The sailing bug has well and truly bitten us now as we embark on our 3rd cruise along the Shannon for a week in April 2018. We enjoyed the 2017 cruise so much onboard the brand new "Horizon 3 No. 2" that we booked this year's cruise in the Summer of 2017.

For this year we have chosen the Royal Mystique boat from the Emerald Star range, one of which is normally allocated to the Portumna base. The Royal Mystique boats feature heating , a 17-inch LCD flat-screen TV/DVD player, and a media center with MP3/USB connectivity and can supply Air conditioning even if not plugged on shore power (generator). The huge sundeck has a fixed table and cushioned seating, plus a sun canopy. The two cabins have en-suite bathrooms.

Day 1: Saturday 21st April 2018:
We arrived at the Emerald Star base a little after 1320 and waiting at the dock for us was "Royal Mystique 33".

We quickly got our supplies onboard the boat and checked in with the Emerald Star staff. With our induction done by 1450 we cast off from Portumna and headed out to the Shannon and waited for the bridge to open at 1500, our destination for the first night being Garrykennedy in Co. Tipperary on Lough Derg.

Once on Lough Derg, one of our Dogs Mattie soon let us know that he needed to do his "business", we had forgotten to give them a walk prior to leaving Portumna! A decision was made to divert to Kilgarvan Quay to give the dogs a quick walk. Once that was done we once again headed south to Garrykennedy arriving shortly after 1800, 35 minutes later than planned due to the additional stop at Kilgarvan.

A lovely evening was spent in Garrykennedy with us sitting on the deck enjoying the sunshine.

Tomorrow we head to Mountshannon and Scarriff.

Day 2: Sunday 22nd April 2018:
We set off from Garrykennedy shortly after 1100 and headed to Mountshannonwhich was a short 45 minute cruise. A planned visit to Holy Island off Mountshannon was called off as our boat man never showed up at the appointed time. We must replan it for another time.

We left Mountshannon at about 1430 and headed to Scariff which is located about 2km up the River Scariff from Lough Derg.

Tomorrow we head to Dromineer via Killaloe.

Day 3: Monday 23rd April 2018:
We set off from Scariff a little after 1000 hrs and headed back out to Lough Derg and down to Killaloe. The weather turned rather miserable with a prolonged rain shower which reduced visibility for a period of time.

Once in Killaloe we had lunch and decided to postpone our departure time from 1400 to 1600 to avail of better forecasted weather conditions, which proved to be the correct decision as the rain had gone and the sun was out with light winds. However at Parkers Point with a westerly wind it caught us off guard and it was a bit rock and roll for a short period of time until we got the bow into the wind before we turned east to head towards Dromineer.

Dromineer was reached a little after 1815 and we availed of the pumpout machine before we moved the boat to a finger jetty to move for the night.

Tomorrow we head to Terryglass via Portumna Castle.

Day 4: Tuesday 24th April 2018:
Today we headed from Dromineer to Portumna Castle Harbour, as it was raining for the whole trip we stayed in the main cabin and used the inside helm, so no pictures.

After a walk around Portumna and picking up some supplies we made the short hop from Portumna to Terryglass where we would stay for the night.

Day 5: Wednesday 25th April 2018:
Today we headed from Terryglass to Ballinasloe stopping off at the Emerald Star base for a fuel top up and onwards to Banagher for lunch. After Banagher we headed to Shannonbridge before heading up the River Suck to Ballinasloe.

A changeable day weather wise with periods of sun, broken by heavy showers.

Day 6: Thursday 26th April 2018:
We set off from Ballinasloe just after 0900 to head to Athlone. The start time was dictatedby the opening of Pollboy Lock at 0900. After a break in Athlone for lunch we headed up Lough Ree and into the Leacarrow Canal where to my suprise I found 3 hire boats moored up for the night.

Day 7: Friday 27th April 2018:
Departure from Leacarrow was 20 minutes later than planned this morning as we used the pumpout machine to empty the waste tank. Access to this was partially blocked the previous evening which meant there wasn't enough space to get the Royal Mystique 33 alongside the quay wall.

Once in Lough Ree we headed south to Athlone making good time but once passed Red Marker 1 north of Hodson Bay we went slightly off course which cost us about 15 minutes as I started heading to Coosan Point instead of Athlone before I realised the error.

Thankfully we made the lock at Athlone before lunchtime and headed to Clonmacnoise for a late lunch before a short 50 minute cruise down the River to Shannonbridge where we moored for our last night.

Day 8: Saturday 28th April 2018:
Our last day so we set off from Shannonbridge at 0800 for the trek back to Portumna for the 1200 check out, which we were scheduled to arrive at 1140. However we suffered a delay at Victoria Lock, so actual arrival back at Portumna was at 1220.

The end of the voyage. The end of a great week.