So we awoke after all the shenanigans of St Paddys day to a glorious sunny cruising day. We were keen to take our guests cruising so we bade Sallins farewell & set off up the Grand Canal. We had a mission not long after we set off though as mum knew there was a geocache on Soldiers Island so seeing as we had crew onboard & especially Uncle Alan the geocaching guru they managed to catch it by mum sticking the bow of the boat into the bushes on the island & Uncle Alan hanging off the front. Unfortunately Ger on the trip boat came round the corner just as mum was diagonal across the canal but he knew we were after the geocache. After that we set off in a straight line to our next destination of Robertstown. On the summit level the water was really shallow wo struggled to get round the bend at Robertstown having to do a 20 point turn just to get round it. The wall was full so we had to go past & onto the jetty which we struggle to get in when there is water in the canal. Luckily we were only staying one night as our long planks only just reached & it was all a bit precarious. The humans trotted off to Charlie Welds for the evening.
The next day it was off to one of our favourite spots at Allenwood conveniently near a bus stop as our crew were flying home the next day. I was absolutely exhausted so had 40 winks in my happy spot.
After we bade farewell to Uncle Alan & Auntie Carmen it was back to normal routine of working & cruising. But as mum was near a bus stop you know what she’s like she had to squeeze a couple of last Dublin adventures in. Both had a musical element; the first was a candlelit 80’s concert & the second was an afternoon kayaking on the River Liffey with music played beneath the bridges.
After that we started making our way along the now very familiar Grand Canal as we were due in Shannon Harbour for the boat to come out of the water for blacking. It was interesting seeing all the changes along the canal now the new greenway has been completed. Rhode & Daingean looked completely different they’d even rolled the red carpet out for us at Rhode!
At Daingean we had lots of surprise visitors; firstly Nell & Mistys mum’s came to visit us who we met back in Daingean 2 years ago as they follow us on instagram. We had lots of cuddles & they left us a big bag of treats including yummy things for us! Then coincidentally Mary & Graham who mum met when they were on a hire boat in Rathangan last year cycled by so we arranged to meet again in Tullamore. Mum also got her new annoying buzzing bee thing out. We think its called a drone but as everything else we have onboard has a name we’ve christened it Dermot the drone! It’s only a smallish toy one so mum is nervous of taking it very high but its good enough for her get some aerial photos of our moorings & annoy us with.
From Daingean it was up to Ballycommon as the greenway all the way to Kilbeggan Harbour has now opened so mum wanted to cycle to it. She really enjoyed seeing where the canal used to run & was able to stand in the bottom of the harbour which was beautifully kept.
Next stop was Tullamore & here we caught up with Julie who was over from the UK. Julie came with us on our very first cruise in Ireland from Sallins to Robertstown way back in Feb 2020. We went for familiar walkies past Srah Castle.
Whilst in Tullamore mum went out for a curry wit Mary & Graham & arranged for Mary to cruise to Pollagh with her. Mum also caught the Tullamore Tradfest so finally got a couple of live music nights in pubs. Who’d have thought when we came over its take 2 years for this.
We had a great day cruising with Mary down to Pollagh & they even found another golden retriever to fuss at one of the locks. At Pollagh we were met by Mary’s aunt Eileen who whisked them off to the pub aptly named The Pull Inn. Needless to say mum didn’t take much persuading especially bearing in mind all these pubs had been closed when mum & cruised past previously.
After a couple of days there & a quick work catch up for mum it was off to catch up with Ann at Ferbane where we spent so much time in lockdown two. It felt like coming home. Dermot was brought out to play again so we had a good bark at him.
From Ferbane Ann joined us as we cruised to Shannon Harbour & for once we got a superb spot on the jetty. McIntyres pub has also reopened do we visited there. The owners also have a golden retriever too!
Now we were in position ready for blacking in the dry dock at Shannon Harbour but mum sneaked in one more adventure. The new Meelick Weir Walkway had opened since we were last there so mum cycled to it & we must admit she did get some fabulous shots with Dermot.
So when the boat is in dry dock it’s very difficult for us to get on & off it so mum has booked a holiday cottage not far away at Dunmore in Galway & we have more visitors coming. So as we’re busy packing our bags making sure all our food, dishes & toys are in we’ll tell you all about the next time. Bon vacances tout le Monde!