Aleria's Adventures

Crosshaven from our B&B We'd been in Crosshaven for a week. We'd cycled the Greenway, visited the Fort at Camden, taken a bus trip into Cork, done our laundry in Carrigaline, and made Cronin's our home away from home where we met up with OCC members from Persephone (David Ball & Trudie) and Aragorn (Robert & Caroline Jollye). We also made friends with Canadian single-hander Dirk from Footloose who will be joining OCC and Damian owner of a classic Fife yacht that he just inherited from his uncle and he's going to restore. Our lead mechanic at CBY, Hugh Cassidy, is a fascinating character. He gave us a tour of his boat, a cruiser converted lovingly from a lifeboat. He reminded me of a cross between Hugh Laurie and Crocodile Dundee. We really liked him, and he was very good and trustworthy. The guys who work for him, Dennis who worked on our boat, are also terribly nice and good at their jobs. We had landed in the right place at Crosshaven Boat Yard. ...

Dick, Carol, Alex, Sue and Mike We'd had a slow day, spending the time banking, emailing, and blogging. Mid-day we went to lunch at the River Cafe (very nice and good food) then sauntered back to the B&B by way of the boatyard. It was hot and sunny - summer had arrived. We got the news that the part was due in on Thursday so if all goes well, our boat will be put back together then and we'll be on our way. We were invited to dinner at Mike and Carol Hodder's house not far from Crosshaven in Fountainstown. Mike, the OCC Port Officer, picked us up at the marina and gave us the scenic tour en route. We arrived at Fountainstown House, a Georgian on 100 acres which has been in his family for 400 years. Mike was a dairy farmer until he couldn't make it work anymore, at which point he scaled back and switched to beef, which is now difficult at best. Alex and Mike, who reminded us both very much of Robin Williams, had a lot in common. Invited to dinner were also Di...