A tide to catch: to Carlingford Loch

A look at the tide-tables, then a quick getaway from Ardglass, 8:20am. It's a motor-sail in light, or absent winds. That means time to repair the spray-hood. I sew most of the way!

Now we're exactly over the watery boarder into the Republic of Ireland. We just manage to get to Carlingford Loch by high tide, 13:oo. Entering at low tide would get "Babette" stuck in the mud. There's a long trail of red and green buoys that lead you through the channel of the River Newry to the marina. Larry, the Harbour Master, helpful and informative, has a berth for us in this rather special marina where a big, old cargo-boat is a center piece. Right in between the pontoons and the marina buildings. There's a nice pub/restaurant here with good food and a great view.

Today we are invited to friends at Warrenpoint. This is back on the other side of the River Newry, and back into Northern Ireland. But the border is just as "invisible" on land as at sea. A sign of progress.

We're soon welcomed into Charlie and Peg's home. There we install ourselves in a room with a fabulous view of the garden. Green. That's a color we lose at sea. In a sailboat there's not much elbow room, either. Here there's more space in the bedroom than in our entire boat. And the floors all horizontal. And don't bounce.

Peg dishes up the first of many good meals. Spoiling us. This is our first venture onto land, leaving "Babette" for two nights, since sailing away from Flekkefjord. It could become a habit.

But there's still a great deal of talk of weather, ports and tides. Pulling us back to sea.