Inistioge to New Ross Trip

Very bad conditions were forecast for sea so we decided to do a river trip instead. Low tide in Ross was at 11:30AM so we arranged to meet in Ross at 8:30, do all the car ferrying and be on the water in Inistioge by 9:30. River flow in Inistioge was nice and full so we reckoned all we would need to do was sit back and get carried downstream on the current. That worked but after about an hour the flow slacked off and we decided to put some effort into paddling to hit Ross by about 12:00.
Nice spots of scenery along the way and some beautiful mist along the tree lines. Paddling along the river you get accustomed to the temperature of the surrounding air. Then suddenly I paddled through what appeared to be a packet of warm air (like someone opening a door into a warm living room). Pat noticed the same thing and then shortly downstream the temperature warmed up. It must be the way cold air gets trapped in valleys or something.
When we got to Ross the wind had picked up significantly with small waves appearing in the river. at that stage the nature of the paddle changed to something like you might expect at sea - paddling into wind and small waves. It lashed rain just as we were taking the boats and we paddled the 10miles or so in 2 hours. I reckon we had seen the best of the day...nothing more to do but get changed, go home, look out at the rain and put the knees up by the fire :-)

Sunday paddle from Ballydowan to Boatstrand

After the calm weather of the past few days we were hoping for a nice paddle. We arranged to meet in Boatstrand at 9:30AM and ferry cars and people to Ballydowane. The morning started fairly cold and you would notice cold on the fingers racking the boats. That morning the countryside was still covered in mist and it was an indication of a nice morning to follow. We paddled Ballydowan during the summer and it rates as one of the nicest paddles to date.
We arrived Ballydowane at about 10:15 and were on the water at 10:45. Paul was sporting his new cag which finally arrived after it had been incorrectly addressed to Iceland (lost in translation - it should have been addressed 'Ireland').
There were a few breaking waves on the beach but beyond the sea was lovely and calm. Bonmahon was like 'glass' and we even had a seal pop up to check us out. I managed to catch a photo but its turned out like a tiny little head in the middle of the Atlantic!
Back in Boatstrand we all had a nice cup of tea supplied by Joe. All in we paddled 5.5miles (8.8km) and it was a very easy paddle taking it nice and handy for about an hour and a half. No body offered to get wet so I guess the all wet sessions are now 'officially' over until next spring!