Day 13/14 ~ July 12th & 13th Leenane Killary Harbor

Lough Inagh to Leenane, 10 miles, 7 hours. 

Walked for about 4.5 miles through the rocky fields, beautiful in a lonely sort of way. Then we hit the timberland. The forest here are all managed and planted, when we came to a stop do not enter /detour/logging in process sign we decided that we would stay the course and walk on our original path. We did not hear any big machinery or chain saws. We were able to walk about 2 miles of perfect forest when we came to a river and to mass logging. 

We crossed the river fine, but there was another detour sign. Because there was activity here we decided to take the detour. BIG mistake. After about 1/2 hour of being lost we still couldn't find the path so we decided to walk up to a gravel logging road and try to find the original western way. Through muck and debris we finally found it!  I was not happy. 

We thought we were almost done but soon realized we were 1/2 way to Leenane, ugh. Up a rocky track, down a rocky track we see the harbor in the distance and faint outlines of houses. 

Killary Harbor Famine Trail, 8.5 miles, 6 hours. 

We were driven to Rosroe pier and started our walk along the Killary famine trail by ourselves. This trail was made by starving people of the area when the potatoe crops failed year after year. The wealthy had the people make walls and roads so that instead of handing out food they could work for their food. The rock walls are amazing. We were soon overtaken by a group of 20 (or more) Germans from a bus tour. 

The harbor below was in constant view and the buoys were mussel farms. We had some Killary harbor mussels that rivaled penn cove's!  

The first half of this walk was the famine trail and the second half was the same last 4 miles of yesterday. 

We stayed 2 nights here in the same place called the Convent B&B which was beautiful and still had some of the original Windows and charm from when it was a convent 40 years ago. 

Day 15 ~ July 14 Sunshine, stiles & sheep

Day 12~ July 11 Mountain Pass

Maam Valley to Lough Inagh, 9.5 miles, 7 hours

Spent the morning walking along with the sheep. The rock walls are plentiful here as are the sheep. We knew that we were going to go over a pass but was not sure which as there were a few high areas we could see. 

The morning was misty but every once in a while you would get a bit of sun. We continually are the slowest walkers though I think we also take more pictues and enjoy the small things that amuse us. 

Up we go through the Maumturk mountain pass and when we get to the top I am so thankful we have made it as the elevation gain was about 950 feet. There was a small chapel at the top called Mam Ean. 

Us with the trail we just took up to Mam Ean 

And then down we go to find Lough Inagh!  

Day 11 ~ July 10 Day of Rain

Oughterard to Maam Valley, 8.5 miles, 5 hours. 

Started this walk with a ride to Glann church. As it was Sunday morning we didn't go in since the service was almost over. It was raining!  Not just a little rain, but buckets. We had brought rain jackets and waterproof boots, no gaiters no ponchos no rain pants poor planning. We walked along Loch Corrib the largest lake in Ireland. We wished that we could see more though what we did see was beautiful. 

Did I say rain? How about winds of up to 30 mph?  We were already wet but not too uncomfortable yet. Then we hit the bog, boots sink in bogs (go figure).  So we get through part of the bog and think we are golden, whoo hoo a boardwalk! 

Soooo 3 miles of boardwalk of 2 boards side by side that have u nails for traction my feet were sloshy and sore. The area was very interesting. 

When we arrived at the b&b everyone that was staying there had wet clothes and boots.  The owner obviously was prepared with 2 drying rooms available!

Day 10 ~ July 9th- Inishmore 2

Kilronan to Dun Duchathair (black fort) and back. 4.5 miles 3 hours. 

Walked half our route today as the day started out rainy and I wanted to go shopping for an Aran sweater. SCORE!  The black fort path was very rocky and up but totally worth it. A storm had moved in and the waves were far reaching as we approached the top of the 150 foot cliff. At one point the wind even brought foam up the cliff to where we were. 

We were more impressed with this Dun than the one we saw yesterday. It was remote, you could see some of the shape, the surrounding area looked like a moonscape and did I say remote? 

 Walking back we saw different flower and plants growing seemingly out of the 

rocks. We made our way back to town in time to catch the ferry back to the mainland where a friendly man Liam picked us up and took us to Oughterard and our next b&b. 

Day 9 ~ July 8th. Waking Inishmore

Kilranon to Dun Aengus and back, 10 miles, 7 hours. 

We started our day with sound of bagpipes outside our b&b. Walking slow as I have a terrible cold that is non stop coughing. Doug was kind enough to share 😊. This island is very bare of trees but beautiful in its own way. Rock walls dividing old fields are the norm. Doug and I are one of the few walkers here as it seems most tourist either rent a bike, horse drawn carriage or a tour van. 

We walk to a prehistoric fort called dun angus they say dates back to 1,000BC. Right on the edge of the highest cliffs in Ireland. Amazing that parts of these walls  have survived this long. 

We wandered back to town along a path that few were on through stone walls and again had a lovely dinner at the end. One thing that Doug and I both feel is that our feet will never be the same after our Spain walk. Boy do our feet hurt!

Day 7/8~July 6th & 7th Travel days

Checked out of the Arlington and headed to the train station. Pretty easy getting a train to Galway but found that it is much cheaper if we were to make reservations online. After a 2 hour ride landed in Galway. Very busy port town that was bustling with tourists. Stayed at the imperial close to the station. Had another fabulous meal. Doug had lamb and I had stuffed chicken. The staff was great. 

Left the next morning and had time to explore a little before our bus to the ferry. Found another church, always a surprise when the insides are more impressive than the outsides. 

On to the Aran Islands!  Nice bus ride along the coast and onto a passenger ferry filled with tourists. Doug heard somewhere that they get 1,000 tourist a day on inishmore. Check into a cute b&b and then went wandering for food. 

Day 6~July 5th Guinness.

Today was the day of Guinness. We wandered the streets of Dublin and saw a castle that is still used today for state events, it was very impressive. Then took the hop on hop off bus to Guinness!  The storehouse exhibits were a marketing bonanza. Very well laid out and informative. It ended with a skyway view of the city with a pint! 

We came back to our hotel and enjoyed an entertainment dinner with live music and Irish dancing. What a lovely last night    

Day 5 ~July 4th Dublin

Landed in Dublin at 6:30am working our way through the airport to the bus to the hotel. Because it was so early we stashed our luggage at the hotel and went on foot to the temple bar area. Very quaint. Dublin is busy all the time and we walked and saw Christ church and much more. Finally we both were barely able to be coherent as we were SO tired we took a hop on hop off bus, got off at our hotel and was able to check in an hour early. Slept for 3 hours and went back to temple bar and ate (of course) in a pub a very Irish dinner, listened to music and had a great time. 

Day 3 & 4 ~ July 2nd & 3rd

Saturday/Sunday melded together in Greensboro. Saturday we got up and made breakfast for the kids. Swedish pancakes and bacon. I have noticed on this trip that we are all about the food. Ryan and Julia had to work and so Doug and I had the afternoon and evening to ourselves. Explored more of the Guilford courthouse area wow the things I don't know about our history!  Huge lighting rain storm in the middle of the night. I have missed those. 

Sunday up and eating again.  We are on our way to Dublin this afternoon. We spent a few hours with the kiddos before we left. They were headed to the beach so were packing too!  Doug learned how to make kombucha tea from a scoby that Julia and Ryan have. Julia was very patient teaching Doug how to do this. Looks like we will be doing this at home. 

Day 2~ July 1st. Revolutionary

This was a quick day. We thought that we would get up early to spend LOTs of time with Ryan before he went to work at 4 pm, but with the time change and Ryan working til midnight we didn't get out of the house until noon. Had a lunch of collard greens and Carolina pulled pork and then went for a walk at Guilford courthouse national monument park. A revolutionary battle was fought there in 1781. Fascinating history!  Came home took a nap (darn time change) Ryan went to work and then Julia showed us downtown Greensboro. We saw the Woolworths where the sit in protests about segregation happened in 1960 and where the maker of Vicks vapor rub had a pharmacy. We are having a great time!

Day 1~ June 30~ Crafted!

Landed in Raleigh and drove to Greensboro. Went right away to where Ryan works. Crafted the Art of Street Food. Look up the menu it is Amazing!  Doug had pho Julia had Korean meatballs and I had a gyro, Oh My!