Friday 16^th

During the night the heatwave decided to forsake us and there had been heavy rain.  The rain continued during the morning as well as a heavy mist coming in over the sea.  In view of the inclement weather it was a team decision to visit the Lusatainia Museum and Old Head Signal Tower a short distance from Garretstown.  The Signal tower was one of eighty built during the Naplionic Wars all with in sight of each other to act as an early warning system in the event of a French invaision through what was regarded as the Achillies Heel of British Isles – the Atlantic coast of Ireland. There was a minor problem in the system as demonstrated by today’s weather where you literally couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.  It could be argued a landing in poor visibility would be fool hardy on such a rocky coast. A very helpful young lady told us all the details of the tower and its restoration in the 1990’s as well as the history the sinking of the Lusatania by a German torpedo in May 1915 on its voyage from New York to Liverpool.  The wreckage lies around 2 miles off the Old Head. From the museum we headed into Kinsale, walked around the little town photobombed a wedding, had lunch by which time the rain had stopped.  Steve, Liz and I then walked along the river for a couple of miles and returned down to the village where Charlie had been sitting in the camper van reading and waiting for us. After some research we did find some live music  to be held in a pub and planned an evening excursion by bus and taxi to listen in, however in the event we were all to tired and just resorted to a pie and a pint in Hurleys Bar again.