9th - 13th August. Heritage Boat Rally at Athlone 2013. Day trip to Galway.

We moved on up to Athlone on Friday, and tied up outside 68M, below the town bridge. Sonas came in outside us, with a cruiser outside him. On Saturday we went out for an Indian meal with friends, and returned to find The Puzzler, plus those outside us, had moved in front of 68M, on to the wall! (I should say that we had been warned of the impending move before it happened) That night we were wakened at 1am by a young couple climbing over the roof of our boat. They were extremely embarrassed to be found out, as they had thought no-one was on board! We would like to recommend PCWorkshop.ie, based near to the bridge in Athlone, for any work on computers. He retrieved data from our crashed computer in very little time, and the cost was extremely reasonable.

On Sunday we cruised up beyond the motorway bridge to join the procession of Heritage boats down into Athlone.

The boats all moored below the town bridge on the wall, with the barges on the inside. The boats were all tied together to make a solid raft.

We were in the fourth line, and were the fourth boat out. It gets you fit, climbing over three boats, every time you want to leave the boat! There was great craic at every opportunity.

The water levels are down at the moment, and it is possible to walk across the weir. Irish boaters will recognise this couple!

Shannon had a day out on 57M, while we took the train to Galway. We passed the Fields of Athenry on the way.

We bought the new computer at Curry's, where the two assistants were full of craic, competing with each other as to who could be the best one. They were both excellent! Andy paused for a rest beside Oscar Wilde and his father.

Sally chose to relax beside the River Corrib.

It is a pleasant harbour in Galway.

On Monday evening we went to the official opening of the Heritage Boat Rally, where the Mayor of Athlone welcomed us all. Later that evening, after an interesting slideshow of photographs of the River Shannon in 1900, followed by music in the Castle car park, we returned to The Puzzler. It was time to switch on the lights on the boats. They made a lovely display. Next it was more craic till all hours!

7th - 8th August. Back on to the River Shannon at Portumna, Meelick Quay, Banagher, then drama at Shannon Bridge.

We left Lough Derg on Wednesday, to head back up the River Shannon through Portumna Bridge. This bridge opens at set times throughout the day, no doubt annoying the traffic on the road!

Although we have enjoyed Lough Derg, it is quite nice to be on calm waters again, on the River Shannon.

I do not think we have ever seen the River Shannon so calm as it was at Meelick Quay.

Even the horse by the building is there in the reflections.

We called in at Banagher to collect our non-functioning computer. This man, just outside the harbour, has been carved from a tree, which used to stand here.

A favourite walk of ours is through the pitch and putt golf course on the other side of the river at Banagher. Here too is this dinghy marina, which makes them look like toys.

At Shannonbridge we had a major drama, as a man from a hire boat fell into the water, while rafting up to Daisy, in front of The Puzzler. He was not wearing a lifejacket. We were the third boat out, being tied outside the barges 57M and 68M. His two teenage daughters began screaming that he could not swim, while Sally, returning across the barges from the bank, called for Andy to come out and help. Michael arrived too, while a Frenchman from another hire boat dived in after him. As the man went down for the third time the Frenchman went down after him. They both disappeared from view, then our rescuer pulled the unfortunate man to the surface. Andy used our boat hook to get them in beside The Puzzler, and we got hold of his hands. He was a big man, and was weakening by the minute. The Frenchman was also in difficulties by then and had to be hauled out of the water, so that we did not lose him too. All potentially useful ropes were inside the locker, underneath us, as we held him out of the water. Michael organised the two girls to row their dinghy across to The Puzzler, and eventually pulled him into the dinghy, with adrenaline helping! Once the dinghy was taken across to the cruiser by the wall, your man managed to climb the ladder, with help. He was immediately wrapped in blankets, with hot water bottles, and an ambulance was called, which arrived within 15 minutes. He was taken to Ballinasloe Hospital but returned later that evening. Hopefully he will always wear his lifejacket in future, as he will not have a future if he does not do so! Andy and Michael are just off downstream to collect two lifebouys which were thrown in, but drifted past before they could be used in the rescue.