SV Ostinato: LEFT!! LEFT!

August 12
We sailed the 29 miles to Kinsale today in 10 K winds on our beam. The sun actually came out for awhile and with all of the canvas up it acted like a green house so we got nice and toasty. The coast line has begun to change from the ragged cliffs to high rolling hills. We tied Ostinato up to the Kinsale Yacht Club, a very nice club with about 100 slips. The facilities include a large bar and restaurant, visitors showers and most important, a place to dispose of our garbage which is currently sitting patiently in our dinghy. Garbage disposal is right up there in priority with WiFi. It blew like stink last night. Force 8. We were glad we were tucked in.

Aug 14
Arrived in Crooshaven this afternoon. Tied up at the Royal Cork Yacht Club. They claim to be the oldest yacht club in the world, established in 1720. Like all of the other clubs across Southern Ireland, this group has a large sailing school made up of Optis. And they sail regardless of the weather.

I have to shift with
my left hand?

King decided this was the spot to leave Ostinato and explore other parts of Ireland by car. What were we thinking? It was one of those Ross 3 days 5 cities tours. Ed wisely decided to skip the drive in favor of a bus ride up to Blarney Castle. Driving on the left is exciting enough but the tiny, narrow roads added considerably to the thrill. It's a toss up which is worse, driving or being a passenger. The passenger had several duties. First was to scream "LEFT!" When the driver forgot he was driving in Ireland and moved into the right hand lane. The second was to scream "your too far over" when the car started trimming hedges on the passenger side. Driving of course was no picnic. After a go at it the passenger had to assist prying the drivers fingers off the steering wheel. Oh, did I mention it had a standard transmission? Credit cards will not cover insurance in Ireland and now we understand why. After the trip the car looked like we had participated in a demolition derby. We lost a hub cap with a second spinning off just as we rounded our 999th roundabout just before the Hertz office. We also bent the rim on one tire, and at some point created a big scrape down the passenger side of the car. Neither of us will take credit for it. The 2nd wayward hub cap we were able to retrieve so it arrived back at Hertz sitting in the back seat. I'm was embarrassed to return the car so I did what any good wife would do and busied myself inside the restroom leaving King to deal with it. We did take out the extra coverage.....which does not cover tires, rims and hub caps of course..the coverage cost more than the rental but thank God we got it or we could be new car owners in Ireland. To our surprise .....and relief, the rental company staff just passed it off like we had arrived without a spot. "oh, we can fix that right up. Not to worry". The trip was fun, we drove the Dingle Peninsula which was breath taking( in multiple ways) then over to the Ring of Kerry to see Ross Castle (of course) then up to the Clffs of Moher (looking for Puffins) and then across the country (3hrs) to Donore to see the Newgrange mound (older than the pyramids), ending the whirlwind in Dublin at the National Museum. I'm am so ready to get back to riding buses!

We are now in Cork where we will stay a few days. Ed will be departing from here on Wed morning (22nd) to return home.....not sure who will take care of SPOT without him! What great crew he has been. He will be greatly missed.

Will probably jump over to Great Britain in the next week to start our cruise towards London......there's a boat show the end of Sept in Southampton!