Crosshaven, County Cork

We arrived in Crosshaven and the images of the bright green Irish hillside from offshore was just what we imagined.  Despite a lack of sleep with Baxter having been on watch since 0330 and my being up since 0500, we popped our heads into the bar at the Royal Cork Yacht Club (the oldest in the world), let them know we had arrived with our dog and then headed to town for food and a pint - does it matter it was only 1030?  Not in Ireland.

After a short 5-minute walk, passing The Oar Pub and Fitzgibbon's Pub, we found ourselves in Cronin's Pub, a place where we would frequent quite a bit in the coming week.  Cronin's has been in the same family for three generations and the warm welcome and local feel is fantastic.  Most everyone you meet is from Crosshaven or near Crosshaven, and Friday night is standing room only.  We indulged in the Cork-brewed Murphy's stout and Beamis stout, had a lunch of the best fish and chips we had ever had and then waddled back to the yacht club for a nap.  The walk back definitely felt longer than five minutes.

Shortly after returning to the boat, the Department of Agriculture arrived to examine Kala, check her passport and her microchip.  She passed with flying colors and I asked if our visit to Ireland would make things a bit easier when we arrived in the UK with a dog on a private boat.  The vet confirmed - we will see what happens.

We spent the next week enjoying land life.  Kala liked the routine of walking each day, chasing the ball and running down the dock.  It was nice to have an option to eat out or cook on the boat.  It was nice to have storms roll over and be tied to the dock.  But the time had come to move on - Daniel had a friend he was meeting in Scotland and Baxter, Kala and I wanted to check out Kinsale.  So we had a final pint in Crosshaven, Dan caught a bus to Belfast and we sailed west.

Dog park (as in parking lot) at the grocery store.  Any place that makes arrangements for your dog at the grocery store has to be a cool place.

First pint of Murphy's Red at Cronin's

Another pub option

Cronin's quickly became a fave!  By the end of the week, they knew us well.

Walking down the street, the pubs will put their used kegs on the street to be picked up by the beer trucks when they drop off the full kegs.

Tide in Crosshaven is 4 meters (12 feet)...This is what low tide looks like.

Same picture - high(er) tide

When you go to the same place often, you take lots of pictures - especially after a couple pints.

An outdoor party at...wait for it....Cronin's!

Inside Cronin's with the whiskey on tap (on the left)

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) board.  RNLI is manned by volunteers and they are available for rescue 24/7.  'Lighting Up Times' = sunrise / sunset

Liquor on tap - notice the Havana Club rum.  We stocked up in Havana in April.

Daniel had been aboard Terrapin for about two months.  We had a great time together and know that he will have a great time on his adventures in Scotland.