Our TRAVEL INSIGHT pages have risen to the top of Google’s “waterwaycruise reports” in part because of the people we’ve met along the world’s waterways.
Rich and I have an eye for PASSION. Perhaps the French proprietor who is passionate about country meats and cheeses. Perhaps our Guide who is passionate about sharing his paths in the foothills of the Pyrenees with the traveler. Or the plumber who is passionate about bathtubs and faucets!!! All of these make great stories for travelers and we are grateful for every individual we meet who rises to this passion threshhold.
July found us exploring IRELAND. In upcoming days, we will invite you to share in our discoveries at http://greatriver.com/waterwaycruises. We will share our itinerary and the stories of those passionate people we met along the way, including:
Pat and Ann Halpin are hoteliers. The Aberdeen Lodge provided us a “soft landing”, a “home away from home” in Dublin. Among the cliffs of Kilkee, the Halpin Townhouse Hotel provided the familiar hospitality of complimentary coffee and cookies, PLUS we clearly heard the ocean through the open window of our oceanview room at Kilkee. Here we overlooked the Atlantic just above the mouth of the Shannon River. Pat Halpin works hard to provide notably attentive and hospitable staff, and exceptional amenities for the traveler.
Ruairi Gibbons was a passionate sailor long before he became became Captain of the Shannon Princess. “Offering a hotel cruise on the Shannon River seemed to be my best bet for spending the rest of my life on water!”
Ruairi has now owned and operated Ireland’s premier overnight hotel barge for some 17 years. Seven years ago, he completely redesigned and appointed a two hundred passenger barge into the 10 passenger hotel barge which today is the only one operating on Ireland’s longest river.
Ruairi’s wife, Olivia Power, joined the team eleven years ago when Rauri advertised for a trained Chef to serve on the Shannon Princess. Olivia was the only applicant. Now nationally recognized, she turned out to be his greatest asset, and yes, his greatest passion!
Finally there is Tom Crean, an “unsung Irish hero” from the days of Scott, Amundsen, and Shackleton. We found his story at the South Pole Inn, in Anascaul, on the Dingle Penninsula.
You will find each of their stories this October in our WATERWAY CRUISE REPORTS and you will find them all in IRELAND. We also invite you to enjoy our photos of Ireland and ALL our travels at our Great River photo site.
We’re close to hitting 50 degrees in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Sandhill cranes, Canada Geese, starlings have all returned. The Mourning Dove is cooing again and the morning is beginning to be vibrant with bird chatter. We’ve heard from the St. Louis area that pelicans are back on their way north. I don’t know that ANYONE appreciates spring like someone who lives up here!
American White Pelicans are again clustering on Pool 8. Interesting to note that in 2008, I noted that on March 23 the pelicans were back to Pool 8 en masse. Please comment for us on where else you are seeing them!
Tundra Swans are on the river… a large population along Wis Hwy 35, immediately south of Goose Island. At the same time, large numbers of American White Pelicans are resting just north of the Dike above Stoddard. No doubt there are similar populations near Brownsville, MN… let us know if you’ve been over there… and pick up your NEW Volume 1, St. Paul to Dubuque (below) at the Shellhorn Grill just above the birding overlooks in Brownsville!
