Day 29: The Lord (and Lady) of the Ring
Today dawned a little brighter weather wise and that was good news because today we had planned to travel around the Ring of Kerry: one of the most rugged and spectacular pieces of land anywhere. But the joy in the weather soon turned to desperation when we discovered that our instant hot water shower thingy was busted and that meant no hot shower... and disaster it was a hair washing day! So no hair washing and we had to have a flannel wash and hope that Sheila would get it fixed for tomorrow. Downstairs for a lovely B&B breakfast and then good news, the coach trip that we decided to take at Sheila’s recommendation would be at the door to pick us up at 9.40am. The driver’s name was Mike and he drove around a few accomodations picking people up prior to driving into the centre of Killarney where those of us who hadn’t paid were able to. Chris took advantage of being in the single seat right in the front and thoroughly enjoyed his bird’s eye view taking lots of pictures.
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| Thank heaven we were in a minibus |
Our first stop, before 11am was at an attraction called an ancient bog farm. The real attraction, or so it seemed was the serving of Irish Hot Chocolate with a nip of Baileys at that hour of the morning. I am sure it was grog o’clock somewhere in the world, and there was the choice of Bailey’s Hot Chocolate or Irish Whiskey Coffee. Mmmmmmmmm!
It was a short stop before we clambered back onto the bus because our next place was a sheep farm where there is a sheepdog sheep exhibition costing an additional 5 Euros. Chris and I were beginning to wonder if this was the Irish equivalent of the Hawaiian Pearl Factory. Still and all we paid and watched the elderly farmer do amazing things in terms of moving the sheep around. It was actually most entertaining. And of course, we know the answer to the age old question, in the Irish Sheepdog trials of (insert year here), how many dogs were found guilty?
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| Enjoying an Irish Cream at the first stop |
It was a short stop before we clambered back onto the bus because our next place was a sheep farm where there is a sheepdog sheep exhibition costing an additional 5 Euros. Chris and I were beginning to wonder if this was the Irish equivalent of the Hawaiian Pearl Factory. Still and all we paid and watched the elderly farmer do amazing things in terms of moving the sheep around. It was actually most entertaining. And of course, we know the answer to the age old question, in the Irish Sheepdog trials of (insert year here), how many dogs were found guilty?
Magnificent scenery ensued while we were driving along to reach a high point right at land’s end on the Ring of Kerry. And the views! Take what little breath I have today away completely. Just stunning and it was blowing a gale: but the good news was that it was not raining.
We moved further along, arriving in Waterville for lunch. A small bar just up from where the bus parked offered a savoury vegetable soup which was just what I needed and Chris decided to have one too. A little mosey around Waterville, where there is a statue to Charlie Chaplain who visited there and had a house there (and some random footballer too), as well as a mock photo of Chris touching the Atlantic. It was not easy to do for real and he really was touching it because the salt sea spray was swirling in the air and you could taste it.
There were other spectacular scenes, and very winding roads on the way to Sneem which was our afternoon tea stop. Here we met a random bloke with a pet billy goat! But the real high point, literally and metaphorically was coming to the Ladies View, the most photographed vista in Ireland. It is the point at which Queen Victoria’s maids in waiting were taken to view the lakes of Killarney and so it was decreed as the Ladies View.
We moved further along, arriving in Waterville for lunch. A small bar just up from where the bus parked offered a savoury vegetable soup which was just what I needed and Chris decided to have one too. A little mosey around Waterville, where there is a statue to Charlie Chaplain who visited there and had a house there (and some random footballer too), as well as a mock photo of Chris touching the Atlantic. It was not easy to do for real and he really was touching it because the salt sea spray was swirling in the air and you could taste it.
There were other spectacular scenes, and very winding roads on the way to Sneem which was our afternoon tea stop. Here we met a random bloke with a pet billy goat! But the real high point, literally and metaphorically was coming to the Ladies View, the most photographed vista in Ireland. It is the point at which Queen Victoria’s maids in waiting were taken to view the lakes of Killarney and so it was decreed as the Ladies View.
Now the weather had been erratic, rain, showers, overcast.... but right at this point there was no doubt, Killarney’s lakes were so blue and what a breathtaking sight. Simply awestruck. And we were so glad that we took recommendations from friends who said don’t drive it, get a bus. The mini bus was great. The road is certainly treacherous in parts and, being a passenger gave Chris the full immersion into the experience.
The bus dropped everyone off and dropped us back into town for a mooch around and some dinner before catching a cab back out to the Shepherd’s Lodge. We did a spot of shopping, went to dinner in the Flesk Restaurant in the mall and then cabbed it back in fine style. I do just wish that the running nose that returned with a vengeance over night would leave me be. I am over feeling sick! Maybe it is an allergy to the sheep across the way from the Shepherd's Lodge.
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| The tasteful lounge at Shepherds B&B |
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