Dolphin Address 29
July 19th 2005
Because in Central-America a hurricane had twisted itself off the ground we got the encore over here. Hail white storm crests, lighted by sun breaches against a threatening black blue rain front fond.
For some time I had not been in Poul Sallagh, my first mobile home dwelling around Fanore. Off close there is a ‘blowhole’ and as my interest for this phenomenon was re-awakened by the ‘puffing hole’ at the Boathouse bay, the gale force seemed attractive to have another look through the new camera. Off the coast road there still is the same stone headed track to the spot at the ‘washing machine and the trip rock’ where I park-pinged 4 years ago. I keep the precious memory of how I burst my oil pan here for over 600 euros and had to wait for repairs for three days on the market square of Kilfenora.
The water came, as expected, in truckloads and smacked mindlessly up the rocks in a billion bubble spray of foam. This blowhole is of a very different type than the one at the Boathouse bay. It is best explained as a massive hole in the rock front with a ‘bridge’ on the seaside. The actual hole measures about 4 by 7 meters and is 10 meters deep. The bridge is about 3 meters wide. The waves wash under through the bridge, the higher ones batter the front and under side. The water that is pushed through chases that trapped inside up the steep walls. Who has observed waves knows that it is not always the highest one coming in that has the ultimate effect. It is the wave on the rebound that has the decisive consequence on the eventual crash wave. Therefore one should pay attention to ‘equalizers’. Only when the previous wave is ‘tamed’ a high one can strike in its full momentum.
As mentioned before the ‘puffing hole’ at the Boathouse bay is of a different structure. A 3 meter deep ‘canal’ that is 3 to 4 meters wide has been worn out of a fissure through the ages. At the end of it, under the rocks a chamber of invisible dimensions has been eaten out. I would love to take a look under water, but locals have advised me against this as far too dangerous. No one has ever dared this.
The upper threshold of this chamber is about the same level as the seawater 3 hours after low tide. Behind and above this threshold air is trapped. Now when the waves end in this canal water flows into this chamber. The air is sub sequentially pressurized. When the water pressure diminishes as the waves retreat the pumped up air is released and blows the water that is still in the way from a rosy outlet that reminds one of a sexual organ up to 8 meters in the air. When the water flows out an opening originates between chamber and outside air. This outflow creates such ‘suction’ for new air that on the surface hissing foam crests result from the draught. Then the new cycle begins.
This afternoon it was carrying on so rough that my curiosity beat my prudence. I saw a mega wave rolling a tapestry of foam before it. Running away is no option, even dangerous for the panicky stumble and slip risk. Best to do is stand firm, face the deluge and hope there will be a next time to be more careful. In this case it reached almost until my middle, with a Nikon D2x around my neck.
For whom water is mainly a bathtub experience there is something to live up here. You can count upon not running dry.
Jan Ploeg, Meadow Fanore, July 19th 2005
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