34. Boyle

Another “what a day!” sort of day!!! 

We totally misread what was on offer for us and got the combination of timing and destination completely out of whack!!!

The day started with trying to find the Tourist Information Office and had we actually asked for directions we would have saved ourselves a lot of confusion and time. Our satnav kept telling us to walk but we wanted to drive there to save time… What we hadn’t understood was that the Office was the back neighbour of our hotel, where we had been staying for 2 nights!!! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️ And the nearest car park was exactly where we had been parking for our overnight  stays 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♀️

And so now armed with a single map which provided all and more of our information, we set off, heading north. The friendly Tourist Officer suggested we take the ferry across the waterway instead of the long drive around. It sounded like good advice at the time …

But we missed the ferry by just 5 minutes and so any time saved disappeared like smoke into the ether! And naturally enough there wasn’t even a kiosk for a cuppa - but we were first in line for the next ferry - about 45 minutes later…

The attraction and amusement was provided by 2 lads who tried to launch their row boat from the ramp. Eventually they got it to the water’s edge but couldn’t get it off the trailer. Ahhh! Panic started to set in coz the ferry was on its way back! In good time, 3 female bikies jumped to their rescue and helped pull the trailer and boat back up the ramp. Their prides were a bit dented but the little boat was saved!

Our first primary destination was the Loop Head Lighthouse, which in hindsight we should have given up on - it was a long, one-way drive to see what? A lighthouse?!? And then the long drive back. Sure! It was good to see and the Wild Atlantic coast didn’t disappoint but … in hindsight , was it worth it? Probably that would be a “no”!!!

One town we zipped through had the name Quilty! It was a tiny coastal place which was gone in the blink of one’s eye but it was worth mentioning (for me, at least).

Our next destination were the Cliffs of Moher. Once we arrived, we realised the viewing platform was a bit of a hike away and of course fees were applicable. By this time, we realised that the clock was not going to be our friend so I decided to sit this one out and Norm took one for the team and set off. 45 minutes later he returned  - he was glad he did it but with heavy clouds about, any amazing and incredible photos were not going to be his to take!

Our friendly Tourist Officer back in Killarney had told us to watch out for the Burran - an area of just rock where hardly anything grows. Well!!!! Watch out for it - unless you are blind, you couldn’t miss it - there were kms of it - quite a stark contrast from the evergreen fields which makes up most of Ireland .

And for the sake of just 5 minutes or so, we decided to take the road to Athenry! And why not? It’s one of our favourite folk songs. We could get to Boyle one of several ways, so why not via Athenry?!? And true to form of most satnavs, it found every back road it could. Mind you, I lent a helping hand in the process by giving a wrong turn which cost us another quite a few kms along the motorway (which satnav finally discovered)!!! Anyway, eventually we arrived and yep! We overshot the town’s signpost didn’t we and with traffic, etc we kept going! We searched for something, for anything with the town’s name on it - and yes!!! The Athenry’s Credit Union office was almost as good as we could find! Next we discovered “The Fields Bar” and around the next corner there was the gift shop - long closed by now, as it was already 7 o’clock !!! 

Destination achieved  - eventually !!!

So all that was left was to head for our night’s B&B. We had already rung ahead to say we would be late and they were fine with that - take your time, they said; enjoy your journey, they said!!!

Eventually we did arrive, so we “registered”, then took off to find a pub which was still serving food! Found!!! I had a soup and Norm found something which would fit the bill without being too heavy to go to sleep on. I think as soon as our heads hit the pillow, we were out for the count.

And so endeth our day…

Norm here. Does anyone know of a satnav that has the option of avoid narrow winding twisty roads. I think that of the 400+kms yesterday only about 50 of them were straight. 😊😊😊

Maggie again: And this morning has an additional note: our hostess asked, as they all do, from where do we hail? Adelaide! Oh! I love Adelaide - I have family there who I have visited. Do you know Tommy Emmanuel? Have you heard of him?

When he’s in Ireland he stays here.

And so have we slept in the same bed as Tommy Emmanuel has?

Today’s photo is the garden at our B&B last night.