A day in the life of a Frog

[oceanfroggie]

Saturday started with the GPS course I gave in Kincora Hall hotel, Killaloe on Lough Derg, which was well supported and was fun, especially when I sent the class for "walkies" around the marina complex with hand helds and a test route around the paths and carpark to test their navigation skills. We raised a nice few bob for the Fields of Life Trust charity, and thanks to all the attendees for their generous support. Next up meet some IWAI pals including Richard as they arrive in the marina in advance of the IWAI Lough Derg branch meeting.

Next up the IWAI Derg branch meeting in Kincora which was well attended and fun. It was followed by a wonderfull talk and slide presentation by a young Limerick couple who cruised around the world over three years in their 33ft yacht, on a budget of €10k. Their photographs were simply stunning as was their story. Atlantic crossing, carribean, panama canal, pacific crossing, OZ, NZ, Galapagos islands, SA, the cape. What an awsome story and achievment. A long and exhausting but interesting day for OF.

So Sunday morning looked out the window and thought what a lovely day, jumped in boat to meet another due to arrive in Lough Derg from Limerick, via the giant Ardnacrusha hydro electric dam. (see Kevins photo's of the 102ft lock here)

Sat Morning - Richard's lovely "Reflection" (cpb vessel) moored beside "Tanjuan" local RNLI training co-ordinator

Dropped the canopy as it was a lovely day - Passing Derg Marina on route to meet "Kindred Spirit" and Kevin on his trip up from Limerick through Ardnacrusha - Lovely dry sunny morning

Killaloe Bridge Shimmering - Got text from KS all well through Ardnacrusha with 1/2 inch to spare

Heading down to the "Flooded Area" below Killaloe - Tree lined and scenic

Got the speed up - so a boring wake shot

Ocean Froggie in the flooded area below Killaloe (pic from KS)

Open top or tent, Aft FB, or covered helm - HT eat yer heart out. I like the height of this helm and the vis it gives.

Yipee, another CPB vessel - "Kindred Spirit" appears up from salt waters

Marie Celeste?

Will we fit? I'd suggest "ducking" soon chaps

No bother KS had room to spare

KS and OF in KS's new summer abode - Welcome to the Shannon

KS's new marina is in a lovely location

Than after a celebratory drink on board KS, I headed slowly out onto the lake for some restful and peaceful R&R - Beautiful day

Oh dear, OF got involved in a mini-rescue event, so much for R&R - See Frog's mini rescue here

RNLI took over and towed them home

CG boat also came for a peek

Then meet "Great Escape II" with Con and Joe - CPB meet 3 that day /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Had great chat Con and Joe over a bite of lunch in the Marina

Finally back home for a rest - too much adventure in one day!

All in all a wonderful day on the water, and plenty of sunshine in between the odd blustery shower. It was great to meet some many internet pals and pals from the IWAI. Lough Derg is kind of special /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[longjohnsilver]

Great pics.

Sounds like you had a busy day!

 

[Tugw]

Beautiful Places,Great pics,I love the tree lined shot

 

[kindredspirit]

Lough Derg is brill.

(Shouldn't be saying that tho' as it'll get too overcrowded! Actually I meant to say that it's a load of rubbish and no-one should go boating there. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

 

[oceanfroggie]

Yes it was only one day, but lots happening, felt like I'd been on the water for a week, and I met so many pals who were out too. It's a great setup on southern Derg and only 1.5 hrs to tidal water and access to the SW coast. Derg itself is 40km long by 25km wide, an inland sea, the playground for all manner of vessels from large mobo's like Brooms, Princesses, and Sealines, to sports cruisers, keel yachts up to 40ft, sail dingies, ribs, ski boats, 60ft Grand canal M-Boat barges, sea planes, you name it we have got it.

Few more picks of Lough Derg the inland sea

 

[tillergirl]

You take good pictures. My camera is finally giving up the ghost bit by bit after a dunking in the Ionian Sea and I need to replace it. What are you using please?

 

[oceanfroggie]

Thanks. Those pics are compressed for the web so not in original quality.

The camera is a fairly inexpensive Fuji Finepxi S5500 4mpx compact digital "bridge" camera (ie compact SLR like). I used to be a film purist and had a bag of Nikon SLRs and lenses, but this little Fuji has proven excellent, very versatile, one lens does wide angle and 10x optical zoom. Feels and operates like a compact SLR. Old reviews here and here.

S5500 now replaced by S8100fd or S5700

I'll probably replace it with the S8000fd. Despite my past loyalty to Nikon I won't be buying a digital SLR because I couldn't be bothered with loads of separate lenses anymore.

PS: If I get a new one I'll switch the quality setting down to 5mpx as 8-10mpx for non professional work is total overkill and will eat unneccessary storage space.

 

[tillergirl]

Thanks. Very helpful. It's good when trying to make sense of all the different blurb to see some real results.

 

[Kawasaki]

Nice stuff again.
Good piccies and story.
Cheers
K

 

[oceanfroggie]

BTW, the video of the mini rescue last weekend was taken from video and stills using the same the Fuji S5500 4mpx camera - versatile quality what!