Trying ... and failing

I am trying to cut down on what I bring home from the beach as I now have at least 12 boxes and tubs of things that I haven't done anything with (yet).  But these had to be brought home, after a 3 beach beachcomb on Kilmurrin, Benvoy and Annestown Strands.

The Grand Tour Part II

I had a guest staying a couple of weeks ago who was bitten by the beachcombing bug and so, on a beautiful winter's day, we did the Grand Tour from Ballydowane to Kilfarassy and this is what we found.

HP strike again - this ink cartridge is from a container spill in the Atlantic and thousands have been washing up all around the coasts of the UK and Ireland

Angler Fish

Hairbrush turned sculptural object

Canon printer cartridge

Hypodermic needle

Lobster tag

Lobster trap hook, doll's head and doll's leg!

Driftwood with piddock holes

Five Beaches for Christmas Eve

I'm a bit late with this but on Christmas Eve, as promised to myself and this blog, I combed the five of the best beaches between my dear Ballydowane and Tramore.  They were, in order, Kilfarassy, Annestown, Kilmurrin, Bunmahon and Ballydowane.

I was out early because low tide was 11am and Kilfarassy is a brilliant beach where you can cross rocky sections and walk from one beach to another. But Kilfarassy also gives me the heebie-jeebies slightly because in crossing these areas, you are aware of how you could be cut off by the tide if you got it wrong.  And as it was a full moon and a 'high' low tide I wasn't taking any chances. 

Annestown was next, just five minutes down the road and full of rope.  Then Kilmurrin, strangely devoid of plastic.  This beach is usually one of the best for beach plastic and other interesting things.  I had a cheese blaa here as well and a flask of tea and looked over the bay on a very bright, cold and sunny day.  The tide was already starting to creep up the beach so I headed next to Bunmahon which was busy with people but not busy with beach finds, except for a red band fish which was long and flat and a bit scary looking.  Lastly Ballydowane, where due to the tide coming in, only the briefest of combs was possible despite it being two hours before the full high tide. 

It was a fantastic day; the cold, clear winter weather definitely helped after all the rain and storms of the past few weeks but the best thing was to have devoted a whole day to beach combing and to have the contents of not one but five beaches to look forward to.  The beaches are all very close together, no more than ten minutes driving time between any of them so no sooner are you in the car with a load of goodies than you're out again in anticipation of more finds.

I found 5 HP inkjet cartridges which have been washing in all around the Irish and British coastline from a container spill.  Their locations are being logged and you can find out more here.  As for the rest of my finds, 2 dead sea birds and strange and happy things as well, see photos below.

Through A Hole

On a fine day last week, I went shopping via the scenic route.  It was a very low tide and at Kilmurrin Cove, I saw this

 

Without really thinking about it, I mooched my way over and climbed through to find a sun-drenched cove 

 

with lots of flotsam and jetsam

(I think these might have been left behind, rather than washed in)

Deer Skull

Well not really, but uncannily like one.  I brought it home and because it was a bit smelly, I have left it outside to deoderize in the gales and rains of our current August weather.  I suppose the seaweed will shrivel up and dry out but I'm hoping the 'antlers' will remain and eventually it could go up on the wall.  It freaks my fella out.