Although we didn’t see any hot air balloons – we were a week early . We did tour the lake in great condition , just enough chop and waves to make the spin interesting.
The get up a go was slow on the Saturday morning with some tied souls from the friday night briefing. The whole fleet bar one jet Ski that lost drive made it to the top of the River approx.. 4 mile from the end of navigation’s signs . This is a most beautiful piece of waterway and a highly recommended trip, even we enjoyed it a displacement speeds.
Off to Spencer Harbour for a sunny afternoon leisurely picnic and a competitive game of boules when we had enough resting under our belt we headed back to the Lough Allen resource center for the breifing and the planning started in ernest for the Sunday spin.
It was decided to take a trip down the canal and recover the boats in Cootehall and the plan was put in motion . So we all settled in for a great meal provided by Ciaran Morgan and his band of helpers. They cooked up a storm and no one was left hungry- I do believe we even had some apple crumble left over .
The morning started with trailers being moved and ready for the recovery in Cootehall. The breakfast rolls were prepared and distributed to all before we set off on our trip down the canal .
The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, powerboat branch, will visit the Port and Boyne Valley over two days on the 13th and 14th of April.
See the link below for full details,
ITINERARY
Saturday 13th
9 – 9.30 am – Gather, tour of station and launch at the Drogheda Fisherman’s Rescue & Recovery Service Station, Marsh Road Drogheda
11 am – Head east on the Boyne River out to sea to meet the Clogherhead RNLI Lifeboat
(Approx 12 km) and accompany it along with Drogheda Port Authorities Pilot Boats & River Rescue Boats back to De Lacey bridge in Drogheda Town centre to arrive for high tide at 12.45 p.m.
1.00 pm – Meet Drogheda’s First Citizen, The Lord Mayor and other dignitaries
followed by sponsored lunch in the nearby D Hotel
2.30 pm – Back to boats to accompany the Lifeboat to Clogherhead pier followed by tour of the RNLI Station
4.30 – 5 pm – Depart Clogherhead for Drogheda
8 pm – Dinner in the Boyne Valley Hotel & Country Club. Stameen Dublin Road Drogheda
Followed by sing/song and craic in the bar
(4 Course Dinner €22 pp)
Limited overnight accommodation available in the Boyne Valley Hotel & Country Club
Rate: B&B in Double/ Twin room – €70 per room
(This is a special rate for the occasion)
Telephone: 041 9837737
Web site www.boyne-valley-hotel.ie
Sunday 14th April
11 am – Launch and travel to the Sea lock at Oldbridge to see progress on the IWAI Boyne Navigation Branch Project
Trip on the canal
Tour of the Battle of the Boyne Site
Tea/ Coffee, Homemade scones etc will be available at the lock
Sponsored by the Boyne Navigation Branch
Web site www.boyne.iwai.ie
3.30 pm – Head back to base and home
New Photos of Outing on 1st December Are up
they might be slow to open ..