Hike Info : Description :Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants
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| Tiled Sculpture |
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.
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| Cliffs of Moher |
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| 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.
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| Lunch Time: Andrea, Sherri, Rachel, Steven |
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| Looking north from O'Brien's Tower |
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| More of 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Andrea and Sherri |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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| Rachel, Steven, Gary, Sherri, and Andrea |
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| Looking north from O'Brien's Tower |
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| At O'Brien's Tower with Rachel, Sherri, Andrea, Steven and Gary |
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| Cliffs of Moher |
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| Tile Sculpture at Lisdoonverna |
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| Tile Sculpture at Lisdoonverna |
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| Tile Sculpture at Lisdoonverna |
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| Sherri |
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| O'Brien's Tower |
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| Father and Daughter |
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| Andrea |
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| Looking north from O'Brien's Castle |
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| O'Brien's Castle |
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| O'Brien's Castle |
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| Looking down at the people from O'Brien's Castle |
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| View of the Atlantic from O'Brien's Tower |
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| Sherri and the Cliffs of Moher |
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| Gary, Rachel and Sherri |
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| Andrea, Rachel, Steven, and Sherri |
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| Cliffs of Moher |
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| Cliffs of Moher |
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| Andrea |
Animals
Flowers and Plants
