Date: Sunday, 14 September 2008 10:38 PM
It's raining again -- in fact it's bucketing down, but not freezing and not windy. You see, I'm already thinking like an Irishman -- making the best of things. Who was it said "If winter's here can spring be far behind?". We feel a bit like that, the sunny weather surely can't be far away.
Clifden is a pretty little bayside town and here we have the best B&B so far -- great view and a couple of minutes' stroll through the drizzle to our choice of pubs and restaurants. And only 60 euros per couple per night, the usual being 70 euros; and we're here for two nights, or more if the road is cut by flooding.
We've just spent a couple of hours driving VERY slowly through the rain on twisty, narrow wet-sheep-lined roads viewing the Connemara peninsula. There are some spectacular views and it's very rugged country, scattered with rocks, incredibly so. In fact we were talking briefly to a farmer yesterday who was sharing a coffee break with us in a small roadside cafe and he
explained that he had a 'rock farm', and grinned widely at our reaction. We slowed down even more when we came across a crashed car which had taken out a power pole after jumping the rock wall which typically lines most roads in this part of Ireland. The airbag had blown and there was no sign of anyone in the car so we concluded that there was no one in immediate need of assistance and proceeded on our way.
Last night in Guy's Pub we caught our first taste of traditional Irish music in the shape of a couple of middle aged guys, one on a guitar and the other on a banjo, who serenaded us and many others, during our evening meal of pub grub. We've found most traditional music offerings start after 2130hrs, way past the bedtime of us weary sightseers, but this one started at 1900 -- much more in tune with our capabilities.
Tomorrow we intend to move on to County Mayo for a night or two, hopefully catching a music session at Matt Molloy's Pub (probably related to Josie Thompson, nee Molloy) in Westport.
Anyway, some pics...
Fly fisherman plying his art in a roadside stream nearby. We pulled up in the middle of a traffic free road and watched for a few minutes but he didn't get any strikes while we watched. There are salmon and sea trout in these waters most of which have a strict Catch and Release policy.
Speaking of wet sheep. Arty pic taken by Mary of a couple of very damp bleaters challenging our right to use the road. I bravely managed to call their bluff and we got away scot free.
View from our room window at high tide yesterday as we sipped on a red wine, seated in comfortable easy chairs. The local stream flows into a bay right in front of our B&B and across the bay is this beautiful patch of woodland which is tenanted with a couple of white Connemara ponies which were grazing at the water's edge while we watched.
A beach nearby at low tide, replete with seaweed. I checked out the notice board at our local beach and found a small notice placed by the local council which contained a warning that faecal coliform contamination was such that swimming couldn't be recommended. It didn't affect me as I didn't intend jumping in, dressed as I was in four layers of clothing.
Thanks for reading and thanks for your comments. We'd appreciate an update on local Noosa news if there's anything of worth.
Regards
Kev & Mary Long
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