July 30, Day 47. Said goodbye to Lisa and her little dog, and set off towards the cliffs before Brandon point. So much more calm and very little swell compared to yesterday. All was just fine, wind behind me and I went in to Swerwick harbor for a wee and then continued on. I made the decision with route to do a shorter day to set myself up for the straight shot across the Shannon Estuary to Loop Head tomorrow. I crossed the bay to the Fahermore peninsula, in the light blue still beauty of the bay, with the gorgeous green mountains of Dingle in the crescent shape around me.
I saw dolphins and porpoises playing with each other! They were playing under the water and flopping tails and fins around and quite often jumping all the way out of the water in that beautiful arched shape they make in the air. I sat there and let them decide if I could be there and they would swim under my boat and check me out then go back to their big leaps. I got a great video.
Got to the beach and walked to the pub for a good meal before my big crossing tomorrow. Was definitely feeling the nerves, it’s a long way. Got a burger and the Olympics were playing so it was nice to watch some. I would rather be no where else than this trip but I am bummed to be missing the Olympics, specifically the gymnastics. But slowly people started to trickle in the area I was sitting to watch the tv, and for good reason, then the men’s 800 swimming started and Daniel Wiffen for Ireland was competing and it was so close, but the second half he pulled forward with Italy ever so often coming first and then in the last 50 meters he gave it his all and won the gold! Everyone was cheering and shouting for him.
