Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2017 - Part 2
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circa 14:40..."Arthur" on the Kenmare River.
circa 14:48 ...Heading up the Kenmare River.
Looking astern as we make our way to Sneem Harbour.
circa 16:35..."Arthur" makes the approach to Sneem Harbour.
circa 17:00 ..."Arthur" on a mooring buoy. It took us a couple of attempts before we were able to secure the buoy. It's always interesting to observe other vessels attempting to secure a buoy. Practice might make perfect but doesn't allow for sea conditions! In this instance it was relatively calm.
circa 17:10...Paul takes 'Baby Arthur" for a short workout. Being on a mooring means that the only way to access the mainland is via a dinghy. It becomes a necessity when coastal cruising where many locations do not have a jetty/pontoon.
At the time that we arrived there was only one other vessel on a mooring buoy. There are six mooring buoys at Sneem Harbour.
This photo was taken several months earlier during a recce trip to the Kenmare River. The photo was taken from Oysterbed Pier and shows the line of mooring buoys (at least five are visible in the photo) in Sneem Harbour.
circa 18:40... Mary is busy in the galley preparing another culinary fest. Meanwhile I have opened a bottle of Don Maximiano, Grand Reserve, 2000 to accompany the fine food fayre. And we have already celebrated another tick on my Bucket List with a glass of Prosecco!
DAY 14 - Sunday, 9th July, 2017
circa 13:43...We have waited for the right time to take Baby Arthur up the river to access Sneem Village. Unfortunately locals advise us that we shouldn't proceed by dinghy and rather should walk to the village or take a taxi.
We contact a local taxi service which agrees to ferry us from Oysterbed Pier to Sneem Village and back for a total charge of €15.
Does that seem to be a bit pricey for ice-cream?
The local Mace supermarket which kindly kept copies of Sunday papers for us.
Back on-board "Arthur" and Mary shoots a Bucket List photo! View photo in 'original' size to read the Bucket List!
DAY 15 - Monday, 10th July, 2017
Circa 09:15...It's time to move again. At the forefront of my mind is that I have arranged a 49th Anniversary Reunion in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin on Monday, 17th July, with former classmates from my time at Cathal Brugha St. My problem is how to get to Dublin for the reunion. Where should "Arthur" be based to most easily facilitate me travelling to Dublin via public transport? A good question with not a lot of viable options on the coast from which to choose! One possibility could be Kinsale which would tick a few more items on my Bucket List as we have never been further south than Bantry Bay! Will weather conditions facilitate us getting to Kinsale in time?
Well, at least we need to move from Sneem. So, we decide to head to Lawrence Cove Marina and re-charge our batteries and consider the next step(s).
A panorama of Sneem Harbour.
circa 09:35...We prepare to depart Sneem. Two yachts still on their visitor moorings. And one free visitor mooring (yellow) directly ahead of our bow.
09:40...We have departed Sneem. Our passage plan will take us down the Kenmare River, through Dursey Sound and then up Bantry Bay and into Berehaven and finally a berth at Lawrence Cove Marina on Bere Island. Passage length is approx. 32NM and will take us circa 4 hours to complete.
circa 09:50...Heading onto the Kenmare River.
circa 11:05... On the Kenmare River. In the distance, just off Dursey Head, The Bull and The Cow.
Updated as of 07.05.2018...Correction of previous, and incorrect, reference to 'The Skellig Islands'. Thank you Tom Kirby and Dermot Mangan.
circa 10:45... Heading down the Kenmare River. Breezy and overcast.
11:22... Heading towards the entrance to Dursey Sound. The Bull and The Cow off Dursey Head in background.
Updated as of 07.05.2018...Correction of previous, and incorrect, reference to 'The Skellig Islands'. Thank you Tom Kirby and Dermot Mangan.
11:13... Heading towards Dursey Sound.
11:40...making the approach to the entrance to Dursey Sound.
11:45...Dursey Sound ahead.
11:51... Quite calm in Dursey Sound. The entrance to Bantry Bay ahead.
11:50...Looking astern as "Arthur" makes her way through Dursey Sound.
12:08... Arthur heading up Bantry Bay
12:42... Entrance to Berehaven in distance with the white paint of Ardnakinna Lighthouse, barely visible, slightly to right of centre of photo.
12:48...Mary at the helm.
Looking astern, down Bantry Bay.
13:05...Ardnakinna Lihthouse overlooking the entrance to Beehaven.