Wordless Wednesday : Early Morning Reflections

Drake’s Pool, Crosshaven

Photo 101 : Day 8 – The Natural World

Following on from yesterday’s photos of the Drake Sail, this is a shot taken further down the river, at Drake’s Pool, where many boats are moored and sheltered by the natural harbour and the bend in the river,  keeping the worst of the winds from the sea away.

Drake’s Pool in the sunshine

Then again, nature is not always kind and serene, and during a very severe storm in Ireland earlier this year, many large old trees like this one were destroyed by the force of nature.

Strong winds

Photo 101 : Day 7 – Landmark

Here are a few local landmarks, great when you want to give someone directions to a new place!   My first is The Drake Sail, on the road from Carrigaline to Crosshaven.   This is a monument to the British Explorer, Sir Francis Drake, who is reputed to have hidden from the Spanish Armada  in the river off Cork Harbour.   The area where he hid is called  Drakes Pool, about 2 or 3 kilometers from the landmark,  half way between the two villages.

The Sail (plus arty graffiti!)

Looking towards Drake’s Pool

A few kilometers away in the village of Douglas, is another well known landmark – The Fingerpost Roundabout.  This ‘fingerpost’ has been in place since the 80s,  near the site of the original Fingerpost,which was a wooden structure, and  which seems to have historical significance going back to the 18th century.

The Fingerpost

Springtime in Cork

Daffodils along the walkway

Buds of Spring

Daffodils and new buds are everywhere, and this is my favourite time of the year, with the promise of better weather, longer evenings, Easter, and summer holidays to look forward to.   These two photos were taken on Saturday on a walk by Drakes Pool,on the old railway line between Carrigaline and Crosshaven.

There are also some signs of possibly unwanted progress as you look across the river towards the industrial area of Ringaskiddy, where there are some huge pylons being erected – I suppose in months to come we won’t even notice these monsters, but right now they look a bit out of place in this serene setting.

Drakes Pool with pylons and very large cranes in the background.

Please Release Me, Let Me Go

Boats on the bank in Drakes Pool

I must go down to the seas again

To the lonely sea and the sky

And all I ask is a tall ship

And a star to steer her by

Taken from the poem Sea Fever by John Masefield

The Bend in the River

Drake’s Pool is situated on the mouth of the Owenabue river, before it flows into Cork Harbour.    This spot is very well known to locals as there is a walkway, on the site of the old railway line from Carrigaline to Crosshaven. This walk is about 7 km long and stops at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven.   Many people use this walk every day, either walking, running, cycling or strolling.  There are a few car parks along the route, so if one doesn’t feel like doing the whole walk, there are always options.

According to history, Sir Frances Drake is meant to have sailed up the Owenabue River, while hiding from the Spanish Armada, and this is how Drake’s Pool got its name.

By the way, the Royal Cork Yacht Club is the oldest yacht club in the world, it started in 1720 and has been going ever since.

Here are some photos I took this afternoon at Drake’s Pool.

A good resting place from the storms

Calmness and peace

The Bend in the River

Reflections

All is calm

Crosshaven

Crosshaven looking across at Cobh