The gear is smelly and damp, (but that never mattered before) , the wind is piling waves onto Portobello beach, (that very definitely did matter before, but not today). We got round Ireland, amazing!!! In good spirits and good order and inevitably now things change. A driving sense of purpose has been replaced by a … Continue reading 12/6-The day after… →

West and North Coast

Ballygally to Larne - 9kms With the tide and wind assistance yesterday we could easily have made it to Larne then. However our ferry booking was made for today and we didn't fancy our chances of finding a scenic campsite close to the ferry terminal. The 9 kilometer paddle was the easiest bit of the … Continue reading 11/6 Day 52 – The End! →

Dunaff Pier to Inishowen Head - 53kms At Dunaff Pier we were fortunate to have been camping on flat freshly mowed grass. When we arrived last night things didn't look particularly promising by the pier so we walked up a track where we met a man outside his solitary, attractive cottage. We asked if he … Continue reading 08/6 Day 49 – The BIG One: Malin Head →

Inish Owen to Ballintoy--46km After the most fantastic hospitality from Clodagh and Paul McIvor it was hard to leave Moville. I had met them through the exceptional work they do in the community through traditional music, via my sister and a long dead relative!! Despite a houseful of brilliant kids Clodagh steamed around, I reckon … Continue reading 9/6 Day 50 – Food for Giants →

This was a day of headlands and crossings - an unashamed head down and get some miles in. A long day was planned, with the aim being to put us in a position for going round Malin Head. We were, to be honest, a little bit disjointed as a group. A combination of the last … Continue reading 7/6- Day 48 Magheraroarty to Dunaff Head →

Portnoo to Magherarty Pier- 51kms As we set off on the 8km crossing to Crohy head, it was impossible not to think of other, much younger, men, 75 years ago embarking on boats for the landings that were so crucial to creating the society that has framed my adult life. They just got on with … Continue reading 6/6-Day 47- →

Teelin to Inishkeel - 51kms Our longest time off the water so far - 3 days. Although it's very frustrating not being able to make progress it is probably these times of forced rest that we'll look back on as the essence of the trip. Desi, Paddy Byrne, Jack and the rest of the musical … Continue reading 04/6 Day 45 – Calm and dry to windy and wet →

We could see a short calm spell with a gale coming behind it. We got up sharpish on the Saturday, packed and looked at our options, still blowing from the overnight winds. This is a bit like the Kerry Coast, long stretches of spectacular cliffs, and unusually, no habitation. Knowing we were likely to have … Continue reading 01/6-03/6 – Days 42-44 Blowing hard, wind and whistles… →