oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
This is the photo story of our summer adventure cruise all the way up to the north Shannon. Our daughter was due to give birth to our first grandchild the day the rally was due to finish so we were feeling exited, apprehensive and yet constantly prepared to abandon the boat somewhere for a road trip to welcome the families new arrival, a little one that would makes us 1st time grandparents, and give our summer adventure a twist . . .
Morning mist rises over Kincora Harbour in Killaloe at the southern end of the River Shannon. This is our home port for most of the year. It is only about 15 years old and maintained beautifully as a Garden marina/harbour. Exit the marina and turn to port for 360km inland Shannon navigation including its vast Loughs, or turn to starboard for access to the sea lock 12miles downstream in Limerick city and access to the Atlantic south west coast of Ireland.
River Shannon in Killaloe. The original bridge dated back to 1013 the most recent in 1860s after the bridge had been swept away by an extreme flood event
Spirit of Killaloe trip boat
Killaloe Cathedral dating from 1200 is not a large cathedral but one of the oldest in these islands
The Organist “Brian” is a keen boater and has been playing the organ in this lovely old cathedral for many decades. The views from the tower give 360 degrees for about 30miles in all directions
Looking across the Shannon at the Lakeside Hotel on the hill. Prior to 1925 old defunct canal in the foreground was the commercial navigation route to sea and Limerick city. Now it is a scenic mooring location.
Killaloe is one of the most popular destinations on Lough Derg. The disused lock in the foreground no longer has gates.
The new public marina opened in 2010 and is free for short visits (ie 5 days or less). Berthing at the many public harbours and public marinas on the Shannon is FREE but only limited to visits of 5 days or less. I spend two nights here prepping the boat for our trip north (ie washing, provisioning, etc). It was 30 degrees C!!!
The warm weather brought out the swimmers with youngsters jumping off the old bridge. In the background are the structures to hold the vast eel nets. This is to avoid too many eels making it downstream to the hydro electric dam – Ireland’s largest food mixer!
Walking on water? The house in the background is sited near where the old railway signal box used to be.
“Froggette” arrived so we headed up lough Derg for a night on the hook passing this scene that encapsulates Lough Derg – Motor boating, sail and jetski enjoying the vast lough.
We anchored off Castlebawn which has been restored by hand by a single family over the past 20 years. Half of the structure you now see in this photo was missing but restored manually by a dedicated family. There is a visitor jetty suitable for large cruisers and it is open at weekends during summer months for visits.
Set the anchor, light some candles, put on music and doze into a night on the hook.
Boat prep work completed – time to start the trip north, 0600am start – not a ribble as the Shannon slowly awakes from it’s sleep
Eight hours later after crossing Lough Derg we approach Shannonbridge which has one of the cutest pubs in Ireland “Killeen’s”
Athlone Lock “Froggette” enjoying the good spell of weather that has been here for over a month with almost no rainfall.
Athlone Railway Bridge is a landmark on the Shannon. There is a nice local authority marina in the town centre which charges only €8 per night irrespective of boat length.
28 C traversing mighty Lough Ree. When you get weather this nice we spend most of our time cruising at slow displacement speeds. It’s too nice to rush and saves on fuel.
Arriving Tarmonbarry Lough which is one of the smallest on the Shannon typically fitting only four cruisers at a time. Got a missed phone call from our daughter - hearts skipped a few beats, but it was just to tell something mundane, she had not gone into labour.
Scenic village with good eateries. There is a low bridge here which needs to be raised. Lock keeper hopped on his bicycle and lifted it for us.
to be continued . . .
Morning mist rises over Kincora Harbour in Killaloe at the southern end of the River Shannon. This is our home port for most of the year. It is only about 15 years old and maintained beautifully as a Garden marina/harbour. Exit the marina and turn to port for 360km inland Shannon navigation including its vast Loughs, or turn to starboard for access to the sea lock 12miles downstream in Limerick city and access to the Atlantic south west coast of Ireland.
River Shannon in Killaloe. The original bridge dated back to 1013 the most recent in 1860s after the bridge had been swept away by an extreme flood event
Spirit of Killaloe trip boat
Killaloe Cathedral dating from 1200 is not a large cathedral but one of the oldest in these islands
The Organist “Brian” is a keen boater and has been playing the organ in this lovely old cathedral for many decades. The views from the tower give 360 degrees for about 30miles in all directions
Looking across the Shannon at the Lakeside Hotel on the hill. Prior to 1925 old defunct canal in the foreground was the commercial navigation route to sea and Limerick city. Now it is a scenic mooring location.
Killaloe is one of the most popular destinations on Lough Derg. The disused lock in the foreground no longer has gates.
The new public marina opened in 2010 and is free for short visits (ie 5 days or less). Berthing at the many public harbours and public marinas on the Shannon is FREE but only limited to visits of 5 days or less. I spend two nights here prepping the boat for our trip north (ie washing, provisioning, etc). It was 30 degrees C!!!
The warm weather brought out the swimmers with youngsters jumping off the old bridge. In the background are the structures to hold the vast eel nets. This is to avoid too many eels making it downstream to the hydro electric dam – Ireland’s largest food mixer!
Walking on water? The house in the background is sited near where the old railway signal box used to be.
“Froggette” arrived so we headed up lough Derg for a night on the hook passing this scene that encapsulates Lough Derg – Motor boating, sail and jetski enjoying the vast lough.
We anchored off Castlebawn which has been restored by hand by a single family over the past 20 years. Half of the structure you now see in this photo was missing but restored manually by a dedicated family. There is a visitor jetty suitable for large cruisers and it is open at weekends during summer months for visits.
Set the anchor, light some candles, put on music and doze into a night on the hook.
Boat prep work completed – time to start the trip north, 0600am start – not a ribble as the Shannon slowly awakes from it’s sleep
Eight hours later after crossing Lough Derg we approach Shannonbridge which has one of the cutest pubs in Ireland “Killeen’s”
Athlone Lock “Froggette” enjoying the good spell of weather that has been here for over a month with almost no rainfall.
Athlone Railway Bridge is a landmark on the Shannon. There is a nice local authority marina in the town centre which charges only €8 per night irrespective of boat length.
28 C traversing mighty Lough Ree. When you get weather this nice we spend most of our time cruising at slow displacement speeds. It’s too nice to rush and saves on fuel.
Arriving Tarmonbarry Lough which is one of the smallest on the Shannon typically fitting only four cruisers at a time. Got a missed phone call from our daughter - hearts skipped a few beats, but it was just to tell something mundane, she had not gone into labour.
Scenic village with good eateries. There is a low bridge here which needs to be raised. Lock keeper hopped on his bicycle and lifted it for us.
to be continued . . .
What a great year it's been for trip reports.
