To Inis Fada

What  a truly amazing day! Backpacks filled with waterproof trousers and a spare pair of jeans, we rendezvous with Robert and Finola (and wee robin) at Colla pier ready for our big day out on Long Island. This was a belated birthday treat for Himself and we were off to have Sunday lunch at Castaway East. The weather was not looking particularly promising but not quite as bad as expected and soon we were on our way across Roaringwater Bay to Long Island -  just as it sounds, a long skinny treeless island, notable for the little houses put up in the 1920s as part of an attempt to raise the standard of living on the islands. Today it has permanent population of around 10 people but gets busier in the summer months.  
Dry enough to walk to Castaway East we were soon ensconced with coffee and cake on arrival in our own private room. The weather set in, more coffee was taken and the papers read but then, a break in the clouds and some blue sky and we headed off for a quick yomp to Copper Point and its lighthouse. It was incredibly scenic with wild views and colours in every direction. Gannets and a seal too.

By now we had worked up an appetite which was just as well! What a sumptuous spread absolutely beautifully presented on vintage china in a charming pink washed room, candelabra aflame. We had leek and broccoli soup with little cheesy scones; the others had pork in exotic juices and I had a filo thingy full of spinach and other goodies, accompanied by beautifully presented veg. Followed by the most incredible dessert - sort of brioche covered in white chocolate on a bed of strawberries an raspberries with a fiendishly custardy kirsch sauce! Not only that we then had chocolate truffles with our coffee!  What a huge treat!  Thank you R& F, and Tracey and Peter for spoiling us rotten.

We had time for another walk before our ferry back by which time the wind was whipping up the water and we got sprayed! 

I feel like I've been on holiday!