Island Life 3: Inis Earcain : Sherkin Island

A delightful day out today and another bit of island hopping. Today we headed down to Baltimore and caught the ferry across to Sherkin Island (island of the sea pig or porpoise) - a very do-able 15 minutes. Once there it's like a different country. 100 people live on this little island - 3 x5 kilometres. It has a pub, the Jolly Roger; a hotel, a shop selling ice creams, a ruined abbey, a ruined castle, immaculate clear waters, tiny winding fuchsia hedge roads, bracken strewn hills, a tiny school (6 pupils), a church dedicated to St Mona, a marine centre and some amazing white sandy beaches. We had a picnic at Horseshoe Bay - the water was crystal clear and irresistable. I inched leapt in - it was icy, much colder than our Bay, I suppose because it's the Atlantic, but I persevered and it was gorgeous, and no jellyfish. We walked and walked and landed up on a sandy beach complete with a creperie - yes please, with lemon and sugar. We walked some more, then caught the ferry back, which was packed with families from Dublin and Northern Ireland and French backpackers. We are now pink and knackered. Very satisfactory.
This is Horsehoe Bay where we picniced and I swam. If you biggify you can see the tip of the white lighthouse just appearing over the hill.

Son#2 is going up in a balloon tonight - his birthday present, can't wait to hear how he got on. Apparently conditions in Bristol are excellent.