We watched the tri-athalon at Schull, and I do not know why, but I was very moved. Ireland does not allow smoking in their restaurants and pubs and there is a general move to better health. Many of the towns will have a tri-athalon - they are becoming quite the thing. Or, the towns will have rowing competitions. I heard Mary McEvoy being announced as one of the participants and I gave a good cheer.

The weather has been truly wonderful, but we knew a low was coming in with high winds and rain so we headed off to Valentia - a ten hour run. This is a wonderful spot, very protected and we can be at a dock for free. That way it is so much easier to get off and on the boat and walk around town.

The passage here had some wonderful delights. We came close to a basking shark feeding along the surface. We startled it and it swam over to our boat and then under, I was able to get some pictures of it. The thing was huge! We also saw some whales, mostly Minke, but I got some pictures of a whale we think is a Sei whale, which can get up to 60 feet long. We sailed by the bovine islands, Bull, Cow, Calf and Heifer and saw some beautiful sea caves, arches and other rock formations. The islands are out there and are battered by the winter, wild north Atlantic storms.

I don't have internet connection, but when I do I will post some pictures.