1st - 3rd May. On the Shannon - Erne Waterway

We called in at Riversdale Marina for a footrest to be welded on to the starboard taff rail. Graham was very efficient and it was done at once.

Moving on to Ballinamore for the night, we were treated to another stunning sunset.

On Kiltybardan Lough, the jetty is anchored in the middle of the lough, which is quite fun.

It was calm when we arrived but we had a bumpy evening, out on the lough!

This hillside, near to the Shannon-Erne Waterway, has been stripped of all its trees. There does not seem to be a policy here of replacing felled trees.

We continue up Castlefore lock, which is the deepest lock on this waterway, and it leads us on to the summit level.

Slieve Aneurin can be seen in the distance in the Iron Mountains, beyond Lough Scur, which is part of the summit level. When we reach Lough Allen, later this week, we will be on the other side of these mountains.

 As we travel along the Shannon-Erne Waterway our surroundings keep on changing. This rocky cutting is very distinctive.

Further on, however, the banks are suffering from landslip, probably due to boats cruising too fast along this stretch.

On leaving the summit level, we start going down the three Kilclare locks. Eight locks in all will drop us down to the River Shannon, near to Leitrim.

This penichette, on hire from Ballinamore, was the first boat we met today.

These kayakers were on a 6 day sponsored "paddle" from Killaloe, which is at the south of Lough Derg, up to Enniskillen, on the River Erne in County Fermanagh. Quite an achievement!

We were lucky to find a mooring at Leitrim, where the jetty filled up with boats by the evening.