Trip Across the Pond: July 30 & 31

Tuesday, July 30, 2013- Ballyvaughan, Ireland

            Today was a travel & rest day. We rented two cars- Luke is driving one (the boys car) and Emma the other (the girls car, making an exception for Gruff).  I helped Emma by entertaining Gruffydd and providing snacks.  It was about a 3-hour drive through very pretty countryside.  Once we were off the motorway, the roads became very narrow and curvy. We are staying at a B&B called Cappabhaile House and it is exactly how I thought it would look. 

            Once we were settled in the B&B and had a bit of lunch, off we went to explore.  Mark, Adam, & Micah went up the mountain and I took an easier trail with Luke, Emma, and Gruffydd. We walked through the Newton Castle and then took a trail called the Bells of Buren.  There were seven places on the trail set up with musical instruments: chimes, triangles, barrel drum, etc.  It was fun for Gruffy to play them.

            Tonight we ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant and took a walk down to the bay to watch the sun set.  Ireland is a beautiful country.

           

Wednesday, July 31- Ballyvaughan, Ireland

            After a tasty Irish breakfast, we took off for the west coast of Ireland for a ferry ride to the Aran Islands.  It is miserable weather- rainy with the wind blowing.  The boat ride over was on the “Happy Hooker”.  It was a long ride, bumpy ride.  Emma almost made it to the Island, but in the end seasickness won.  Luke was not too steady either. 

            As we get off the boat, it began blowing rain and we were all soaked before we could get to the first gift shop.  Luke rounded up a tour of the island and we took off. 

Our first stop was at a quaint little café for soup and stew.  From there we headed up the trail to the top of the cliffs, leaving Gruffy and Emma behind.  It was hard fighting the rain, wind, and slick rocks.  We were definitely soaked by the time we got to the top.  Our tour guide picked us up and drove to the site of the seven churches and cemetery then on to a view of seals on the shoreline and several beaches. 

We headed to the pub for Irish coffee and tried to dry out- impossible but it was warm.  We hated to leave to go back on the boat.  A very nice lady gave me seasickness meds for the return trip to help Emma and Luke.

As we boarded the boat, the sun came out.  While waiting to pull out, Micah factitiously asked if there was WiFi on the boat.  Adam said “yes, there is a dish on top of the boat for TV, Internet, and phone service.  This is a full service hooker”.  It is so good to hear my boys joking & laughing.

It was still choppy water but since there was no rain we stayed outside to blow dry.  Gorgeous scenery- especially the Cliffs of Moher.  Upon arriving at the B&B we were all looking forward to hot showers or bathes- that only happened for 2 of us- the rest had cold-water.  I drew the short straw on that one. The end to a perfect day.

Dinner was at The Monk, where we enjoyed seafood.  It was like old times- of course we all took turns walking Gruffydd on the pier as he wanted to see the boats and swans and name the color of all the cars.

Cliffs of Moher

Always time for a game of pool.