14th - 19th August. Up Lough Ree to Lecarrow and Portrunny, then on to Ballyleague and Richmond Harbour.

From Athlone we set off towards Lough Ree, pausing for a break at Hodson Bay, as the weather was getting worse. However, it cleared up in the afternoon, and we had a calm journey on up the lough. Shannon enjoys resting on the roof, fitting well into this corner at the stern.

She moved inside later on though, as the sky became really threatening again, but there was no more rain.

Along the Lecarrow canal it is obvious from the banks how low the water level is at the moment. The weed has been cut recently and is no problem in the navigation channel. Shannon is inspecting it all carefully!

The harbour at Lecarrow was nearly full, but we managed to moor across the bows of a cruiser, with our bows against the wall. We could get off the roof of The Puzzler on to the harbour wall. In retrospect, we should have ignored the No Mooring sign on the pumpout. It would have made access to the bank a lot easier!

In Lecarrow we went to see Nellie's Rock. These are ancient Dolmen Stones, where a poor woman is reputed to have reared a child under the shelter of the rock. The Yew Tree restaurant in the village provided us with an excellent meal, and this was followed up by music at Coffey's pub. Most of the boaters from the harbour were there.

Moving on to Portrunny, we met up with Gerry and Ann again, and there was good craic all evening.The next day they left us, but new friends, Brian and Elaine arrived with Silver and Magic, two lovely retrievers.

Once again Shannon did her "roadkill" impression. It was the Heritage boaters in Athlone who likened her to this! We thought it was rather unkind!

We left Portrunny late on Sunday, once the wind had lessened, and the sun lit up Dog Island as we sailed past.

Clouds behind us gave a strange effect, but again we avoided any rain.

We moored at Ballyleague overnight, leaving  the barge 4E there when we left to continue up the River Shannon.

We left the River Shannon below Tarmonbarry, to go along the Clondra Canal and up the lock at Clondra. This lock mooring was under water when we came down Clondra lock in the spring.

Our summer lockkeeper wasted no time in bringing us up the lock!

Noel moved his boat up to make room for us, on the lower mooring below Richmond Harbour.

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.

29th - 30th April From the Inner Lakes across Lough Ree. From Athlone down the River Shannon to Clonmacnoise.

We stayed by Coosan Lough for three nights and loved the peace there. One small speed boat came through the narrow entrance to the lough at full speed, which was a bit bouncy. Let's be charitable and think that he did not see us tucked in behind a tree. However as he returned at the same speed later, perhaps not!

Our return journey across the south of Lough Ree was much calmer than it had been on the way.

We paused briefly in Athlone for a shopping stop. Shannon enjoyed watching the town as we sailed past.

This swan had built her nest in a very safe spot, on a small island in the river. She will be fine so long as the water does not rise much higher. We have never seen as much water in the Shannon as there is at present. It is well out of its banks, and across the adjoining meadows. We are told that, as a dry spell of weather is forecast, the water is being retained in the Shannon basin by the Ardnacrusha Dam, rather than being allowed to flow away naturally. In this way the water will be available for hydro-electricity later in the summer. This policy naturally annoys the farmers, who would like to be able to use their riverside fields for their stock. The idea of dry weather sounds good though!

Further downstream Clonmacnoise is as impressive as ever. This was a monastic settlement founded by St Ciaran in about AD 545. It grew to be a great monastic city, famed throughout Europe, but suffered attacks by the Vikings during the 8th, 9th and 10th Centuries. It was also attacked by Irish Kings and then by English soldiers in 1552, and the churches were in ruins by the end of the 16th Century. It is well worth a visit.

There were some fishermen at Clonmacnoise when we arrived, and this one was delighted to catch a pike, which weighed in at 21 and a half pounds! It put up a real struggle, and almost caused a problem for a German family on a hire boat. While the fisherman was working the fish in the water, he was on the end of the jetty. The hire boat approached, wanting to moor on that jetty, even though the other side of the mooring was nearly empty. The fisherman firmly waved them away and carried on fighting his pike. Eventually they went round to moor on the other side, but were a bit grumpy about it. Once the pike was out of the water it seemed quite resigned to being held up for a photograph, and to being weighed. You got the impression that it had been there before!

The afternoon light was shining on the ruins of St. John's Castle, which lies quite near to Clonmacnoise monastery. This castle, was built in 1214 by the English Judiciar, John de Gray. The ruins can be seen of the gatehouse, courtyard and keep, which were destroyed by an explosion, many years ago.

23rd - 28th April. On down The River Shannon, across Lough Ree and into the Inner Lakes.

From Leitrim we joined the River Shannon. It is quite narrow at first but soon widens out into a seriously wide river. Going through Carrick-on-Shannon there are very few hire boats out, and there are not many private boats on the finger jetties there either. it is still early in the boating season. We go on as far as the end of the Jamestown canal, where we join Inis Cealtra, a Waterways Ireland workboat. He has been working on marker replacement.

The sloping bank above the mooring is a good place for exercise.

All the black markers on this part of the Shannon have been replaced with green ones, which are much easier to see. On the approach to Dromod there is a wide curve of green markers to follow, which keep boats out of the shallow water. However we heard of two private boats which were seen to go far inside these markers with impunity. With a depth sounder, much more of the loughs, beyond the markers, would be safe for us to explore.

When we arrived at Dromod, it was quite busy, but several hire boats left before dark, presumably being on a tight schedule.

As we sailed down the Camlin River, the weather to our left was lovely, and we were glad to be going in that direction.

Eyes right and it was a different story! We did manage to reach Clondra before the rain arrived! The weather generally is lovely sunshine then really heavy spring showers.

Shannon enjoys helping in the galley.

Coming along the cutting towards Clondra lock, we can see the hills beyond the lock. This lock at Clondra is operated by the Tarmonbarry lockkeeper, so he cycles down to find us, as soon as he is free to do so. He was disappointed not to find a Carrick cruiser there too.

At Lanesborough there was a fine collection of barges. Three of us will be making our way down Lough Ree, as soon as the wind is favourable. We had a great evening on Talitha II, with lots of good craic.

We left the harbour at Lanesborough at 6am, and enjoyed looking back to see the sun rising over the turf fuelled power station.

Waterways Ireland are making a new floating jetty off Warren Point, near to Rindoon, which can be seen on the land behind the workboat. This was the site of of a very early Norman town, dating from the early thirteenth century. The remains of a massive stone castle include the ruined tower, curtain walls and a gatehouse surrounded by a moat. It will be interesting to come here later in the year, and use our dinghy to go and visit the ruins.

The wind followed us down Lough Ree, so we had quite a comfortable crossing. The waves looked worse out of the window than they felt!

Going diagonally across the lough from marker 3, we reached the Inner Lakes within four hours, and found the narrow entrance to Lough Coosan, among the reeds. This entrance only becomes visible, once the boat is level with it, and you begin to wonder if it is still there!

We took this wild mooring, looking out on to Lough Coosan. What an idyllic place!

31st Dec 2012 - 3rd Jan 2013. New Year in far west Fermanagh.

For New Year celebrations, we are in the far west of Fermanagh, in Cashelnadrea. We went for a walk at The Rosheen, a picturesque spot by Lough Melvin, being well insulated against the inclement weather.

Driving round to the far side of Lough Melvin, we stopped to see the view, but Maurice and Janet were nearly blown over by the wind!

On a clear day the Atlantic can be seen in the distance from this viewpoint.

The view is good, looking up the lough, despite the misty weather.

Don't you agree that this is an idyllic setting for a cottage? This is where we are lucky enough to be staying.

We spent three days celebrating the coming of the New Year, being entertained by Maurice and Janet.

A good time was had by all!

Next morning it was off for more walking, and we passed the romantic centre of this area. The Ballroom of Romance at Glenfarne is the place to go, if you are footloose and fancyfree, so we are told. However, we continued on towards the hills!

From Black Lion we headed six miles to the south, and after a half mile track from the car park, there is a new bridge welcoming us to Shannon Pot.

This pool  is the source of the great River Shannon and the water gushes out of the ground here, Apparently when there is more water coming out, a small geyser is created, but today it is just bubbling gently.

The quantity of water from the pool is still quite impressive, creating this stream under the footbridge in a distance of less than twenty yards. The River Shannon  has a long way to go before it reaches the Atlantic Ocean beyond Limerick.

From Shannon Pot we carried on to the Cuilcach Mountains, and Cladagh River Glen, where there is an extremely scenic walk through the woods, alongside the Cladagh River. We saw several trees, which had slipped to lie across the Cladagh River, but it just carries on, as it has for centuries, to flow under or around them.

The Cascades Waterfall is not a place to lose your footing!

In a very old woodland like this one, the dampness of the climate can be seen in the moss covered trees.

Further on, this is the limestone arch after which the Marble Arch caves are named, due to its similarity to marble in appearance.The Cladagh River probably created the arch originally.

Marble Arch Rising is the source of the Cladagh River, where it emerges from the hillside. The northern slopes of the Cuilcach Mountains are the catchment area for three rivers which flow into the Marble Arch cave system. They meander through the underground cave passages for several miles before joining together to emerge as the Cladagh River, here at the chaotic limestone collapse which is known as Marble Arch Rising.

Beyond the Rising we climbed the path, which leads up to the Marble Arch Centre, and the public entrance to the Caves. When open, in the summer months, it is an impressive underground adventure.

On our way back, we passed Lough Macnean. There is just so much stunning scenery in this part of Ireland. We have had a wonderful holiday.