Paradise lost?

Lawrence Cove Marina is on the beautiful little Island of Bear, at the eastern entrance to Bearhaven which leads into Castletown Bearhaven  … apparently the second deepest natural harbour in the world (after Sydney). 

Not surprisingly it has been fought over by the English and Irish and the French. 

The English took it in 1601 (Bear .. not the marina)  and built a fort.

We had a nice walk to the headland, round the fort and through the village (Rerrin), which has a Pub and a Post Office.

Reeds Almanac 2012 mentions Lawrence Cove Marina.

I note:

Alongside Berths Euro 1.52 [per metre], and

“Friendly welcome at the only marina between Kinsale and Dingle”.

Unfortunately none of the above appeared to me to be entirely (slightly, even) accurate. 

So to avoid further disappointment … if you do visit, I suggest you insist on getting the price of everything before you buy it.    Thank Heavens the diesel pump wasn’t working.  … and the welcome?

Oh, and there is another marina between Kinsale and Dingle (on Sherkin Island).

Lovely spot though.

Enough said?

Next stop Glengarriff.

A very pretty little place where almost no one lives.

A bay full of islands covered in Rhododendrons.

We had a nice walk surreptitiously stuffing litterbins.

Time to think about heading home.

Glengarriff to Glandore (60 miles!)

We set off at 0610 in fog. Motor sailed the length of Bantry Bay without seeing land.

Got around Mizen Head against the wind, the tide, the fog and the weather, heading for good old Sherkin Marina, when, low and behold, the fog clears, the wind drops, the waves vanish and THE SUN COMES OUT and we decide to plod on further.

Managed to make it to Glandore (which carries a BSA  .. Bramah Seal of Approval  .. level 5). It’s lovely here (obviously).

Had a beer in the sunshine.

Footnote:  I’ve just finished a book (Maiden Voyage) about a girl whose father suggests that she sails around the world alone, in a 24 footer … so she does.

I’ve been thinking about Bonzo and our old Mirror dinghy, he’s usually up for a challenge. (Canine Voyage?)