Aleria's Adventures

It's been a wild year. Pandemic, Alex's mum had a stroke, Russia attacked Ukraine. We've been on some battlefront for more than two years now. Alex's mum suffered a stroke a year ago and then a second a year later exactly to the day. She never recovered from the second stroke, and it's a blessing to know she is at peace.  We had a lovely service in the Church of Ireland to a packed crowd with a cellist playing Bach. It was worthy. Then Siobhan did a service at the crematorium in Cavan which was even better. A tribute, some readings, some singing, a good send off with the Moores in tow. Then we went off to the Moore's for dinner and a sleep. The shared stories were a great send-off.  Now, as we prepared to head off for America to see family for the first time in years and for the OCC AGM, I am trying to catch up on planting and transplanting, and testing, and preparing and packing all of which we haven't done in years. How strange that life has changed so muc

 Wishing all my friends and family around the world a healthy and happy new year. Don't look back! And now, a cute kitty picture...

Galway Hookers in the Claddagh Basin 2021 Photo by Chaosheng Zhang We wish you all the best - health, joy and wealth - in 2022. May the world settle down so we can all get back underway again. And here's the story behind the making of Fairytale of New York , Ireland's favourite Christmas song. 

  Coastal waters covered in 10 US Coast Pilot books Did you know that all the United States Coast Pilot® books are available for download free of charge, as are the updated  Navigation Rules ?  The best part is that every time you download them they will have been updated from the previous editions. No heavy books to carry around, no paper to get wet. Just download to your PC or tablet and go.  The   US Coast Pilot  consists of a series of nautical books that cover information important to navigators of coastal and intracoastal waters of the US and the Great Lakes. Issued in ten volumes, they contain supplemental information that is difficult to portray on a nautical chart. Together with your nautical charts, they form a fundamental library of navigation information that will enhance your cruising experience in US waters. But beware, incomplete and inaccurate reproductions of US Coast Pilot are being sold on the commercial market.  And since Coast Pilot updates are no longer included i

The Spanish trawler Nuevo Laredo riding out the storm near Ardnatrush Beg, Glengarriff, County Cork (RTE) Yesterday, we experienced a weather bomb. A fast developing system that hit hard and stayed around for a while. Our sailing club recorded wind gusts of more than 77 knots (143 kph or 89 mph) which is hurricane force. Lucky for us, the storm veered a bit more south than forecast, so we had a light easterly quadrant in the morning and northwesterly in the afternoon and overnight. Once again as with Lorenzo, the eye passed directly over us in Clew Bay. Storm Barra's eye passing  over Clew Bay We went to Westport in the morning and got our booster vaccinations then did our food shopping all in light E wind and showers. Then we braced for the worst as we were in the Red Storm Warning zone for the evening. We are protected from the NW by the hill behind our house and it appears there was no damage. We hope Aleria is okay in Kilrush, where strong wind gusts were recorded.  By mid-af

It's getting to be that time of year again, and this year, we are focusing on gifts for the sailor who just goes out and buys whatever he or she wants or likes. And we're concentrating on items available to purchase online as the situation with Covid remains fluid. So here are a few items that caught our attention. We are also focusing on high quality items that are perhaps ecologically more sound due to recycled materials or the longevity of their useful life.  1. Dalvey Voyager Compass A most beautifully engineered pocket compass. Dalvey Compasses are often given as symbolic gifts at times when the recipient’s life is taking a new direction. They can be personalised with engraving – either in the form of initials, a name, a message, or even customised with a graphic motif. 2. Sailing ship whiskey decanter and globe etched glasses An old-fashioned glass sailing ship inside a hand-blown decanter with an artistic world map engraved on the outside. Includes a decanter stand in ex

1. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome A classic series of sailing adventure stories from the British Isles in the 1930s and is still as relevant today.  The Walker children (John, Susan, Titty and Roger) are on school holiday in the Lake District and are sailing a borrowed catboat named Swallow,  when they meet the Blackett children (Nancy and Peggy), who sail the boat, Amazon .  Uncle Jim (better known as Captain Flint) is too busy writing his memoirs to be disturbed. So the children camp together on Wild Cat Island where a plot is hatched against Uncle Jim when their hired deckhand tells them a daring yarn of his younger days. Soon their boat is on its way to the Caribbean on a treasure hunt and they come up against a shark, a storm, an earthquake, and the vilest eavesdropping pirate. The Swallows and Amazons Series Collection of 4 Books includes the titles Winter Holiday, Peter Duck, Swallowdale, the book that started it all Swallows and Amazons . Also made into a movie availa