Ireland - Day 5 - The Ring

I sit back with a pour of Killkenny ale to regale you of today's passings:

Slept like a rock last night, and got up to savor was had been foretold as a truly great breakfast. The legends told of pancakes, omelettes, assorted dishes of delectation.

The implementation at Garnish House certainly met these expectations. A veritable smorgasbord of scones and bread met us at the table, with fresh French press coffee delivered only seconds later. The menu lived up to it's legend, with a multitude of selections to satisfy any taste. Delicious.

After breakfast was a short break, so I could only fit in one round of the Devil's Basement before heading out.

Headed to Killarney in the fog, using interstates to get there as efficiently as possible. Except for a stop at the toy soldier factory, which was interesting but unimpressive, except for the ludicrous face-hole portraits available at the entrance. Also, they do not serve free tea and coffee as the signage goading you to leave the interstate and spend 10 minutes driving on truly Irish country roads would suggest. But at least it served as a warmup for what lay ahead . . . .

Made it to Killarney around noon. Spoke with the proprietor at the Old Weir Lodge (OWL) about what to see. The Ring of Kerry and the something or other pass or lake or whatever the hell boat horse bus ride were the choices. The Ring of Kerry was projected to take 6 hours to complete. With a trip off the beaten path onto sheep shit island. There's a ferry to sheep shit island, which Humphrey back at the OWL had told us was "the shit." We didn't realize at the time that this description was quite literal.

First was the dog shit which greeted us at the ferry crossing. Then came the seagull shit that was scattered about. On the island, you could climb the mountain in the center, for 5 euro, in a car, first gear only. Halfway up the mountain was a niceish sort of walk about to see the Sqaemous cliffs, or something like that. Then, up to the top of the mount to run through a sheep shit minefield to reach the summit. The sheep were there to watch us scramble amongst their shit, chewing their cud and watching with pleasure in anticipation of boots squishing into the foul mountain of their own making.

At this point, the sheep also started passing by word of muzzle the vision of a great white beast, notifying their cousins in the lowlands to try and stop this magnificent creature from reaching its destination at all costs. I only assume the alpha sheep was threatened by the sheer size of the great white mammoth, and put in motion a devious plan to thwart its design.

Good view. Smelly. But good.

Down the mountain and round and round and back again we went, sitting and standing up in restaurants just to mess with the staff, only to return to the car and go round and round and round again. Click click click went the cameras, and good views were seen by all. A lake here, a RUNE there, a rock-lined mountain there, all very nice.

Got back to the hotel and changed quickly to drive over to a low key restaurant in Killarney. Very good food and an introduction to Killkenny Ale, which is sort of a less sweet Newcastle, but a draught. Stuffed once more, headed back to the hotel (after a quick stop at the convenience store to grab a four pack of Killkenny tallboys) to rest for the night after a long day of winding Irish roads.

Really starting to enjoy driving these Irish roads. I will feel so luxurious with the space allotted to me in my lane once I am back home.

True-chey, Ireland!