Wednesday 11th July - Dublin

We caught the commuter train into the city and had breakfast in 'Toddy's' before catching the open top tour bus. We alighted at the Guinness store house and did the full tour, which does include a pint in the Gravity Bar overlooking the city and beyond. Arthur Guinness was a man of vision as he took out a 9000 year lease on the site in 1759.
We returned to Dun Loaghaire and had a walk along the East Breakwater before dinner. Unfortunately, before we made it to the end it rained heavily, and we were drenched. We dripped into the National Yacht Club, were we enjoyed a seafood bake, helped down by a Jameson each.

Set sail again

We left Arklow, with no wind and barely a ripple. I had intended to stop a night in Wicklow, but three people I'd mentioned this plan to all said 'you don't want to go there'. I changed the passage plan and Wicklow became a port of refuge in the event of bad weather.
We motored past in a flat calm, with a strong tide helping us on.
We arrived in Dun Laoghaire early afternoon. On calling into the marina reception I was given the package containing my phone charging lead some I can call Chrissy again.
We took the train into Dublin, and booked a coach tour up into The Wicklow Mountains for the following day.
Dorril and I spent the evening wandering around Dublin over the bridges over The Liffey. This was followed by an Irish Stew and a Guinness with live music.
On Tuesday, we were up early to catch the train back into Dublin. The coach took us up out of the city, upwards with our ears popping. We saw lots of hills, mountains, lakes & waterfalls, which were all very green and beautiful.
On our return into Dublin, we sought out yet another bar, with very lively music, Guinness and steak & Guinness pie. All were very grand!

Sunday bus to Enniscorthy

I met Dorril at the station off the afternoon train from Dublin.
After dropping her bags on Calviere II we took a long walk along the coast north to the next headland.
In the evening we enjoyed a nice meal in a restaurant in town. This was followed by a pint of Guinness in a bar advertising live music. There had been a few bars with boards outside for live music, but they didn't start until late. One bar had music from 11:30 - 01:30, which wasn't the hours we keep!
The bar we chose, the musician spent best part of an hour setting up, and started playing at 10:30. We only stayed for a couple of numbers and left.
Dorril & I caught the morning bus down south to the town of Enniscorthy, in Wexford. We explored the shopping area, looking for a suitable place to eat our Sunday lunch. In 'The Bailey', we had the roast turkey and ham, with vegetables, washed down by a Guinness.
After lunch we visited the castle which contained a small museum relating to the 1916 uprising.
In the evening we will be going to the cinema to see Red Lights.

Back in Arklow

I arrived back on board yesterday morning. I stopped in Arklow to tuck into a 'full Irish breakfast' as I thought I'd earned it after traveling all day and all night. I did sleep most of the journey! And I did take the opportunity to visit The Science Museum and The V&A.
I have managed to leave the charging lead for my Irish phone at home. As it was a cheap one, no shops stock the charging leads. Chrissy has mailed it out to me, but it wont be at Dublin until Wednesday.
Dorril arrives later today. I'm going to meet her at the station. Hopefully her phone will work in Ireland. Mine is nearly dead.

Sunday 1st July - Home

I caught the bus out of Arklow to Dublin, where I caught the coach to London. This coach went on the 20:00 ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, arriving at 00:50. And then on to Victoria arriving there at 08:00. The 11:00 coach to Maidstone arrived at 12:25. All for £85.00 return. All went very smoothly to the timetable.

So I'm at home for a few days.

Goodbye to Colin

Colin had agreed to help me with one of the more challenging legs of my trip. This leg involved crossing two major obstacles. The Bristol Channel and the Irish Sea. And he was up for the task. The Irish Sea is the first 'sea' I've crossed, before it has been sailing along coastlines or crossing 'The Channel' but with Colin I can now say I've crossed a sea! Thank you Colin.
Colin caught the bus to Dublin, and then the ferry to Holyhead. From there he'll be on a number of trains, finally arriving at Euston at half one tomorrow morning.
I have booked a bus, ferry & coach ticket back home to Maidstone, leaving Saturday pm and arriving noon on Sunday. I return to Arklow on Friday 6th and Dorril will be signing the crew list on Saturday 7th July.
Getting emails hasn't been too easy as my Orange phone isn't working. There is a bar in Arklow, which I can stand outside and download the emails, but I don't want to be too regular. Colin and I did go in a few times for coffee.....
One of the emails was from John A, the chairman of the Maidstone RNLI guild. He is one of my blog followers. He said some kind words about my travels, but he hasn't been well himself. He has had to undergo some tests in hospital. One of those tales from home which makes me think just how lucky I am to be on this self imposed quest. I have the support of my friends, crew, family and most important, my wife. I have my health, I have the boat, I have the resources and thanks to UKPN I have the time and the opportunity. Any one of these factors missing, and my adventure would never have started.
Best wishes for your health to John A.

27th June - guest blogger - Colin

I've always been interested in boats currently owning a 33ft sailer, so on retirement the thought of more sailing was appealing. Then I had this email where Peter's sail around britain needed a crew for a couple of legs..sounds good... From Cornwall to Wales to Ireland... Still sounds OK... Over 150 miles of open sea in a piece of fiberglass 26 ft long nearly 30years old... Sounds suicidal so OK I'm up for it.
From the idyllic setting of Padstow, we anchored in a calm sheltered bay awaiting the tide; I was sea sick, an ongoing problem of mine. We crossed the Bristol channel with dolphins all the way, made it to Wales.
The crossing to Ireland started at Skomer at night in a fairly strong wind. If we could have seen the sea state another reef at least.
Made it to Arklow, no more seasickness and have had a few days enjoying the area. Today took us by bus to Wexford. Seems a lot more lively than Arklow. Lunch in a restaurant dedicated to the wild west, Jesse James, Geronimo, on the walls and they played the same C & W song over and over until Peter asked them to change the track just as we left. The burgers were massive. Back to arklow to think of my journey back to London but that's anther story.
Good luck to Calviere2 for the rest of the trip.