7/8 2021. I head a bit back up north-east to get to the Middleton's Farmers Market. It is a moist morning, but it clear up within long. I'm actually a bit early, and do budgets and other accounting. The marked is not that big today, they tell me, but they sure have some nice food for sale. I have a long chat with a guy, selling apples from last year. They are so crispy, I almost thought they were from this years harvest. Another sell the most fantastic gluten-free cakes, while others sell home-grown crops. Considering
Where some of the long line of housing in the
villages are rather humble, the large estates in the countryside are
impressive. I eventually reach a large lake in front of a almost
barren mountain, and then Gougane Barra Forest Park.
I pay to get the car in, and that was the right decision.
It is a strange mix of vertical rocks-sides and mainly huge Western Hemlock; Tsuga heterophylla, but here are also other forest trees. The road passes a creek, and I ditch the car, and walk back. It actually get fed by a fantastic waterfall, and I end way out in the forest, following it up-hill. It look so great, the light is so bad, but the ferns, old boulders, mosses and splashing water look so beautiful. It is
The GPS leads me out on a 12 kilometre trail from An Doire Leathan over Coolnoohill, Morley's Bridge to Laharan East, with grass between the wheel tracks. It is a beautiful drive, pass remote farms and through unspoiled nature, on the steeper parts of the landscape. Eventually Around a few bends, down on the other side,
the vegetation returns. Then a large lake appears, and a huge
panorama. I do a short walk in the forest, where the branches have
up to 30 centimetres of mosses and other plants on them.
I meet a deer and its calf, and they
completely ignores me. I wonder if I have killed my self, and they
don't see ghosts? Once again, I reach the car just before the rain starts to poor down. I pass Killarney, just as a wedding exists the cathedral. Further out of the town, the annual Sheppard's dog competition is on. I forgot my Wellingtons, and realise; I won't fit in. Well, I have no dog either.
On
the other side, I find The Black Valley, with a few farms and
summerhouses or alike. I have to return, and hope the sun will join
in by now. Well there are spots of sun in the large valley, but not
on everything at the same time.
The last planned sight of the day, is just the
view from the hill of Aghadoe. I stop at the nearby church
ruin, but here are no special good view. I find the official
viewing-spot, and it is a huge
panorama. Unfortunately, the sun is not up for the job, but I get
the idea - not the photo. 8. I enjoy the hour and a half drive up to Lismore and their Farmers Market. It is in the driveway to the castle, and not big at all. But here is a nice mix of handicraft, flowers, art, vegetables and second-hand stuff along with bread and coffee. I chat with a few of the traders, one doing some real nice wooden work. While I'm here, I do a tour around the old
town, with the colourful shops and great atmosphere. Some houses
have been real posh - way back, others I head back south, out to the Cork harbour, named Cobh. It is by another route, this one more in the forests - or at least the green tunnel, looking that way. Endless stone-walls allies the road, and through the hedges, I see mainly green grass fields with cows. Here are a few barley and wheat fields, and they are being harvested by now. As usually, I have to stop at at least one of the great looking stone bridges.
Then I head in to the dead-centre of the huge
city of Cork. I squeeze in the Well, I have seen so many castles and alike, but only a few ancient prisons, and Cork have one: Cork City Gaol. It is an impressive building, and large areas are, as they were a hundred years ago. As I paid €10 to get in, I see it all!
9. A long drive with only two major sights lures ahead. I am heading way down south again. It is yet another great drive, and I have chosen new roads, as I have been down here before.
Within the wall, two small chambers are found,
and everything look so well
I have been following the Ring of Kerry road for some time, and head back to it, and follow it for 180 kilometres today. The views are great, inland to the green hills and cliffs, and out to the blue sea. Here are quite some flowering plants, although I doubt most are indigenous. The road follow the cost - more or less close,
and outside Glanbeg, the most fantastic
The
most outer road on the far end of the peninsular is called The
Skellig Ring. Here, the southern end of The Atlantic Way
is found, following the entire western coast. I will be driving it
from time to time.
Even without sun, the mighty cliffs are a
spectacular sight. A bit too big for my camera, and the light is
real bad. However, I do enjoy the place, and make way too many
crappy photos. I wait for quite some time, but the sun have gone for
now. Comforts myself with a little latte at the parking-lot,
That includes my planned sights for the day, but it is only noon, and I'm fare from home. I might as well see the other sights, I have on the other side of the peninsular. Well, the fist is cross the bridge to Valentia Island. Here, Glanleam House should have some real nice gardens. Well, they might have had, but apparently, a storm have destroyed them. To me, it look more like neglect. In the north-eastern end of the island, I find the Knight's Town ferry to Reenard Point on the main island. It is a shortcut of 68 kilometres, and a 650 metre fair. And it is fast: The fire-department wait on the other side, with an emergency response! They are real eager to get us off the ferry!
I have driven a bit more than 500 kilometres,
and call it a day - except for the work with photos and diaries
-along with the re-planning of tomorrow, which is a bit thin by now.
Day 8. |