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Irish Summer Tour 2007

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3 - Tarmonbarry to Portumna - Shannon Navigation.

Saturday 23rd June 2007

We decided to get a move on today, so with an open road and wanting a smooth, early morning passage across Lough Ree, we set off at 05:15. At 06:45 we passed under Lanesborough Bridge and set out down Lough Ree. It was indeed a nice smooth passage and we arrived at the top of Athlone Lock at 10:30. Although we were headed off down the Barrow to start with, there was to be a detour down to Portumna, as Ian Clarke was searching for a sister ship to his beloved "Straight Across". He would not be with us when we returned this way later on in the tour.
Arrival at Meelick Lock was at 16:00, having passed Shannon Bridge at 13:30, Shannon Harbour at 14:55 and Banagher Bridge at 15:15. Meelick Lock was deserted, we wandered around, but no locky was present. Martin Clark appeared to look like the lock keeper, so helped some insistent German hire boaters in, then explained that we were waiting for the lock keeper. The Germans phoned him up and he soon came along the towpath in his 4x4.
We have now settled down to a 50c "tip" for locking, not expecting change from €2 coin. Eventually we locked out at 16:50. Arrival at Portumna was at 18:25, after being buzzed continually by water skiers on the reach above. Predictably there was no obvious mooring, so we managed to go alongside the green wharf shed, with the stern just on the harbour wall. This was not without difficulty to achieve, seeing as the prevailing wind had blown a wayward, waterlogged Emerald Star Line green plastic tender between us and the wharf!
Eventually we bailed out the tender and moored it up to the side of Earnest. We did not "win" the tender, seeing as an ESL bod went around in the morning and collected the several missing tenders! Predictably there was no sign of "Emina" a wooden ARC Marine Everyman cruiser. That night it was yet another of Ian Clarke's variations on a "Beeky Stew". That evening we took many pictures of the ancient Portumna Swing Bridge, as it is due for replacement and renewal. The bridge keepers said the replacement had been held up, due to arguments between the County Councils, each side of the Shannon..

Morning departure from the moorings below Tarmonbarry Lock. River Shannon Navigation.

River Shannon Navigation.

Lanesborough Power Station. The disused generator hall is no more. River Shannon Navigation.

Lanesborough Bridge. River Shannon Navigation.

Shannonbridge. River Shannon Navigation.

Looking back at Shannonbridge. River Shannon Navigation.

Shannonbridge power station. River Shannon Navigation.

Banagher Bridge. River Shannon Navigation.

Banagher Bridge. River Shannon Navigation.

The barge mooring quay at Banagher. River Shannon Navigation.

Looking back at Banagher. River Shannon Navigation.

Meelick Weir and lock cut. River Shannon Navigation.

Meelick lock cut. River Shannon Navigation.

Meelick Lock. River Shannon Navigation.

Meelick / Victoria Lock. River Shannon Navigation.

Meelick / Victoria Lock. River Shannon Navigation.

Meelick / Victoria Lock. River Shannon Navigation.

Meelick / Victoria Lock. River Shannon Navigation.

The straight above Portumna Bridge, Herring Island by white cruiser. River Shannon Navigation.

The first view of Portumna Bridge is of the non swinging spans. River Shannon Navigation.

Looking up from the waiting pontoon at the swinging span of Portumna Bridge. River Shannon Navigation.

Portumna Bridge. A hydraulic motor now powers the bridge. River Shannon Navigation.

Portumna Harbour. We squeeze into a mooring behind the old wharf building. River Shannon Navigation.

The other fine old wharf building at Portumna and downstream waiting mooring. River Shannon Navigation.

The Tour Continues...

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