An Arctic High in October. Tirraroe, Colebrook River, Naan Island on Lough Erne
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The forecast was for high pressure with a few calm days of sunshine, time for another Mothership trip.
I headed to Dixons marina, loaded up and attached the canoe on tow behind and motored to Tirraroe.
I passed Shooter driving a captive crowd of tourists in the Inishcruiser.
It was 2pm by the time I got to Tirraroe so a short paddle round the bay with a ditching expedition up the small stream at the west end.
Entering the stream.
The passage is blocked by an overgrowing tree.
Where’s the Hippo when you need him.
Returning to the open lake.
open water.
Tirraroe area map.
The next morning I was up bright and early and set off to explore the Colebrook River.
The Mothership on Tirraroe dock.
There was a gentle tail wind at this point but I did not want to set up the sail just yet.
The passage between Aghinish and Inishcrevan. One of the most scenic parts of the lough.
The channel to the north of Inishcorkish used to be open to cruisers but is now blocked by the silt and driftwood washed down by the Colebrook river.
Blocked passage marker.
Entering into theColebrook River.
Otter, OTTER ! I think it’s an otter, no, wrong head and tail, swims like a cat not an otter.
It’s very black, maybe a black mink, maybe a black cat !
The "not an otter".
River scenery
I paddled part of the way up the river until the flow became evident and a headwind got up.
Then I switched to my electric buddy Min Kota. I motored on as far as one battery would carry me and then stopped for lunch.
After lunch I gently sailed back down river.
Sailing downriver.
Sailing back through the Aghinish gap.
Arriving back at the Tirraroe dock.
On day three I wanted to paddle up to Naan Island to explore the west side,
specifically to see if I could find the castle marked on the map.
The entrance into the channel behind Inishlught
Inishlught
The exit channel from Inishlught.
Naan Island South
Naan Island West, with the old summerhouse that marks the area of the castle.
Landing on Naan Island
The summerhouse is a bit rough closeup.
A canvas on woodframe boat that has seen better days.
I explored the woods above the summerhouse and found lots of piles of rock that had once beenwalls a long time ago, but no evidence of a castle.
I paddled round the west end of Naan and then motored into wind across to Inishleague.
old dock on Inishleague.
lunch on the old dock, with Naan Island dock across the channel.
The cottage on Inishleague.
sailing in a brisk wind past Inishturk towards Tirraroe.
An excellent excursion in October with great paddling, motoring and sailing.
I headed to Dixons marina, loaded up and attached the canoe on tow behind and motored to Tirraroe.
I passed Shooter driving a captive crowd of tourists in the Inishcruiser.
It was 2pm by the time I got to Tirraroe so a short paddle round the bay with a ditching expedition up the small stream at the west end.
Entering the stream.
The passage is blocked by an overgrowing tree.
Where’s the Hippo when you need him.
Returning to the open lake.
open water.
Tirraroe area map.
The next morning I was up bright and early and set off to explore the Colebrook River.
The Mothership on Tirraroe dock.
There was a gentle tail wind at this point but I did not want to set up the sail just yet.
The passage between Aghinish and Inishcrevan. One of the most scenic parts of the lough.
The channel to the north of Inishcorkish used to be open to cruisers but is now blocked by the silt and driftwood washed down by the Colebrook river.
Blocked passage marker.
Entering into theColebrook River.
Otter, OTTER ! I think it’s an otter, no, wrong head and tail, swims like a cat not an otter.
It’s very black, maybe a black mink, maybe a black cat !
The "not an otter".
River scenery
I paddled part of the way up the river until the flow became evident and a headwind got up.
Then I switched to my electric buddy Min Kota. I motored on as far as one battery would carry me and then stopped for lunch.
After lunch I gently sailed back down river.
Sailing downriver.
Sailing back through the Aghinish gap.
Arriving back at the Tirraroe dock.
On day three I wanted to paddle up to Naan Island to explore the west side,
specifically to see if I could find the castle marked on the map.
The entrance into the channel behind Inishlught
Inishlught
The exit channel from Inishlught.
Naan Island South
Naan Island West, with the old summerhouse that marks the area of the castle.
Landing on Naan Island
The summerhouse is a bit rough closeup.
A canvas on woodframe boat that has seen better days.
I explored the woods above the summerhouse and found lots of piles of rock that had once beenwalls a long time ago, but no evidence of a castle.
I paddled round the west end of Naan and then motored into wind across to Inishleague.
old dock on Inishleague.
lunch on the old dock, with Naan Island dock across the channel.
The cottage on Inishleague.
sailing in a brisk wind past Inishturk towards Tirraroe.
An excellent excursion in October with great paddling, motoring and sailing.