Spring & early Summer 

We spent the Spring & Early Summer between Ireland and France.  In Ireland we stayed in my brothers house which is in fact the house I was born in.  An interesting aspect of the location is that in front of the house is a fort which was a dwelling place more than four thousand  years ago . It is awsome to realise that people lived on the site so long ago and still do today.

The House in which I was born

People lived here 4000 years ago

While in Ireland we also managed to get in a bit of cruising with friends. Early on we cruised with Andy & Claire on Ye Iron Lung a former  trading vessel on the Grand Canal. We spent this time on the upper river Shannon and met friends we had not seen for some time

At the helm of Ye Iron Lung

We used to own this !!!!

Later on we cruised with our friends Brendan and Ann on their cruiser on Lough Derg. The weather was glorious and prepared us for our return to France.

Very different from Delfini

Before we returned we dropped in to the annual barge rally at Shannon Harbour. Along with the previously converted barges this year there was a collection of recently rescued hulls which will in time be converted for cruising by a new generation of barge  owners. It was indeed great to see such enthusiasm among the young owners.

Next week  we leave the Port of Roanne to cruise the Nivernais canal on to the River Yonne then to Canal du Long ,Canal de Briare,Canal Lateral a Loire and then by the Canal Roanne a Digoin to Roanne for the Winter.