1st - 4th April. Spring on the Shannon Erne Waterway

The spring lambs are growing up, in this field alongside the water. We are on the Woodford River here, which is part of the Shannon Erne Waterway.

These retaining posts were sunk into the river bank many years ago, to help combat erosion by the water of the River Woodford. They are not working as well as they used to here, as all the soil between them has been washed away.

Andy is waiting below Ballyconnell lock, while Shannon and I prepare the lock for him.

This is one of the deeper locks on this waterway. Once the gates are shut, water is let in to lift the boat about twelve feet, before we can carry on above the lock.

There is a lovely walk from Ballyconnell, down by the river and through the woods. This canoeist tried in vain to go up the rapids towards the weir.

We were quite late leaving Ballyconnell, so only went as far as this mooring beside Bridge 26. With just room for one boat here, it is always a quiet place to be. We stayed here for two nights, as it never stopped raining on Wednesday.

These cute donkeys watched us pass by. Well, two of them did. The grey one seems to be asleep!

At last we reach Haughton's Shore. This will be our last mooring in Ireland, as The Puzzler is to come out of the water tomorrow.

We have fitted a new flagpole on the roof. The Irish flag is our courtesy flag, with the Dutch Barge Association burgee below it. Our red ensign will fly from the tiller. ( Thanks, Declan!)

Our favourite spot at Haughton's Shore is the jetty on the right, but the water level is too high for this to be comfortable.

We left Haughton's Shore soon after seven on Friday. The reflections on Garadice Lough were as impressive as ever.

On arrival at Riversdale, we tied up to two other barges, until the trailer was ready for us.

1st - 5th September. From Lough Key to Cootehall, Leitrim, and the Shannon Erne Waterway. Sailing on to Keshcarrigan, Kiltybardan and Haughton's Shore.

We spent a couple more days at Lough Key, enjoying the walking and the company there. When we set off on Monday the water of the lough looked very dark behind us.

However the sun came out on Oakport Lough, as we sailed on down the Boyle river, and gleamed on the surface of the lough.

We moored at Cootehall, and were treated to this sunset through the bridge.

"Life's a yawn!", says Shannon, as we rejoin her namesake, the Shannon river. The Iron Mountains can be seen in the background.

While Andy got some diesel at Leitrim, Shannon stalked a duck on the roof of The Puzzler. It is not really very worried at all.

 Moving on through the bridge for water, and some craic on Big Blue, we set off on the Shannon Erne waterway. A young helper controls the bows of The Puzzler.

Shannon came off at each lock to help. There is plenty of time to relax, below the control panel, while the lock is filling.

The weather has improved again, and is warm enough for shorts, here at Lisconor lock.

At Kilclare Middle Lock, the sudden waterfall over the top gates confirm that a boat is coming down the next lock.

Keshcarrigan seems a very lonely mooring, when you are the only boat on the jetty. Admittedly, there were three more boats here last night.

The village at Keshcarrigan nestles among the trees, beyond the long jetty.

There is work going on by the weir above lock 8. This is scheduled to go on for a month, but it is not clear what is being done.

Lock 8 is probably the deepest on the Shannon Erne Waterway.

Kiltybardan is a floating jetty, with no access to land. As we were mooring The Puzzler, Shannon found some fish scales which just asked for a dog to roll in them! Later on she discovered some fish bones, hidden down a crack in the jetty. Having been forbidden both of these treasures, Shannon was not impressed by the mooring. We like it here though!

As a protest, she decided to collapse across the barge pole, and go to sleep on the roof.

On leaving Kiltybardan Lough, Slieve Anierin can be seen again behind Andy.

Church Island is ahead of us on Garadice Lough. Shannon enjoys walking round the top of the roof,and is very surefooted. However, after leaving Haughton's Shore, she turned sharply to look at a horse on the bank, and fell in! Swimming at her full speed, she soon caught up with the boat, and was pulled back on board. She was a little shaken, but was back on the roof in no time.

Haughton's Shore is as peaceful as ever.

Walking along the shoreline back to Garadice Lough from the harbour, the distant woods and fields are a real Irish green.

Meanwhile, out on Garadice Lough, a cruiser approaches in the sunset.