Kinsale to Crookhaven

After a second day in Kinsale and a walk to the Other Fort (James Fort), not to mention a quick trip up the mast to lubricate the furler, we set sail at dawn (0800) for Castletownsend (Castle Haven).

We arrived at Castle Haven no obvious signs of scurvy amongst the crew.

The weather, indeed the very forecast, is a challenge.

To summarise, today was WNW by W veering to NNW by W, F 4-5, occasionally 6.  squally showers. Total absence of giraffes.  (The latter was a blessing, we think.)

We like Castletownsend, its Pub sells Murphys, and its Irish Protestant Church has very nice stained glass windows. We had a nice walk in the sunshine and met a very pleasant English octogenarian who lives in the converted village hall, complete with a sundial that runs 14 minutes slow. (Oil on canvass below by Dr Edwards).

Next stop Schull.

We had a good sail in good weather and saw what I think was a Minke Whale or what Al and Jean think was a Bottlenose dolphin.  Now whether you to choose to believe me (a doctor)  or my wife (a lady .. with a degree in Natural Sciences) or Al (a mere Emeritus Professor of Marine Biology) is entirely up to you; however, IT WAS A WHALE  (so there).  Anyway it was too big to a bottlenose (max size 3.5 metres) and too dark in colour, even if the dorsal fin was about right.

Schull was nice.  We went for a walk.  We had two nights on the mooring.  Al cooked beef in Guinness.

Today.

Today it has rained.

We motored over to Crookhaven.

(F2-3, rain)

We all agree that it was a small porpoise that we saw en route.

Al had Clonakilty sausages (made out of blood and stuff) followed by two cold special, lard enriched, economy sausages for lunch.

I had a bacon butty.

It is still raining, but we are moored only 100 metres from O’Sullivans (the pub).

May be Murphys’ time soon.