Gary-Summer: July 2025

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

July 23, 2025 - Galway, Cliffs of Moher

Title: July 23, 2025 - Galway, Cliffs of Moher
Hike Info : Description :Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type:Touring, Car

Description:

Tiled Sculpture

I must be getting used to this time across the pond. I got up at 6:30 feeling pretty rested. This would be the time I would be going to bed in California. While I was having my breakfast, Rachel got up and got a few things ready to leave at 9:40

We travel along-I have taken the rear seat again since I am a bit less antsy this way. We are heading south to the Cliffs of Moher, then to Burren National Park, if we have the time. The aim is to be back between 4 and 7 so we can get packed tonight without feeling rushed.

Rachel is the continuing designated driver. So far she has not felt the fatigue from the hours on the road. We head south along N67. This is a pretty good road. Google says for us to take L1014 and L1016 as it is shorter. While I will admit it is interesting, particularly when we pass by the Hazelwood Chocolate Factory-apparently the chief chocolatier, Kasha Connolly, has some renowned. it is not necessarily a better way. Not because of the condition of the road, rather because of the narrowness of it. It looks like a two lane road, but for skinny cars. When a couple trucks and buses pass by, Rachel needs to get all the way over. But we emerge unscathed and back on N67.

Cliffs of Moher

O'Brien's Tower

As we approached Lisdoonverna, there was a sign which said "Free Shuttle to the Cliffs of Moher”. This sounds good. It takes us a bit to find the parking area for the shuttle service. We are ready by 11:08 for the shuttle. But looking at the shuttle, it just came by eight minutes earlier. Rachel tries to get a cab. But evidently, they do not service out here. So we waited around. Steven sees we need to book tickets for the shuttle and does so. This is important for later on.

Lunch Time: Andrea, Sherri, Rachel, Steven

Looking north from O'Brien's Tower

While we wait, Andrea Steven and I go on a paved path around the edge of the community center. It is nice to stretch our legs and walk about. We shortly came across some little tiled sculptures of various small animals. A pleasant diversion. We noticed that it is getting close to noon, so we cut across some pitches-that is what they call playing fields over here and get back to the car.

More of the Cliffs

At noon the shuttle comes along on his return trip from the Cliffs. We got in and he finished his round. It is nice to have someone else drive, even if we take a long way around. It must be even nicer for Rachel to have someone else drive. Eventually we get dropped off at the Visitor Center for the Cliffs.

You know Steven got tickets for the free shuttle. This allowed us to enter into the park for free.We start out by going into the Visitor Center. But it is pretty noisy in here, so Rachel and I exit the building while Sherri, Andrea and Steven look around.

Busking: Dancing

Rachel and I go out to the closest view point. It is awesome. You can understand why people come from all over the world come to see these cliffs. At the southern end, there is some building in the distance. To the north there is either a new building called the O’Brien’s Tower. We enjoy the view while we wait. Then start up the hill towards the Tower.

Actually we are drawn by a busker playing an accordion. There was a sign in the Visitor Center saying that busking is an ancient tradition here. Along the fence there are stations for buskers to work at. We saw a couple accordion players, a squeeze box and dancer, along with a stringed instrument. Some pretty good, some not as good, but all trying hard. By the way, busking is really street performance. My book group read a book last January on this called Down on the Corner.

Busking with Andrea and Steven observing

When we get to the top of the hill, Rachel and I stop and wait and admire the view. And it is a good view. No giant waves crashing the coast, just a high vantage point looking down on shear cliffs. Many photos are taken, hopefully showing the beauty our eyes captured.

Traveling back down the hill

When the others catch up, we have lunch at this vantage point along with a hundred other people milling around-definitely not a lonely Sierra rock where you can contemplate what you are seeing. More of a place where you get to see other people’s reactions. Some have a “look at me, I am here” appearance. Others seem a bit more withdrawn and trying to shut out the crowds and absorb what they see.

Apparently I did not catch the sign as I moved on after having lunch. There was a photo op which I missed with the rest of the family. We moved on to the O’Brien’s Tower. We are able to look further up the coast. One of the things Rachel wants to see is a puffin. If I stand on my tiptoes, I am able to see a rock below us. There are some white specks on the rock. I cannot get a picture of them, so I can only imagine that there is a possibility of what they are.

From this vantage point, you can see across the waters to the Aran Islands. This is where the wool comes from in this area; the wool sweaters Andrea and Sherri bought originated there. As I look closer, I can see a light house on the closest island.

Andrea and Sherri

Rachel, Sherri and I are standing by the rock fence while Andrea and Steven go up into the tower. Sherri talks with a couple of ladies from Spain. When Rachel joins in, she converses with them pretty well in Spanish. Then we move on to another vantage point. We fell into a conversation with a person from Arizona. More talking and more picture taking.

It is almost time now to wander down to meet the shuttle and a nice ride back to the car. And a wander we do, taking our time and soaking in the views, including a solitary cow on a distant hill. The driver is the same one we had coming. Like Rachel, he stops to let other buses pass him on these narrow roads. I think this does Rachel good knowing she is not the only one. When we get to our parking area, the driver turns into the lot, circles and does not stop until we and several other passengers bring this to his attention.

On the way in, I was admiring the stone work of the fences. And the thought occurred to me that these stone hedges which have lasted for generations. How come we can hardly create policies and situations which barely last till the next election let alone a decade, a hundred years is an impossibility. What have we lost which those in the past were able to comprehend?

Irish Driving

Rachel gets us home, that is the AirBnB-but I think she is wearing down a bit. It is decided just to have pizza tonight, store bought. I offer to go and get it and she gladly accepts this and stays home. Steven accompanies me. This is good. The meal is quick, but not as good as last night’s pizza though.

Castle in the Distance

We spend the rest of the evening getting ready to move out in the morning. Andrea, Steven and I go for a short walk. It feels good and we are able to enjoy talking with each other. Sherri has gone to bed when we return and Rachel is about to do so. So Andrea and I talk about the things which we see and feel around us. We also turn in a bit before 10.

Extra Photo's

Rachel, Steven, Gary, Sherri, and Andrea

Looking north from O'Brien's Tower

At O'Brien's Tower with Rachel, Sherri, Andrea, Steven and Gary

Cliffs of Moher

Tile Sculpture at Lisdoonverna

Sherri

O'Brien's Tower

Father and Daughter

Andrea

Looking north from O'Brien's Castle

O'Brien's Castle

Looking down at the people from O'Brien's Castle

View of the Atlantic from O'Brien's Tower

Sherri and the Cliffs of Moher

Gary, Rachel and Sherri

Andrea, Rachel, Steven, and Sherri

Cliffs of Moher

Andrea

Animals

Flowers and Plants

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025 - Connemara

Title: July 22, 2025 - Connemara

Old Crow by Information Booth

Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Touring, Car, Hiking

Description:

I woke up at 5:30, but this time I was pretty refreshed. When Sherri turned over, I got out of bed around 6:15 to continue writing up our trip-this is a perpetual thing to do. We are planning on a 9am get away to Connemara National Park. Others get up with Sherri getting up around 8:50-her alarm did not go off.

Start of path up

We did leave by 10 with Rachel driving, as usual. We thought about taking a northern route past a fjord to get there. But almost from the get go, the route seemed a bit dicey. The first attempt is blocked by a construction sign saying local traffic only. The way Google leads us is to a one lane passage which Ireland is noted for. This is a bit too much for our newly minted European driver. Besides, it is raining a bit. So we back track to a national route, N59.

I am riding shotgun today. This is a new experience. From the backseat, I do not have that upfront experience of seeing cars coming at me from the “wrong” lane. Nor that Rachel is turning into the “wrong” lane. It is taking some getting used to and I am thinking that I may not be the best companion for Rachel on the side here. But she is stuck with me, even with my anxious looks.

Stone Fence

The first half of the route is more populated rural. The road, while narrow by California standards, is in a lot of ways nice, I do not think I have seen one pothole which plagues our streets and roads. About half way to Connemara, loughs (locks, lakes) appear. I enjoyed traveling along them. Then there is the excitement of traveling a rural road, R344. Not sure how these roads got narrower than before, but this is. It is also less traveled. There are sheep along the side of the road and sometimes in it. But other vehicles seem to accept them as part of the travels.

Classy Rabbit

There are mountains which start to appear, some shrouded by clouds. This is the Ireland which I thought we would meet outside of the cities. By the way, Galway is not that big, about 85,000 people. Still compared to the countryside around them, it is the City. The rural parts really feels rural.

We rejoin N59 and travel for 20 minutes to Connemara. Evidently there is not enough parking there as we park on the side of the road, maybe an eighth of a mile from the parking area. This is a free park, so it is not a means to avoid an entrance fee. We stop in at an information booth which sends us down to the main area for bathrooms. There we eat our packed lunches.

Handy AED

The main trail in the area is a set of loops up Diamond Hill, or as the Gaelics would call it Binn Ghtiaire, one of the 12 Bens.We start our climb. This is a good incline, but without the lack of atmosphere which a Sierra trail would present. Also without the lack of large trees. But do not take this “lack” as distaste as there are things here which my Sierra does not provide. These include the stone walls jutting out across large expanses of hillside, the clear view-I think on a none cloudy day one might be able to see the tip of Ireland from the top. But today is overcast with a bit of rain earlier. So the Ben’s around us are ringed with clouds. An impressive sight.

Gary and Rachel

The first part of the Lower Diamond Trail Loop has a broad trail which has been smoothed out. We get to an overlook, take a family photo with the help of a rabbit. When we get to the junction where another loop leaves our trail, our trail continues up the mountain. But the trail changes at this point from good but broad, to the stonework with stone steps. But the steps are not the giant steps of some Sierra trails. These are well constructed manageable steps. Going up them is not an issue. Later on when we go down other stairs they do not give the impression of being in danger of your life, instead, they are even better than stairs in a house.

Steven and Andrea: top of Diamond

No matter how well constructed the steps are, I needed to stop and take a breath. While we are going up, it is not like some of the steep trails in the Sierra and altitude is definitely not a factor. Now it may look like I am admiring the view or letting a downward direction traveler through, but the heaving of my chest would give it away without too much observation. As I go up, I am taking inventory about my body. How badly am I stressing it? Am I at the margins? The answer is no, just keep things under control. These are questions I have been asking myself after an incident a couple of months ago.

Stone Steps

We get to the stone block which marks the top of the lower loop and the start of the upper loop lollypop. Rachel, Sherri and I decided we are not interested in going to the top of Diamond Hill. But Andrea and Steven charge forward. We will meet them at the intersection here. Actually the three of us decide to go a little ways further up to the end of the handle of the lollypop. There is a bit of a surprise there. First there is a good view. Second, we found an AED there. As I am pondering it, a little girl walks by and makes a comment that she might need that. I mumble under my breath, you are too young-I am much more in need. I wonder how many times this has been used.

Gary, Rachel and Sherri

We go back down to the Rock to wait. The three of us talked for a while. Earlier, when I looked out across the vastness of the land with the greens under the mountains, I mentioned to Rachel that I can see how come people would love this land. But that is not to say that this is where I would want to live. I do not feel like I possess this land. Or maybe, a better way to say it is that this land does not possess me. But I can still appreciate the stirrings which it can raise to a soul which breathes this aire and why it would do that.

Sherri, Rachel and I start down after getting a text from Andrea and Steven that they are on the way. We are finishing the Lower Loop, going down the west side. This gives us a different perspective from our trip up. Rather than the long view down past all of the green into the dale, and beyond into the louch, we see across into the hills and the meadows with the greenness of the isle. The way down this way is less steep, which I appreciate.

Andrea Coming down Diamond Hill

Towards the Visitor Center, Andrea and Steven catch up to us. We spend a few minutes there and then drive off-or should I say Rachel drives us while we appreciate not being in that seat, using the same route we came up with. Which means we go down R344. Which it does not seem nearly as bad. Well almost. Rachel now has an obstacle course as the sheep decide that they like being in the middle or close to the side of the road. Makes for an interesting drive, along with the lorries zooming past us. But she does well and we get back to the AirBnB safely.

Streets of Galway

Now what to eat? It is suggested we go to Brazzie in downtown Galway. When we get there, it is packed and we might as well forget it. But there is another place close by, Woozza Woodfire Pizza. Sounds like we are all ready for some good pizza. And it is. We order two pizzas-Ruspante and BBQ Carnivora. That turns out to be sufficient for us. I try once again for ice tea, but the best they can do is fresh brewed tea with a glass of ice. Still good.

We then walk down the street, enjoying the sounds of live street music being played. Why does it seem authentic here and maybe a bit less so in the States? I suspect it is in the listener’s ears, not in their playing. I expect a certain type of music in Ireland, and the music I hear is a pretty good approximation of that.

Sherri has wanted to get a wool sweater. As we walk down the street, several wool stores are visited. Both Andrea and Sherri procure garments to their liking. Me? I stand outside and read. A win-win for all. Then it is time to return to the car and back home. While returning back we pass Oscar Wilde and his friend Edward Vilde. When we get home, we all retreat to our rooms for the night.

Background

Gilgamesh. As we walked around Galway, we came to a large mural on the side of a building. It was Gilgamesh. I was wondering what Gilgamesh had to do with Galway or was this just a random street art? A few years back, a short 22 minute movie was shot in Galway about Gilgamesh. This is a remanent of that movie. I understand if you look closely around the city, you can also find other reminders.

Extra Photo's