Upriver to Lough Key

Found a WiFi hotspot in Lough Key Forest Park. This is such a gorgeous place and we even have sunshine today. We've spent the week working our way up from the heat of Mountshannon, through wind and rain and thermal underwear weather, then back into sunshine. We've towed the dinghy all the way and had some great sailing on Loughs Derg, Ree, Bofin and now Key. The wind has been great. Perfect for sailing cowards like us who potter about in a heavy gaff-rigged 14' cruising dinghy. We're getting better though, with lots of very thorough advice to each other. What's the sailing equivalent of the hurler on the ditch? Or backseat driver.

Winter Solstice is giving us delight all the way along, especially when people ask can they take a photograph. We swell with pride! Our beloved is so beautiful! And hardly a leak at all inside as long as we keep the cover over the roof hatch.

It's great to bump into people we haven't seen for a year or, in one case, seven years. Louis Rice was at the jetty when we arrived yesterday. 'The man whose pork chop the dog ate!' called Joe. Not sure whether Aoife remembered this, but we kept her well clear of his boat.

Off to Boyle this evening. I'm never sure about that harbour. It has always seemed to be too hot (really, it was) without any shade or pissing with rain. But they have a very good shower block, and we've the bikes on board so can get into the town easily. Joe will get a bus from there tomorrow to Carrick, then to Athlone, then to Cloghan from where he'll get a taxi to Banagher where we left the car. This is always the downside of going upriver for the summer.

Home for a couple of days to catch up, mow the grass and pick strawberries if there are any left, then back to the boat to cruise to Enniskillen and maybe beyond.