Cape Clear Island.

  

We left Barloge Creek and headed for the Fastnet rock. We couldn’t come all this way and not sail around the Fastnet. Typically though it was on a bearing to the west, and where was the wind coming from? Yes the west, and we can’t sail in to the wind so we motored and tacked back and fore until we got there. Once around the lighthouse we headed for the north harbour on Clear island for the night. We arrived just after lunch and it was dead, then all of a sudden the ferry arrived and we were berthed in its dropping off point so we had to move forward a bit. Then a large barge arrived with supplies and to take the waste rubbish away, followed by a whale and dolphin day trip boat. Dee’s just gone to the local to book an evening meal, that’s assuming that it’s going to open, because it’s half past 5 now and we’re the only people that we can see. Dee's returned and I can now tell you that that it and the other pub is not opening tonight, but will be open tomorrow, Friday. The weekend is here!

Friday morning - we have been for a walk around the island, picturesque and quiet I think best describes it. Amusement is provided by the cars. They have no tax and no MOT but I'm assured that they are insured, and people leave them unlocked. Most are battered and falling apart with blowing exhausts and the new trend appears to be a smashed back window. They also run them on green diesel, that's like our red diesel, not taxed.

Tip! All the kids board at schools on the mainland. On Friday night they return on the ferry and descend on the cafe with their parents and all the other kids for pizza's and drinks before going home.

 

 

 

Family photo south of the Fastnet Rock lighthouse.

 

 

Cape Clear island harbour.

It's quiet at this time of year but apparently it get's busy in July and August.

 

 Skull (Schull).

Saturday we sailed across the bay to Skull (Schull). We went ashore for a walk around and to buy some provisions. It turned out to be a boiling hot day. Ieuan played with some other kids in the playground and we just basked on the bench. Not much in Skull, it’s a small village, quite nice and as usual full of pubs. There’s a small chandlers in Skull called Skull Watersports. You are actually supposed to pay for all the public visitor moorings that we are using but no one bothers to ask. The Water sports shop had a notice in the window saying that you could pay for the mooring in the shop.

 

 
 
 
 
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Bear Island ( No there are no bears there. Least not anymore).

We left Skull on the Sunday and sailed around Mizzen Head and in to Bantry Bay where we stopped at a little marina called Lawrence Cove which is on the north side of Bear Island. Great view of the Beara peninsula and Hungry Hill. Monday we had a little cycle around the island and looked at a Martello tower. The design is French, but the English copied them and built them all over Ireland to defend the island from French invasions. It was windy and raining all day Tuesday so we read books and played games all day. On Wednesday it wasn’t much better but we ventured out and motored to Castletown Bearhaven. Yes, and picked up another public visitor buoy. This time there was a sign at the road side asking you to phone Aden, some Irish Tourism official in order to pay the £5 fee. Yes it was actually printed £5 as opposed to euros. We walked along the road in to town. Its has a busy harbour with several large trawlers and others not so large. Whilst we were in Barloge Creek last week an English camper van appeared on the harbour side. We went to talk to them to find out where they were from, Mousehole.  When we were in Clear Island they were also there on a day trip, it was tipping down with rain at the time so we invited them on board for a cup of tea. Today we saw them in Castletown Bearhaven. They intend going on a trip to the Skellig’s. So we may see them again on the weekend.

 

Lawrence Cove Marina