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

Tile Sculpture at Lisdoonverna

Tile Sculpture at Lisdoonverna

Sherri

O'Brien's Tower

Father and Daughter

Andrea

Looking north from O'Brien's Castle

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

Cliffs of Moher

Andrea

Animals

 
Flowers and Plants

 

 

 

July 14, 2025 - Start of going to Ireland

 

Title: July 14, 2025 - Start of going to Ireland
Hike Info : Description 

 Hike Info:

Type: Plane

Description:

Today is the big day! Our trip to Ireland is beginning. I woke up around 3:30, and must have gone back to sleep, but I am not sure I did. I kept thinking about the transfer in DC’s Dulles. We have less than an hour to get off our plane and onto the plane in Dublin. Before I could resolve it later in the morning, Steven had investigated it and found that it was not a long distance between where the arrival and departure gates. One thing off the worry list.

When I got up, I looked at the lightning from yesterday-none. I then had breakfast. We found a couple wasp nests and have sprayed them. I meant to knock them down yesterday, but forgot. So I did that this morning. Then got a few final things done and was ready for our trip. That was completed by 7:45.

Arida picked us up at 8:30 for our 10:45 flight on United to San Francisco-our first leg on our trip. We dropped off a checked bag at the counter and made it through the TSA line by 9:00am. TSA has announced a new policy that says we no longer need to take off our shoes. Yipee! Well almost. Steven and Sherri did not need to. But I got caught by a randomized check and my shoes came off. Guess I must look like a terrorist, with my beard and all.

Now it is sitting and waiting until 10:45, or 10:20 when we are to board. Well almost. Apparently there is some condition in San Francisco which prevents us from landing. So we are on hold for about 40 minutes. We then board and do the first leg to San Francisco in about 45 minutes. We landed at 12:09. Our next flight to Dulles in DC starts to board at 12:22 right when we get to the gate. We are among the last to board, so we get to wait around a bit. One thing which we counted on was having a meal at the airport, but that did not happen.

United did not like the size of our carry-on luggage. So it is being treated as checked baggage. We had another checked bag, so it should not cost us too much time. Theoretically it should be easier. We shall see on the other end, assuming all of our luggage makes it.

On the flight, I go through a lot of web pages on my phone, getting rid of 20+ pages, either reading them or thinking they are no longer relevant. Even though the phone is in airplane mode, many pages were still accessible.

About 2, Sherri and I have our sandwiches and chips. Wondering if it is enough to tide me over. The flight does serve a variety of treats. I take the stroopwafel. Why? Mostly because of Arida and her having served it in House Church.

The lady I am seated next to is reading a book by Tracey Wolff called Cherish. This is the sixth book in the series, she said. There are some similarities to The Game of Thrones from her description. She is a trainer for an exercise company and they are opening stores in the DC area. There is another female by the window which I did not talk with.

I keep busy finishing up my notes on our book group’s latest book, The Paris Library. Then I want to work on next month's book, which I read about two months ago, Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad. I have my notes available, but Libby does not want to serve up the book. Oh well. Onward to writing up notes for an Osher book, Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead. Now I have the reverse problem. The book is available, but the latest edition of my notes are not. But I am pretty sure Google will try to resolve that, so I will add my notes.

When we get to Dulles, it s about 9:15pm. Our next plane starts boarding at 9:22, I am not too concerned as it is in the same concourse. On the other hand, we will not have much time to do anything else, like grab a bite to eat. But our Dublin flight should serve us a meal.

Once we land, I find that United has sent a text saying our next flight has been delayed and is expected to leave about 11. So we do have time to eat. We stop in at a sandwich place called Potbelly. I have a chicken club, Sherri a cubano and Steven sweet heart pulled pork. Not sure if we were more hungry than we thought, but this was exactly the right meal for us. Apparently we got in right before they closed as the cleaning crew for PotBelly’s told us we had 10 minutes to eat.

We found some seats to wait at gate D4. An Irish couple strikes up a conversation. They suggest the Titanic Museum in Belfast. Also a Park close to Galway called Burren. Good to know. Looks like it will be a bit longer than 11 before we leave. I go for a walk and the expected leave time is 11:45, then 12:15 and finally 12:45. Good thing I did not book transportation between Dublin and Belfast as we would not have made it.

Turns out that we board before midnight. You know the female I was seated close to, but did not talk with, on the way to Dulles? She is on this flight as well. We talk for a few minutes before they board her before us. Sherri, Steven and my seats get re-assigned so we are all in the same row. We lift off a little after midnight.

Places: IR-Burren

 

 

Ireland Place-___'  (53.007778, -9.002222)

Description : Trips : References : Pictures 


Description:

We were advised to visit Burren by an Irish couple which we met in Dulles. 

An area of rocky landscape, which includes a National Park

Trips:

• None

References:

• Wikipedia
•  Burren National Park
• TripAdvisor 

Pictures:

•