield Lock and heading for Ardnacrusha and back to Lough Deg!
Pantou Pau with Matt Ryan at the helm and Caoimhe on the bow.
Ah yes, the magnum (2 bottle size, 150cl) of 'd'Arry's Original. I had carried this with us all the way from Portumna and here in Limerick, on what was effectively our last day of coastal cruising-in-company for 2010, I finally opened it. The combined crews of "Arthur" and Besi made short work of it as we re-lived select moments of our summer activities and looked forward to 2011.
Tuesday, 17th August, 2010
Circa 08.15, Besie moored at Custom House Quay. No turbines running today!
Dead calm...
"Arthur" moored at Custom House Quay....
