First lock seen in Ireland

Tuesday 31st July

Ian had to drag me kicking and screaming away from the nature reserve this morning. The seals were back on the low tide and I was desperate to get a decent photo of the Curlew. Yesterdays left a lot to be desired. Anyway, he managed in the end and as no Curlews showed themselves and with drizzle once more spoiling the views we took the Mourne road across the mountains.

 In a way, we should have taken the short route from Greencastle to Carlingford across the ferry instead of over the mountain but we had high hopes when the sun made a brief appearance that the weather would improve. How wrong were we! 

Not the best of views!

The water situation was again at a critical phase, as was emptying both cassettes. Thank goodness for the 'park for the night' app as a motorhome service point showed up in Carlingford and right next to a marina. This meant us going through Newry and what should we spy?....a canal! One very battered looking narrow boat was moored amongst the plastics and no other boats were seen as we drove along following the waterway. At the entrance of the canal was the huge Victoria lock.

It was also as we crossed the Carlingford Lough at Newry that we entered the Republic of Ireland again.  

We missed the turn to the marina although there were huge signs very plainly at the entrance. It was a sharp left hand turn down a steep hill which Ian felt sure could not be right. But he was wrong so a three-point turn was necessary. Found the service point which we thought we had to pay €2 for but nothing there to take a coin so we filled for free.

Once more onto the Mourne Coastal road and South towards Drogheda. Stopped halfway at a harbour in Annagassen, not a bad spot and Egrets were in abundance.

Tomorrow we hope to see megalithic stones and burial chambers. All depends on how busy the place gets because to get to it is a bus ride from the ticket office. We will see.

The photos above is of Newcastle and Kilkeel with the Battle of Boyne banners displayed. 

And they do love their coloured sheep.