Ring of Kerry and Galway

We started early and left from our hostel in Killarney heading North West around the scenic Ring of Kerry. Actually, let me back track a little, our hostel was by far the nicest one that we have stayed in so far. It was about 15 minutes out of Killarney on the Ring of Kerry Road in an old brick building with creeper climbing down (or perhaps up) the walls.

We had an early start and left to drive the scenic ring of Kerry. With some very helpful advice from the hostel owner we made the most of our rental car by getting off the bus routes into some of the more interesting areas including Valentia Island and the Skellig Loop. On Valentia Island we drove around the island exploring the Lighthouse, the Grotto (a cave with a statue of Mary) and we went for a run around the Bray Head Loop. Given the weather was less than stellar (or perhaps the typical Irish weather) we weren't able to see the spectacular views we were promised but we were still able to make the most of it. The Bray Head loop was a 7km track which leads up to a Navy outpost built in 1907 and then peaks at the top of a 250 high sheer drop into the water below. We ran the first and last parts of the track but had to walk in between for safety reason.

After our walk we made some sandwiches in the car park. At an in opportune moment Nick gave some older ladies a bit of a thrill when he decided to change out of his running shorts (and under garments) behind the car without first checking if anyone else was around. They loved it to say the least - it made their day. We got back in the car and continued off the island onto the Skellig Loop. On a clear day this would have been a spectacular view of the coast line and the Island off shore, but it was grey so was really more memorable due to the narrow roads. After living in Canada I thought that New Zealand had narrow roads but they don't come close to this. This was literally driving on a single lane bordered by rock walls and hedges, up hills that border line on vertical with trucks and cars coming from the other direction. The saving grace was that every 100 metres or so there was a gap in the hedge that allow the cars to move out the way just enough to allow the trucks past.

In the afternoon the weather cleared a bit more and we stopped for a coffee in Kenmare before hitting the lakes on the South side of Killarney. They were stunning with a really different look to the lakes we are used to seeing in both Canada and New Zealand. We explored Muckross House and Torc Falls before returning to Killarney for a traditional meal of fish and chips (I guess it had to be done).

This morning we hit the road and made north east for Galway. We drove past (but didn't bother stopping) in Limerick and got into town at around Lunchtime. After a quick sandwich in the park we did a self guided tour through the historic points downtown including the Spanish Arch, Lynch's Castle and Galway Cathedral. It was a pretty interesting town given that there is a lot of history but it is largely a student town town. After our tour the girls couldn't help but do a quick self guided tour of the clothing shops which Nick and I did a self guided tour of the bottom of yet another Guinness glass (My liver is fine Mum, don't worry).

In Galway we are going to be staying with Kimilla's good friend Bella and her husband Rod. They are over here as Rod is playing Rugby for Connacht (actually he's just finished playing a game in Cardiff as we speak - we watched it on T.V.). Bella cooked us a delicious stuffed chicken breast dinner and we had fun playing with Zeph and Xavier their little boys in the backyard. Should be a fun couple of days here.