En y va....or do we?

Three nights on our mooring to check the car is in full running order before we set off for France on 4 June. Or do I mean IF we set off for France? That will not be happening unless the fuel depot blockade is over. Our ferry to  Roscoff is still operating. We think we can get to Il de Re on one tank but...can we? If we do get there can we get fuel? Too big a risk to take. The ferry only operates once a week, and we have to book the largest kennel for LJ, it is unlikely that we can just sit it out and go a week later.

Last year the worry was could we get back ...with Calais being blockaded. We brought our return forward by one day... to the Sunday of the weekend the French schools broke up for the summer. You can work out why! Could not have been smoother. We were even boarded onto an earlier Shuttle. Next day, we saw on the news, was chaos. 25 mile tail back into Calais.

Not so easy to fix this trip.

Perhaps we should have timed it for when Euro 2016 had actually started and the French government were not being held to ransom!!

We have no plans on France next year. Don't want to lose a month of the boating season here. But...  if we did they would now be in the bin.

Behind the curve again

Into Enniskillen on Tuesday. Leaving Lower Loch Erne behind for ...well a good while. 

The moorings in town couldn't have looked more different!

 We were here for LJ to have his hair cut. All his lovely curls gone. Then we started our journey back down Upper Loch Erne to our mooring. Had Alf from First Lady drop by to see if we needed any shopping. What a good chap he is and so interesting.

Back on the mooring. A sandbank has built up a bit so Alistair volunteered to try and shift it.
We did manage to get moored without grounding after he finished. More than we did on Saturday!

Whilst he was at work La Salle came along. Janet and Maurice friends of NB PUZZLER our...is mentor the right word? We were on the look out for each other and nice to chat till rain stopped play!

It was like that all day....sunshine and heavy shower. We are now not bad  at dodging the latter.

Am I boring you?

Sorry but I can't quite move on from the beauty of Innish Davar. We know exactly the right time to visit next year! 

 Then, in perfect conditions it was down to Devenish Island. Several boat trips of tourists visiting the historic remains of the monestary.We felt a bit like a tourist attraction ourselves. More conversations on the go than we've had in weeks!! Our neighbours for the night were English. Hiring a boat for a week. Ex narrowboatees!! Can you believe it! Had two shared ownerships. Now caravaning.

 Into Enniskillen this morning Sunday chicken from O'Docherties. Better even than from Paddy Sweeny on Brecon market! Quick visit from our Killynick hosts Colin, Anne, Holly and Tom then Asda and out we went. It very much San Tropez like on the water today. We were hopeful of a mooring at Ardhowen and plenty of room. WhT a stunning spot for a theatre. And...if you don't mind my saying...an ideal venue for The Marvellous Mr Curtis Stigers!

What did we know?

We thought it was stunning here two weeks ago....what did we know? The entire island is now carpeted by bluebells and cow parsley. And we have a Cuckoo!

Spot the difference!

Up early yesterday to make the two hour crossing across Loch Erne to Tom's Island. We are slowly heading south now and don't except to be up here again this year.

We are only visiting favourite moorings on our way south...at least that is the plan...weather permitting,

Timing was perfect as we had this....

And the wind came up for a few hours in the afternoon.

So...there we were. Admiring the views ..all well with the world. One cruiser with lovely little dog called Jack on next jetty when ....disaster!

Luxury cruiser...for want of more polite name arrived. Ignored all other space and ...well a picture etc etc. Overheard them saying they planned an staying two nights! 

Do NOT know what happened...we didn't even unleash LJ on their two dogs. Though I did pop out and take some pics! Any road up.......after an hour....

And all was well! 

Has it really been a week?

I am not sure where the weeks go. They are  just slipping by. Last weekend saw us sitting out a stormy couple of days in Camargh Bay. Very sheltered and with water and rubbish we were in a good spot....all except for our dog walking requirement. Poor LJ had,to make do with a quiet lane.

We then made the short, very short, hop to Inishmacsaint. Where we shared the jetty with a 'proper'  boat...for all of half an hour. Absolutely ideal spot for LJ. He does love an island to himself.

We were heading for a Friday shop in Belleek. Stop overs on the way at Tully Castle and briefly at Magho. The forecast, which was completely wrong, had us up and ready to move from Tully at 0700. We could hardly see the front of the boat! But once it cleared we had the best day of the year and none of the forecast wind.

Once in Belleek Diesel was topped up via cans at 50p a litre. We made use of the recycling centre, dropped 'stuff' off at the charity shops and hit the supermarket. 

600 residents  taking part in the all Ireland out of the Darkness walk...a suicide awareness raising initiative on Saturday but..the 0415 start ...well..... 

An easy run down to Castle Caldwell for the weekend. Where I spotted a solitary bluebell some weeks ago. Slight difference now!

Currently we are 'enjoying' reading of mini heatwave in other parts of the UK and walking LJ in parka with fur trim down hood. 

Coincidence R US

I may have mentioned the PUZZLER Principle. If not, or if it passed you by, this is our working theory that, if NB PUZZLER, which spent 3 years cruising in Ireland, got in somewhere then QISMA will be able to. Working a treat so far. Locals telling us we won't be able to get to Kesh because we'd never turn...oh..we already have! We didn't know we wouldn't be able to do that...the PUZZLER did.

Spookily....this principle must be becoming ingrained. There are plenty... And I mean plenty...of hairdressers in Enniskillen. I was 't even convinced I'd get my hair cut there. But, saw a salon that I liked the look of. They went out of their way to fit me in on a busy Friday. Then, as we continued to chat... Out came this business card!!

Sally, I hope you get this message, the 'boys' send their love!

Do not repel ALL boarders!

We haven't missed out on the ...unseasonal weather! Wind, hail and snow in quick succession! We were able to shuffle round in Enniskillen to keep legal on the moorings. The Erne Warden's patrol boat is now much in evidence. Don't want our first meeting with them to be awkward!!

And, and, we were boarded! Not by said Wardens but by boating duo  from Dublin thinking of getting a barge and wanting a look round.  Sadly, I was away shopping. Even worse.....hadn't tidied up before I left!!

There are some pretty swish boats cruising these waters. Almost south of Franceish on the main city moorings this weekend.

Luck was with us. Just as we were finished with the resupply, the wind dropped, sun came out and we took the weather window. Great cruise up to our mooring. Not a boat moving but us!