2nd August
Three in the morning, and I'm heading off to Stansted Airport for the 6:10 Ryanair flight to Cork. The Airport's busy - everyone's off on their holidays.
We land at 7:40. The new terminal at Cork Airport has just been opened. Arrivals are using the new building, while departures currently use the old.
Judith greets me, and we're soon at her home in
Ballineen for breakfast. There are many places to visit in County Cork. We
choose Cape Clear.
Cape Clear
An hour or so driving and we're at Baltimore on the coast of Ireland. The southwest coastline has distinctive granite peninsulas jutting out into the Atlantic.
The 10:00 ferry takes us to Clear Island.
We
pass "Lot's wife", a navigation marker by the entrance to
Baltimore Harbour 
We
tie up at the north harbour where we're told "Be back for four o'clock."
There
are several pubs and restaurants. We head over to the south harbour,
amused by the ratty old cars. Car MOT's are not mandatory!
Descending to the harbour we find a pub, complete with signpost.
The spelling of "San Francisco" is a tad wrong.
We
enjoy a salad at the pub, and we continue our ramble, soon reaching the south harbour. 
In
the distance we see
Fastnet rock, Ireland's southernmost point.
There's
a small museum, complete with 50 line crossbar telephone exchange.
Part of the museum devotes itself to the storm and tragedies of the
1979 Fastnet race.
A fine
Thermomax 2m2 solar panel sits on the school roof.
We're
soon back at the north harbour. 
There's a place selling goat's ice cream. Judith buys me one. In my opinion anything to do with goats is dubious. This experience does nothing to contradict my view.
A drink of orange and a tuna sandwich soon takes the taste away.
The
boat promptly leaves at 16:00.
Goodbye
Clear Island
We
near Baltimore. The sailing school is busy. Over a hundred small boats
are out.(Do I hire a Irish cottage for a future holiday and learn to sail? Sailing Holidays in West Cork do appeal!)
We
have a Guinness,
sample a Pancake. Judith is more interested in the Frenchman selling the
pancakes than the actual food.Anyway, we decide that French food is good, and book a table at the Chez Youen.
We
observe a horse being urged into the sea...
....it
swims as it's led out to the harbour...
...then
back...
...and
seems quite happy about it all. By which time our table's ready at
the Restaurant Français.The Chez Youen serves a mighty fine shellfish platter.
The
Pizza restaurant
looks appealing, we'll leave that for another visit.
