Cork Adventure........otters......& Romancing the Stone.
The River Suir left a big impression on us and we didn't think the last paddle of the holiday could better it, but it did.
This paddle was on the River Blackwater in County Cork, a stretch of about 24 Km, starting at Killavulan and finishing in the town of Fermoy.
Me and Jon carried out the shuttle whilst Ben sorted out the boats.
The take out was good in Fermoy.....a decent sized town, but we had to park a 5 minute walk away as parking at the river was limited to 2 hrs, 1 euro for the day.
Parking at the put in was non existent but a paddling local who stopped for a chat suggested we leave the car in the local Gaelic Football ground which was about 100m from the put in. We were worried that the gates would be locked by the time we got back but with the usual Irish hospitality an official at the ground said they wouldn't lock up until we picked the car up.
The put in had an almost grotto like quality to it and we launched in outstanding weather conditions.
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P9180065[/IMG]
The blackwater gets its name from the peat staining of the water, however it is extremely clear and is a noted salmon river.
From the off it was beautiful.
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Autumnal colors just beginning to make their presence felt
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P9180071 [/IMG]
The limestone cliffs were present for much of the paddle.
I had worried that this paddle would be a bit of a flat water slog, but actually there were lovely little features every couple of hundred yards, nothing stressful but plenty to keep the trip interesting.
Jon navigating around an island.
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First breakfast was at a lovely little beach in a fishing stretch (no fishermen)
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The Hawaiian style Lei's we are sporting were intended for the Liffey, but Ben forgot about them.
Jon wearing his- hat fashion
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It was not long after the restart Jon spotted an otter
It's in there somewhere!
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Honest
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It wasn't nervous, just cautious and I got to within 3 or 4 m. It was a small otter maybe 2ft long but slim and probably this years young.
More cliffs accompanied us down the river.
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IMG_20190918_132804535 [/IMG]
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We took lunch just below Ballyhooley Bridge
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The rest of the day continued in the same manner, gorgeous weather, lovely features and ...more cliffs
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Not long after a third break we were met by several rowers heading upstream, scaring the bejasus out of them, sadly this meant we were nearing the end of the paddle in Fermoy.
We got out at the rowing club ramp, the guy running the show kindly let us onto their grounds to collect the boats.
And after a bit of Jongineering we loaded up .
It had been a fabulous days paddle.
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70966260_678391326014806_2751039970289385472_n [/IMG]
Also in cork
The following day we did the tourist thing with a visit to Blarney Castle. Here there was a stone that needed snogging
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IMG_1160 [/IMG]
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IMG_1163 [/IMG]
It's a long way up to the Blarney Stone
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71917548_687642448313485_7486876042792009728_n [/IMG]
Pucker up... ..buttercup!
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IMG_1134 [/IMG]
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IMG_1133 [/IMG]
And yes Big Al... .she took a poigin from the lips of a rogueen!
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IMG_1116 [/IMG]
We had a post romance stroll around the well kept grounds.
We visited the poison garden.
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70884793_3623624621044025_1931369719823073280_n [/IMG]
Where the best guarded plant had a familiar look to it.
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71077666_507942613115460_9012832795839430656_n [/IMG]
We also visited the caves underneath the keep
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Before saying goodbye to the castle
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IMG_1113 by [/IMG]
Overall it had probably been the best paddling/adventure holiday I've had. From a great Descent of the Liffey, the special trip out to the magnificent Skelligs, the fantastic paddling on the Suir and Blackwater all in my home country and with a backdrop of gorgeous weather, but most of all it was special because of the company, my mates, Ben & Jon. Cheers Boys......and roll on the next one!
This paddle was on the River Blackwater in County Cork, a stretch of about 24 Km, starting at Killavulan and finishing in the town of Fermoy.
Me and Jon carried out the shuttle whilst Ben sorted out the boats.
The take out was good in Fermoy.....a decent sized town, but we had to park a 5 minute walk away as parking at the river was limited to 2 hrs, 1 euro for the day.
Parking at the put in was non existent but a paddling local who stopped for a chat suggested we leave the car in the local Gaelic Football ground which was about 100m from the put in. We were worried that the gates would be locked by the time we got back but with the usual Irish hospitality an official at the ground said they wouldn't lock up until we picked the car up.
The put in had an almost grotto like quality to it and we launched in outstanding weather conditions.
[IMG]
P9180065[/IMG] The blackwater gets its name from the peat staining of the water, however it is extremely clear and is a noted salmon river.
From the off it was beautiful.
[IMG]
P9180069[/IMG]Autumnal colors just beginning to make their presence felt
[IMG]
P9180071 [/IMG]The limestone cliffs were present for much of the paddle.
I had worried that this paddle would be a bit of a flat water slog, but actually there were lovely little features every couple of hundred yards, nothing stressful but plenty to keep the trip interesting.
Jon navigating around an island.
[IMG]
P9180072 [/IMG]First breakfast was at a lovely little beach in a fishing stretch (no fishermen)
[IMG]
IMG_20190[/IMG]The Hawaiian style Lei's we are sporting were intended for the Liffey, but Ben forgot about them.
Jon wearing his- hat fashion
[IMG]
P9180073 [/IMG]It was not long after the restart Jon spotted an otter
It's in there somewhere!
[IMG]
P9180085 [/IMG]Honest
[IMG]
P9180089 [/IMG]It wasn't nervous, just cautious and I got to within 3 or 4 m. It was a small otter maybe 2ft long but slim and probably this years young.
More cliffs accompanied us down the river.
[IMG]
P9180097 [/IMG][IMG]
IMG_20190918_132804535 [/IMG][IMG]
71573479_503043497143573_2044399334769819648_n[/IMG]We took lunch just below Ballyhooley Bridge
[IMG]
P9180100 [/IMG]The rest of the day continued in the same manner, gorgeous weather, lovely features and ...more cliffs
[IMG]
71104995_2387917258141278_931305740503613440_n [/IMG][IMG]
70974074_446174192650976_1036758126902116352_n [/IMG]Not long after a third break we were met by several rowers heading upstream, scaring the bejasus out of them, sadly this meant we were nearing the end of the paddle in Fermoy.
We got out at the rowing club ramp, the guy running the show kindly let us onto their grounds to collect the boats.
And after a bit of Jongineering we loaded up .
It had been a fabulous days paddle.
[IMG]
70966260_678391326014806_2751039970289385472_n [/IMG] Also in cork
The following day we did the tourist thing with a visit to Blarney Castle. Here there was a stone that needed snogging
[IMG]
IMG_1160 [/IMG][IMG]
IMG_1163 [/IMG]It's a long way up to the Blarney Stone
[IMG]
71917548_687642448313485_7486876042792009728_n [/IMG]Pucker up... ..buttercup!
[IMG]
IMG_1134 [/IMG][IMG]
IMG_1133 [/IMG]And yes Big Al... .she took a poigin from the lips of a rogueen!
[IMG]
IMG_1116 [/IMG]We had a post romance stroll around the well kept grounds.
We visited the poison garden.
[IMG]
70884793_3623624621044025_1931369719823073280_n [/IMG]Where the best guarded plant had a familiar look to it.
[IMG]
71077666_507942613115460_9012832795839430656_n [/IMG] We also visited the caves underneath the keep
[IMG]
IMG_1151[/IMG]Before saying goodbye to the castle
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IMG_1113 by [/IMG] Overall it had probably been the best paddling/adventure holiday I've had. From a great Descent of the Liffey, the special trip out to the magnificent Skelligs, the fantastic paddling on the Suir and Blackwater all in my home country and with a backdrop of gorgeous weather, but most of all it was special because of the company, my mates, Ben & Jon. Cheers Boys......and roll on the next one!