Aleria's Adventures

We finally got Aleria into the water in Kilrush. Quite late but at least she's there. We have loads of work to do before we can bring her home. Run halyards that are stuck, hank on the sails, provision, etc. We brought a lot of stuff down, but not everything we need for the delivery.  We can't do it this week as the folks buying Ross House are here and we need to work with them on stuff. The weather has been ridiculously hot, dry and calm for at least a month. Today is the first rain we've had in ages. They say we are developing a Mediterranean climate. And it's happening fast.  We have interest in her from the broker so hopefully that will come through. She's a bit much for us to handle these days. I'm feeling my birth years and so is Alex.  We got home at 10:30 pm and it was still light. Gotta love this place. 

Jack Sparrow summarized the romance of sailing nicely: "Wherever we want to go, we go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and hull and a deck and sails. That's what a ship needs. But what a ship is... what the Black Pearl really is... is freedom." Except when she's still on the hard.  

In one week, I was contacted by Derrick Thorrington and Barry Kennedy, both Ocean Cruising Club members. Barry was in Galway and wanted to take a bus to Westport to meet up with us, but in the end that fell through. Derrick and Ali had been trying to get to Scotland but strong headwinds - yep NE-lies - caused them to tuck into Clew Bay. The weather was otherwise settled, sunny, and hot which made their visit quite pleasant.  They took a mooring at the sailing club. Then they rode their bikes over to Port Aleria and we showed them around, including a visit to the vineyard and a meeting of the donkeys. We picked some elderflowers so Ali could make her cordial. They kayaked around the islands one day, and then I took them into town to reprovision and take on fuel. It was very nice seeing them again after meeting first in Poole at the OCC AGM.  They finally got a break and headed north, getting a chance to anchor in Keem Bay, lucky them. We've never managed that. They are now in S...