Dublin Break

Friday 24th May: After sitting out the windy weather in Greystones, we pushed on northwards through waterways congested with shipping, between shallow banks and avoiding the Traffic Separation Schemes in Dublin Bay.  We soon found ourselves reefing as the wind rose and we beat to windward.

This is the Irish home of serious yacht racing and I was very glad that the local race was in another part of the course as we passed one of their racing marks close to the shallow entry channel for Malahide.

We dropped sails and motored up the channel to find a place to moor in the Marina.

Rapport snug in Malahide Marina

It was from here that we were going to be collected to spend a couple of nights at the home of Ukrainian Alex and Oksana, the parents of our daughter-in-law, Olena (recently married to son, Mike).

View from Malahide towards the narrow entry channel between sandy beaches

We were duly collected and immersed in Ukrainian culture, starting with home-made Vareniki potato dumplings.


The following day we visited two Wicklow beauty spots.
First was Glendalough National Park, with its two lakes, forest paths and spectacular mountain views.

Doug with Oksana and Alex

Glendalough waterfall by the forest path

On the way back,  we stopped at the Powerscourt Estate to eat cake(!) and walk round their beautiful gardens.
 
Wicklow Mountain backdrop to the gardens



The Japanese Garden

The weather was fine and mostly sunny, so it was perfect weather for enjoying the great outdoors!

Then it was home again for Ukrainian chicken broth, followed by BBQ and cake.  We were certainly not going to go hungry here!

After breakfast the next day, we were driven back to Rapport, patiently waiting for us in Malahide Marina.

Malahide Marina from the other side






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