Upper Lough Erne to Enniskillen. 26th -29th April

We put the doors on the roof to dry and, having winded again, sailed on to join Upper Lough Erne. We took the first left turn into Trial Bay, just after passing an island with Gad tower, an architectural folly, on it.

We moored on the long jetty at Derryvore. Catkin is learning all about jetties, and now knows which way to go to reach the shore.

This cute beetle came to visit us.

One cruiser was there when we arrived and another came soon afterwards. Our peace was then destroyed by the arrival of two speedboats, with three more to follow. The first two used kneeling ski boards, with two people being towed at once. The other speedboats brought children and a large inflatable disc, which had a 5’ diameter and was 1’ deep. They are called doughnuts! At first they used it as a diving platform, using our boat on the jetty both as a windbreak and also as a breakwater. Later they towed the disc behind a speedboat, with three children clinging in to it. We enjoyed watching all these water sports, but it was lovely and quiet when they left. It is amazing how much wash is put up by little speedboats!

Next morning we scrubbed the roof, washed the boat sides, cleaned the windows and polished the brass. Our spring cleaning is nearly complete! Catkin is enjoying this mooring.

On Thursday we cruised back to Upper Lough Erne. We carried on past many islands, both large and small, calling in at Tirraroe mooring to exercise Catkin. This is a sheltered mooring, just off the main lough. We are making our way up the south west side of the lough this time.
The binoculars are an essential piece of equipment, to spot the markers for our route as well as viewing the stunning scenery.
Andy now has his summer look!

Sometimes the markers are far away in the distance. The hills are getting nearer too.

We called in at Knockninny for lunch. It was extremely busy here and quite awkward to get the bows in to moor. Unusually, no-one came out of their boats to help. So far we have found other boaters to be very helpful. On from Knockninny, we went to the left of Inishmore, which is the largest island in the lough, and then continued on down the Erne river, as it meanders its way towards Enniskillen. There were some stunning properties to be seen.

We moored at Culky, to experience very loud music, until the waterskiers went home! This is another pretty mooring. Andy put the front doors back on, the varnish now being hard enough, so it is good to feel secure again.

On the outskirts of Enniskillen, we stopped at the Ardhowen Theatre mooring to watch the royal wedding of William and Kate.

What a happy couple!

We sailed on to Enniskillen, which has an impressive castle by the River Erne. We liked the town very much. It is a pleasant mixture of old and new.
In Enniskillen both Asda and Tesco are quite near to the shopping centre mooring. This was very convenient, as our stocks were at an all time low! Shopping on this part of the Irish Waterways is certainly more difficult than at home, with towns and villages often far from the bankside. It just requires a little more organisation, and long term planning.

We returned to the Ardhowen Theatre mooring later to spend the night there. Again, a boat moved up to make room for us. The mooring was quite busy that night, with 14 boats moored there.

Shannon-Erne Waterway 21st - 25th April

We sailed back across Lough Garadice, past Haughton's Shore Mooring and on down the Woodford River. Even here the markers keep us away from the shallows.

A wind farm on a nearby hill.

We decided that Ballyconnell was too towny for us for a night mooring, but we look forward to shopping here at a later date. At Ballyconnell lock a small cruiser came up the lock, then we went down with a locaboat from Ballimamore. This hire company have a fleet of penichettes.

Below Corraquil lock many large attractive stones have been used in the construction of the lock mooring. We had thought we might moor in the inlet below this lock, but it was too full.

We carried on and found a super mooring in a sheep field. On this side of the waterway, we are now in Northern Ireland, as the waterway forms the boundary.

"What are you doing in my field?"





Playmates for Catkin? Probably not!

Pleasant though it was at this mooring, there was nowhere for Catkin to walk. We were also being thrown about by passing boats, several of which were putting up a breaking wash and so helping to destroy the river banks. Some were hire boats, but certainly not all of them.

We moved on about half a mile to Aghalane, passing under The Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge.

Aghalane is a recognised mooring, but is under repair and so officially out of use, while landscaping is going on.

We winded and moored just beyond the slipway, with good bow access into the field.

For those of you who think that life is just one long holiday on the boat, here is some essential maintenance going on! Andy has removed and sanded the front doors, and Sally is now varnishing them. This seemed a peaceful place to be without front doors overnight.


We later read that this area was the site of several murders, during the troubles. It is also very near to the Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge, which commemorates the end of the troubles.

Shannon-Erne Waterway and Garadice Lough 17-20th April

Catkin feels better today.

We sailed on through Lough Marave, with a regular forest of markers to keep us in the correct channel! The view across to the hills is lovely.

After going down Lock 8, Castlefore Lock, the waterway narrows, with conifers close to us on both sides, leading us to Muckro's lough, and then St. John's Lough. We then meander past the entrance to Kiltybardan Lough and through Lock 7, Ballyduff lock.

We moored above the lock at Ballinamore.
In the morning, our breakfast was interrupted by the arrival of the grasscutters with a strimmer, heading for the grass beside the boat. We rapidly untied and set off down the lock, with memories of a previous strimmer putting a stone through our galley window!

As we were following another boat at lock 6, we did not need to use our smartcard to activate the lock. The waterway is very attractive in the stretch below Ardrum lock. It is narrow and winds in between the fields.

Below Aghoo lock we turned into Graham's Marina, hoping for diesel. We were made very welcome, tying to a smart Dutch Barge. There was no diesel available, but a fellow boater took Andy by van to Ballinamore to buy some, lending him containers to get 4 x 20 litres. Everyone was very friendly and helpful with information.
It is a tight turn out of the marina, so of course that is where we met a large hireboat, which had not responded to our horn!

We sailed on and reached Garadice Lough, which is quite wide and was a bit choppy. After we passed Church Island, the water was calmer as the island sheltered us. At the end of the lough, we turned into Haughton's Shore Mooring. We tied on to Mardle,a 70' widebeam narrowboat and were made very welcome by Chris and Rachel. There were also two large cruisers, a Dutch barge and a penichette in harbour, so it was quite full. We found a pleasant walk along the lakeside, only complicated by the cattle grids. Andy had to carry Catkin again!

Bella, from Mardle is checking us out! There is a stray springer spaniel here, looking for a home. She is a very sweet dog and is trying all the boats as a possibility.

G and J arrived and are fitting a new back canopy for Mardle. We look forward to seeing the finished product.

Shopping by bike today.

We went back on to Lough Garadice and headed for Church Island.

The old jetty on Church Island has been here for a long time.

It was quite tricky to get the boat in close, due to shallow water, but the plank at the stern was adequate. Catkin negotiated the plank very fast, and nearly shot off the other side of the boat on her return, as she was going at such a rate!

It is a beautiful secluded place.

We set off to explore and managed to walk right round the island. There is so much dead wood and fallen trees everywhere that it is quite tricky to find a way through.

Catkin really enjoyed the walk, and even retrieved sticks from the water.

The ruined church was built in the 12th century.


On our return to the boat we saw what we thought was an American Mink, but missed the ideal photo opportunity!

Shannon-Erne-Waterway 15-16 April

From Carrick we continued out of town. No chance of taking the wrong arch with these markers!







We nearly missed the turning to the right, a mile further on, which steered us away from Lough Key. You really do have to watch the chart to keep in the corrrect channel. We have decided to head north to Enniskillen as directly as we can, and will do all other parts of the waterways at another time.

After Hartley bridge the river becomes narrower, without any wide flashes. We passed some young cattle, wading through the river to escape to the next field.

We saw our first ducklings of the year. There were too many, moving too fast, to count them!

At the next right, signed this time, we joined the Shannon-Erne Waterway. This waterway was reopened in 1994 after being derelict for a century.

The bridges are wonderful. This is definitely a canal!

This new development was passed soon after we joined the canal.

There was a warden at lock 16, Leitrim lock, which is the first lock,and has a rise of a couple of feet. We found that as long as only one paddle is used, then ropes are not needed.

The locks are operated hydraulically, after you insert your smartcard, each lock costing one unit.

All the other 8 locks up to the summit were about 12' deep. This is lock 15.

At lock 10 the water over the bottom gates was quite impressive.

Going on through Lough Scur we moored at Keshcarrigan. We moored on the end of the jetty, as we fit best there.

Once again the walkway down on to the Jetty from the quay is ridged metal. This may be designed to be non slip but is certainly not designed for dogs feet! Catkin has to be carried over it, or else wear her boots, to protect her feet. She cannot decide which is worse!

Safely back on the boat. "Take them off please!"