Up this morning at 7 a.m. to get the weather forecast, as predicted the winds were forecast for force 7 to galeforce 8. We had two open crossings, one of 5 miles and one of 10 miles so we decided to wait and see what the wind would do later in the day. We got out and about at 10 a.m., had breakfast and completed some running repairs on the boats. We waited around for a few hours and at 2 p.m. we took a stroll into town. We had dinner and stocked up on some shopping, then returned to the campsite. As the wind had dropped we decided to pack the boats and try and make some progress. We were on the water for 5 p.m. and paddled across Carlingford Lough. Midway across the Lough the wind picked up again and it made the second half of the crossing a little more interesting!!! With no sign of the wind moderating we decided not to cross the ten miles of Dundrum Bay so instead we skirted inland with a view to shortening the crossing for tomorrow. We pulled in at a beach at Gyles Quay and we got dressed. We called into a beachfront house to ask the owner if possible to pitch the tent beside his house. He immediately agreed and told us there would be cup of tea ready for us when the gear was packed away. Many thanks to Paul and Paula for their generous hospitality, another fine example of the generosity shown by everyone we have met on the trip so far. We are currently having a couple of pints in Fergusons Bar in the nearby holiday park. Plan is to get to bed soon and be up early in the morning to make some more progress towards home. 3 hours 20 minutes on the water and 14 miles covered today. We are still planning if at all possible to try to make it home for Saturday.
Mick (www.seapaddling.com), Tony is anxious to take you on over the 30 mile leg to Dungarvan - how are you fixed?
4 comments:
Well done lads, great to see ye're on the east side of the country and your way home. hope to see ye all safe and sound in dungarvan on saturday. hope the weather is on yere side for the last few days.
HEY
Day 30 - did ye ever think ye'd be so far ..looking back on the map it's pretty unbelievable... and ye achieved this despite the fact mother nature has been in a pretty stinky mood for the last few weeks!
Be safe the next few days - we are all looking forward to ye're return.
x Susan
belated birthday wishes to derek. there's a few pints waiting for you on tap in foleys. all the best. francis and noreen
Yeah....no strain...as long as I'm the one in the speed boat! How about a drinking competition? By the look of things ye have been getting plenty of practice on the way round.
Hope the weather holds together for the last few days. Now I'd better go and get another 20 mile training session in.....
Mick.
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