We spent our main holiday for 2014 in Ireland. Our first stop was West Cork, Baltimore to be precise. The trigger factors for Ireland were West Cork Whale Watching (Nic Slocum and his team) and the IWG Annual Seminar that we've attended for the last few years but just for the weekend until now. As usual for one of our multi centre holidays, there are a few pages so please click below for where you'd like to visit.
I ran out of space on the first page for Dingle Peninsula so here are some photos from the second half of our time there.
Sunday dawned bright and clear. Nothing planned for the morning but a boat trip in the afternoon so a leisurely start and a bit of a drive around.
On to the boat trip (different boat but same skipper and crew). Change of spotter today as Britta joined us whilst Nick was out at sea on his rib looking for whales for us to "visit".
Jonathon and Britta discussing cameras (it's amazing how often he talks about cameras to people!)
Paul taking the dinghy into Great Blasket Island - the transfer from the island to the boat is one thing I didn't miss.
We came to Ireland to try and see Dolphins and Whales. We'd had no luck until today when things took a turn for the better in a big way. First up, Common Dolphin - loads of them.
Then the big boys (or are they girls?) ....
We were spoiled with not just one but two Humpbacks - my favourite whale species.
There was quite a lot of bird activity around the whales as they were picking off fish that the whales had kindly gathered up for them. This one and the one of the left are Sooty Sheerwaters.
This is the first Minke Whale we'd seen so a great treat for us. We spotted him on the way back to base.
Dinner was at The Old Smokehouse with dessert (same as yesterday) from Kool Scoops of Dingle - very tasty ice cream.
Needless to say, we had booked to go out again the following day.
Monday arrived and comment of the day at our B&B at breakfast. We say: "Oh, that's not what Jonathon ordered today". They say: "Oh, what did you order?". Us: "Irish without pudding". (French toast and fruit had been delivered). Them: "We're so sorry, neither of us had our glasses so we just winged it and assumed you'd want the same as yesterday". Classic. When his replacement breakfast arrived I'm sure they'd added and extra sausage and an extra rasher as an apology.
If I start Monday's section with this photo you'll immediately be able to tell that we had another amazing day out with Eco Marine Tours and the Humpback Whales. Only one whale that we spent any time with but he / she was happy to hang around and bubble feed with a few flukes for good measure.
This is what it looks like when they come up in the middle of their circle of bubbles to scoop up the fish. Poor fish don't stand a chance against a mouth that big!
Not as many common dolphins around as yesterday but there was another whale not too far away so perhaps they were feeding with him/her.
You are looking at the inside of the whale's mouth here!
Squadron Gannet arriving.
The one of the right of these three birds might just be a Razorbill.
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Mick, skipper, on the left.
Paul, crew, on the right relaxing on the way back in having done good crewing / spotting.
The weather felt like it was starting to turn as we headed back to Ventry. The sky was distinctly less blue!
Dinner in Dingle then back to base to sort out photos and pack ready for the next part of our adventure.
Another Irish comment, this time on the pub menu where we ate tonight (Paudie's bar): Beef and Guinness Pie (Gluten Free if you don't have the pastry top). Me to Jonathon - doesn't that make it a stew not a pie? Either way, it was very tasty (and I had the top!)
We had to say goodbye to Ventry and the Dingle Peninsula and head inland. As it was another nice day we decided to go via the Conor Pass before hitting the motorways.
Please click here for the next part of our journey.