Sur le continent

Our house sit ended and we drove to Rosslare to spend the night in another ferry terminal, we paid 5 Euros for the privilege. Unlike Cairnryan the terminal building closed about 9.30 pm till 7 am next day. The four hour journey was fine and we had a good breakfast on board. We docked at Pembroke and drove straight to Bath. The campsite was well situated but pretty ropey –the shower block looked in need of a god clean.

We had chosen the campsite as there was a direct bus into town and a cycle path and we used the former during the day. It was a nice ride mainly along the Avon and then we secured our bikes and sat in the autumn sun having coffee. I then visited the Roman baths, the purpose for our visit and was fascinated by the whole site, well laid out and described and stunning in the sunlight. In the evening we went into town on the bus to catch up with Chris’ mate John, who is studying at Bristol University. He came on the train and we had a few beers and some food in the hotel opposite the station.  He is finding the studying taxing but in the end it will be worth it, he sits the final exam next Saturday, Good Luck John.

From Bath we drove to the edge of the New Forest to visit Alan and Linda, Alan and Chris went to school together and have known each other 50 years. They have recently downsized into a lovely bungalow with a private rear garden extending into a wooded area. We went for a drive in the forest, another first for me. When we got back Alan filled the hot tub and we sat drinking Moet, not our usual style and a fabulous treat. Linda cooked a delicious meal of slow cooked lamb. Saturday morning we had a quick trip to Hythe, on the Solent and then it was time to depart.

Saturday 27^th September and we take the short drive to Totton to spend a bit of time with Chris’ sister Tricia and her husband Steve. We meet them at their new house which is having a new kitchen and bathroom installed before they move in, Steve and Tricia are staying with friend till the work is completed. Steve is not in the best of health and would not cope living amongst the work. We visited Chris’ mam, still in the nursing home (it is almost two years now) and she hasn’t been out of bed for about six months. Sadly we have the same circular conversations on each visit about her former house etc and she frequently thinks she is in Newcastle a place she left fifty years ago.  Her 91 year old roommate got very confused and agitated and tearful on one of our visits and it makes you think about what you may have to look forward to!!!It also reminds me of how on one hand how I am lucky that I am not responsible for elderly ill parents but the downside has been no parents for half my life and no grandparents for my lovely girls. Chris developed a bit of man flu in Totton but we did manage to have an Indian meal together and Tricia cooked a lovely Sunday meal.

Wednesday 1^st October was a crazy day; I flew from Southampton to Newcastle for my tryout (interview) for a volunteering role at 2015 Rugby World Cup. I got up at 5am and got a taxi to the airport, which was a tale in itself as two companies I rang didn’t start work till 6am!! Fly be were exceptional, lovely staff and everything on time!! Off the plane and the metro to Jarrow to see Vicki, had a nap for an hour, a shower and lunch and she kindly drove me to the Racecourse in Newcastle, the venue for the interview. It was only an hour, the one to one was twenty minutes and I found the questions quite difficult. It is over five years since I retire and when I was working it would have been something I would have done with ease. From there I got the bus and metro into town and met my lovely girls in Jamie’s Italian. The boys were there too; Amy’s husband Carl and Keith who is Imogen’s new beau. It was a very short time together but it was lovely to catch up and Idg is coming to visit soon. I got back at 9.45pm and was ready for bed!!

We said our goodbyes in Totton and drove to Newhaven for the ferry to Dieppe, another night in a ferry terminal!! We drove to a small seaside town near Newhaven but there was no overnight parking so we enjoyed a meal in the van watching the sun set over the sea. We walked into Newhaven into a pretty grotty and rundown pub, and the next day we could see that the marina area has been redeveloped and the town centre is suffering as a result.

Another good crossing, the channel was like a millpond and although the loading and unloading was great, we were the first vehicle off the DFDS service was pretty average.  The mainly Spanish crew on our trip to Ireland, and the Polish crew Ireland to Wales were hardworking and friendly and they kept the ship clean. DFDS are French and the crew were not very bothered!! We drove Henry for the first time on the right hand side of the road, he is left-hand drive and it seems so much easier!! 

Our first stop was Chartres, am overnight stop in a campsite. It is off season so it was 14 Euros a night but the ladies had 50% squat toilets and the shower block was unisex-both sadly fairly typical in France. We got parked up, had some food and Chris had a couple of beers and we had an early night. Saturday we cycled into Chartres along the river as I wanted to see the cathedral. A few years ago I went with a team of people to Southport and we built a labyrinth on the beach, an early Christian method of prayer walking. I knew there was a famous one on the floor of the cathedral in Chartres. The building is magnificent and is being slowly restored, it is also famous for its stained glass windows and they were stunning. Disappointingly the labyrinth was mainly covered by chairs, a lovely Swiss lady explained that if it is left uncovered the constant walking around, and children playing on it disturb the local worshippers in the church. Mmmmm les francais!

We drove on south and stopped over in Bourges in a free aire, the French have lots of places in towns where you can get clean water, empty your chemical toilet etc. Especially in small towns they are created to encourage people to spend some money and we always either have a meal, or a few drinks or buy something in the local shop. Bourges was just a stepping stone to our next destination Chabanol near Issoire and a visit to Geoff and Christine.

They run a gite and B&B , http://www.hirondelles-chabanol.fr in a beautiful part of the Auvergne. We had a quick cuppa and then set off for a walk with their dog Bounty. Geoff was in the UK and dog walking is not Christine’s favourite occupation. Geoff was due back Sunday evening but Air France needed to bump seven people off his flight so he stayed in Paris and got Euros for his trouble. We ate a beautiful lasagne and some delicious cheese. The French cheese is just so good and they do a nice drop of wine too! Monday we set off again with the dog and followed by the cat Maisie. We did a lovely long walk, enjoying the countryside and the sunshine.  Later I helped Christine clean the gite; her Israeli guests had not done a very good job. On Geoff’s return we had lunch in the sunshine, and then pottered about, Chris helped Geoff with the wood and I prepared our evening meal. The cat had still not returned and I was starting to worry we had lost her!! We went to bed with no sign of the cat.  But thankfully next morning there she was, very hungry and tired. We had our breakfast and set off with some eggs from the chickens and raspberries from the garden.  A lovely interlude and good to catch up again and hear of the plans for the wedding of their daughter Hazel, and if it fits in we may be able to help out and housesit. 

We had one more stop planned in France and it was meant to be in Narbonne but I spotted a canal side campsite near Beziers at Villeneuve du Beziers and we headed there.  It was an easy drive on a free motorway, a rarity in France. The pitch was very small but fine and we soon got settled in, after travelling so long we have developed a good working relationship, first job is to check how level we are in case we need to use the blocks. Chris does the outside stuff, hooks up the electric, switches on the gas, puts the stabiliser legs down etc meanwhile I sort out the kettle, teapot cups etc, swivel the front seat and put the soap,toothbrushes etc and open the ceiling vents. It takes us no more than ten minutes and we sometimes have a good laugh watching the people with caravans and tents that seem to take an eternity. We walked into town and had few beers in the square and had our evening meal in the sun outside the van.

Wednesday 8^th October we cycled along the canal past the centre of Beziers to the nine locks and watched a boat going up while we drank our coffee. Cycling back to town we planned a visit to the cathedral but our first stop was the market for something tasty for tea. We opted for horse steak, not something you can get in the UK well not knowingly. We hadn’t checked and the cathedral and churches close at 12!! Lunch in a lovely little square was tasty but small and then we headed back. We had our cheval griddle and it was so tasty washed down with some lovely local red wine.

Our original plan was to spend a few nights in Valencia but when we looked at the weather forecast there was heavy rain coming so we opted to drive straight to the house in Casas Nuevas. We drove from Beziers to Aragon, with rain overnight and then on Friday to Murcia. 

We have been at the house since then and we have had rain showers most days. They are short lived and there is sun in between and it is about 20 degrees and it is warm enough to wear cropped trousers and tee shirts. Imogen is coming out on Sunday for a week and we will have a car to get around.Life at Spanish pace suits us just fine!!

Take care

Norma x

Top of the range camper, 30k audi soft top and BMW bike!!

Sunrise Aragon

These are the pomegranates already spoilt

Made only 1 and a half litres of juice and took ages!!

Off to the continent tomorrow

Hello and greetings from England!!

Yes I know,very odd a blog from home.



We did manage to visit Cobh and see the Heritage centre and the stories of emigration and transportation, and answers the quandary about why there are Irish pubs all over the world. 
We handed the house back to the owners last week and I made a lovely meal with the produce from their poly tunnel, garden and hedgerow. Even if I say so myself the apple and blackberry crumble was divine!!

The four hour journey from Rosslare to Pembroke was calm and very efficient, breakfast on board was tasty. We headed straight for a campsite in Bath and stayed two nights. It was close enough to the city centre to cycle so we spent a day there. I went to the Roman baths, Chris had been before, and we enjoyed the glorious autumnal weather, having lunch sat outside in a little square.Cycled most of the way up to the Royal Crescent, feel like Bath deserved a bit more time.  In the evening we got the bus into Bath and had a few beers and some food with Chris' old mate , John. John, who lives in Colchester, was doing a course at Bristol university so it was good to catch up.

Friday we headed for a small town near Ringwood on the edge of the New Forest to visit Alan and Linda. Chris and Alan went to school together and have known each other 50 years. We had a quick pint, the pub was closing at 3pm!! Then Alan took us bog trotting in the New Forest before we went to the very, very posh Rhinefield House hotel for afternoon tea. I wish I had had my camera at the ready, Chris and Alan decided to share afternoon tea and to say it was small is the understatement of the year. The two of them were lost for words and every crumb was devoured in two seconds flat. We got back to the house and had the absolute luxury of a hot tub on the patio with a glass of Moet, oh how the other half live!! Linda made a fabulous meal of slow cooked lamb and we washed it down with some wine. Thanks to you both xx Saturday we had cooked breakfast and then a quick trip to Hythe on the Solent.

Saturday we drove to Totton in Hampshire to visit Tricia and Steve, Chris' sister and brother in law. We parked the van up at the house they will move into soon, if the builders ever get finished. We visited Chris' mum who is in a nursing home and then all went out for a nice Indian in Totton. Sunday we visited her again and then went to Tricia's house and we had a lovely meal with one of my favourite things, dumplings. Chris had been a bit snuffly from we arrived and we assumed it was the plaster dust but no, by Monday he had full blown man flu!! He was in bed most of the day. Bless. 

Wednesday was a huge day for me, I got up at 5am and got a taxi to Southampton airport for the 7am flight to Newcastle. Quick trip to Jarrow to my mate Vicki's house for a kip, shower and lunch. She then drove me to the Racecourse in Newcastle where I was interviewed for the volunteering programme for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. It was a good day , the questions were hard and fingers crossed I will be selected. I found out yesterday the only interviewed 10,000 0f the 20,000 applicants. A friend Jane was there at the same time and we had to try out uniforms etc too.So far so good, disappointed there was only a cardboard cut out of Jonny Wilkinson.

Back into town and at 5.30 I met up with my lovely girls and their boys. We met in Jamie's Italian and had a quick catch up for just over an hour. The food was tasty, small portions but Carl's was a bit disappointing. In no time I was heading off back to the airport. 

I had left myself an hour to do the 30 minute journey and I got there with only 3 minutes to spare!! The metro was packed with drunken louts, students, going to a rugby game at Kingston Park. The train terminated early and I had to get off and wait for the next one. Phew. Got back to Southampton and my car was there and I was back in Totton before 10pm. Full and busy day, fingers crossed I get selected.

Today we drive to Newhaven and then tomorrow at 10am have a ferry to Dieppe and then our first night will be in Chartres, where I want to see the cathedral. It has a famous labyrinth on the floor. Our route is then Bourges, Chabanol (to pop in and see Bounty, the dog, and her owners Geoff and Christine) then to Narbonne in France. Into Spain to Tarragona for an overnight and then Valencia for a couple of days before we arrive in Casas Nuevas.

Jane Mardon- a fellow traveller

Front Row!! Look at those legs!!

Love to you all

Norma xx

House sitting in Macroom

We have been blessed by fabulous weather here in Macroom in West Cork. It is often overcast first thing but by about 10 am we have had glorious sunshine.

Our lovely house .......well for two weeks

Our plan was never to do very much here, which is just as well as the repairs to the camper van have been a bit of a saga. The mechanics of the van are Chris' domain so these details will be incorrect!! The back brakes were leaking fluid so he bought the parts before we left home. Last Tuesday we took it to a garage able to accommodate the height of the van and he said we also needed the shoes replacing. Two days later the wrong parts arrived from Dublin but Chris tracked down an alternative solution just to re-line them. They were delivered to the garage last Friday. Monday work started but pads that Chris had were the wrong ones!! Suddenly our guy at the garage could get parts and yesterday the correct pads arrived. It turned out to be a nightmare of a job and we finally got the van back today Friday 19th September, one week later than we had hoped. It took 14 hours to repair at 40 euros an hour plus VAT at 13.5% .........the final bill was 896 euros which is £705.

Wilson, the cat and Poppy dog

The lack of van was not a real problem as we have a car for transport and Chris got lots of his other jobs, re-sealing windows etc completed last week in the good weather. It is simply the frustration of driving daily to get an update etc and sourcing parts. Also on occasion you would imagine we are in a foreign land, the locals speak really fast and I struggle to understand everything and "your man" in the garage is one of them!!

Tuesday is market day in Macroom , and it is very small but some organic veggies, fabulous olives and gorgeous cheese and bread make for some quality purchases. Also at 11.15 there is a little indoor market in the hall of a sports club near the castle, it is very much an alternative lifestyle place. They serve cakes tea and coffee and vegan soup!! Got some delicious raw soft goats cheese with garlic and also some alfalfa sprouts. There was also a little cohort of English ex-pats so were not very friendly despite our attempts to say hello. We did have a good craic with a lovely local lady called Mary who loves turquoise and everything she had on was said colour!!

We ventured into one of the local pubs for a pint of the black stuff, a choice of Guinness, Murphy's and Beamish. It was very old and simple and we had a confused conversation with "your man" who had already had several pints when we got there.

Our one day out last week was to Clontakility and the Michael Collins centre as we felt we should learn a bit about Irish history. We spent a fascinating 3 hours, including a talk from his cousin several times removed. He is described as 
" A soldier and politician who was prominent in the struggle for Irish independence in the early 20th century. He agreed to the partition of Ireland and the creation of the Irish Free State, becoming leader of its provisional government." 

He was killed in an ambush not far from here and there was a lot of speculation about what really happened that day and who killed him!!  Apart from the 'Big Fella' ,Clontakility is also famous for black pudding, its a nice place for lunch and the black pudding is delicious. Irish black pudding is quite dense with pinhead oatmeal and full of flavour.

This week we had a trip to Skibbereen for the sole reason that earlier this year I saw a play at the Edinburgh fringe called "The road to Skibbereen" and it is about an hour from here and so we thought we would take the road. It is remembered as a place where thousands died during the great famine of 1845-52 and the heritage centre had a wonderful exhibition, the local records made chilling reading. The song reminds you of the part the English played in this ;

...the landlord and the bailiff came to drive us all away.

They set the roof on fire with their cursed English flame,

And that's another reason why I left old Skibbereen

Sinead O'Connor does a particularly haunting version of the song. HTTP://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VWPzsPqcHQ

B&B in Skibberreen

I'm hoping we might get a trip into Cork city and also to Cobh as it is the other part of the famine story, as well as the numbers who died and equal number emigrated and left for England, the USA and other parts.

Meanwhile I have loads of blackberries foraged and the poly tunnel is ready with tomatoes and cucumbers for making a sweet pickle. 

The poly tunnel

The weather is due to change and so it might be a good time to do a bit in the kitchen. On cue, we have had rain today and the road to Cork has been closed due to a serious car accident so we have stayed put. I got started on the  list of jobs to do inside the van,  to get it ready for the next part of the trip.

On the rugby front I have applied for tickets for the 3 games in Newcastle and for the final. The latter has already gone to ballot so will have to wait and see. I also found out that 20,000 people applied to be volunteers for 6,000 places so I'm quite chuffed to have been offered a try out .




So our time here is almost up and the owners will be back on Monday and we head off Tuesday morning ready for our ferry to Pembroke on 24th September. We plan to have two nights in Bath, a city which I have never seen.

Till next time,

beannacht agus cúram a ghlacadh

Norma xx

Swallows and martins lined up........I counted about 140 0f them at one point.........

Ireland -part two

We left Doolin and headed south stopping off in Ennistymon and Lahinch on the way. We drove along the coast but eventually arrived, in the mizzle, in Carrigaholt. It was the annual festival but it was pouring by the time we found a place to put the van so we decided against joining in. Late afternoon the weather eased a bit and we walked into town and had a lovely Sunday meal at the pub, not only did we know it was local lamb but the blackboard in the pub told you exactly where it came from. Good wholesome food and served with a massive bowl of steaming hot mashed potato!! Our “camp” for the night was near the derelict castle. 

The next day Chris needed the doctor for his painkillers for his knee and we thought we might have to drive to Kilkee about 15 miles away. We went to the Post Office first and the guy there said no problem the Doctor is here today. Interesting postie, playing opera at 9.30 am on loud speakers in the square!! After the trip to the docs I drove , on a single track road, to Kilbaha for coffee and then on to the lighthouse at Loop Head. Good place, fabulous views and a very nice guide, we had lunch in the van and then set off to drive up the other coast and back to Kilkee. Originally we planned to stay in Clare but when we got to Killimer the ferry was due so we travelled the 30 minutes across to Tarbert, Co Kerry.

Next stop New York mate!

We decided Listowel was our limit and found a car park near the river where we could park undisturbed. We walked along the river and into town, past the impressive, but closed, castle. We went into a pub in the town square. I’m not sure about Irish pubs, they are either touristy or the normal ones are not designed for comfort, have racing on TV –all the time-and are frequented mainly, but not exclusively, by men. I am not a prude but I do find the language of the Irish difficult, they clearly only got up to F in the dictionary and seem to punctuate every sentence with it.

Tuesday we headed for Killarney, and had a three day stay  on the edge of the National Park in Fossa. Our campsite was about 8k from town and there was an off road cycle track most of the way. Pitches were fine, free internet and the usual facilities all for 20 Euros a night. However for some reason the majority of Eirean campsites feel the need to charge separately for a shower, in this case 1.3 Euros. Not quite sure why as water is pretty plentiful here. You buy a token and it is timed for about 5 minutes, which is way too long for me as I have got used to showers in places with not much water and can have one is less than half that time. It is also a pain having to make sure you have tokens.

We cycled both days we were there , into town and then on to the Ross Castle area of the park. The weather was fabulous and the cycling pretty easy. However day one Chris got a puncture that we tried in vain to repair and he ended up going into town with my bike to buy a new inner tube. Meanwhile I had a fascinating tour of the castle, enhanced by the fact it was free, 1^st Wednesday of the month . On the second day we had a little tootle on the waterbus on the Lough, it gives a different perspective. Had a delicious lunch, at the Smokehouse, of seafood chowder for me and tuna melt on soda bread for Chris.

We are now at our final destination , which is Macroom west of Cork. I have my new debit card as the ATM swallowed it up on the Friday before we left home, with no chance of getting it replaced before I left. Thanks to Imogen and UPS we are reunited!!

We spent Friday and Saturday with Clare and Cormac and they have now gone off on holiday to Sicily. We have the pleasure of staying in their lovely house, and an acre of land with poly tunnel and veggie garden. It is peaceful, yet easy to get to Macroom or Cork. They have a dog, called Poppy and two cats Wilson and Orkay. Clare loves to cook so it is great to have a lovely organised kitchen for two weeks-the vegetable soup is in the fridge and I am making chutney today. 

We have some jobs to do on the van here, including getting it to a garage and I have some bits to sort inside. We hope to get to see some of the countryside and, of course, to look after the animals ;on our walk with Poppy the hedgerows are full with blackberries. I’m trying to work out whether I can get to Limerick to see a rugby game, Munster play at Thomond park, but not sussed out the logistics yet.

 This housesit is two weeks and then on 24^th September we have a ferry booked for Rosslare to Pembroke . I want to see Bath on route to the south coast where we will catch up with Chris’ family and friends Linda and Alan.

On the edge........

Not for people with vertigo........

Till next time

Take care

Norma xx

Heading off again in Henry

Stage 1-Wandering through Ireland

We left home on August Bank Holiday Monday, in Henry the Hymer (our motor home), with a tank full of fuel and packed up for a trip through eight countries (well, technically 7 but we will be in England twice). Our final destination is Chris’ house in Spain in mid October but lots of adventure before then.

When I booked the Cairnryan to Larne ferry for 26^th August it had not registered that we would be going from Newcastle on a Bank Holiday!! Thankfully the traffic wasn’t too bad and when we got into Scotland we realised that for them it was a normal working day. We drove to the ferry port and parked Henry for the night, our ferry was at 7.30 am the next day. Cairnryan is essentially two huge ferry landings and the P&O ferry does seven trips a day across the shortest crossing to Ireland. The weather was wild overnight and I was nervous the crossing would be bad, but it was relatively smooth and we landed on time in Northern Ireland at 9.30.

A first visit to the North for the both of us and which was only very brief and worthy of a proper visit. Our plan for Tuesday was to fit in two visits before heading south, first a rope bridge, at Carrick-a-Rede across a volcanic gap that used to be used by fishermen to capture salmon. The wind hadn’t dropped and being on things that sway and wobble is one of my room 101 hates, into that category goes rickety old lifts as well. It was a beautiful day and as we walked towards the bridge there were lots of smiling faces so I decided it could not have been too bad. It was remarkably short and only on the return journey was it hairy but it took only a few minutes. 

The rope bridge

Next stop was something on my bucket list, the Giant’s Causeway. With no camper van parking at the site, more of that later, we had to go into Bushmills to the park and ride and that resulted in me arriving by bus and therefore getting a £1.50 discount as a “Green” customer!! Chris is a National trust member so he was free. The audio guide was very informative and the facilities at the centre were excellent, but only if you had a ticket. I have to say that everything about it should have made me go wow, the sky was blue, the sea likewise but it didn’t really hit the spot. Maybe it’s because you see all of those beautiful, haunting pictures when in reality it is mobbed with people and also it was a long tiring day and neither of us were at our best. 

Sitting on the Giant's Causeway

These two visits took up most of the day and so we decided to stay on the North coast and after a short drive through Portrush we found on overnight spot in Portstewart and headed straight for the pub where a restorative Singapore Sling was consumed. The smell of fish and chips, the promenade and the seagulls were too much of a draw so we decided to forsake our healthy meal in the van for fish and chips, out of the paper on the seafront!!  It was not to be; the fish and chip shop was the size of a postage stamp and had a small queue, maybe 6 people. My order was taken and paid for but then it was obvious there would be a wait.............the man next to me had waited 30 minutes for his. After 15 minutes and with food leaving the shop with only 3 people I decided to cancel, get a refund and go back to the van. The shop had 4 people working and in any other place would be churning out fish suppers in seconds. Our smoked salmon salad was delicious and better on the waistline.

Day two and my initial plan had us visiting Bru na Boinne, a Neolithic necropolis just north of Dublin and then heading over to Galway. On reflection that was a bit of a zigzag route and we decided instead to head towards Donegal and Sligo on our way to Galway and the Burren. The necropolis is 1,000 years older than Stonehenge and linked to the winter solstice and will wait for another day.

But first to more important matters, which required a trip to Asda in Coleraine, for three reasons, one  items of food, two cheap fuel and three internet and a coffee. Internet because I got my invitation to try out as a volunteer for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, at St James Park, where three games are being held. Initially I thought I would have to decline as the interviews were 30^th September to 3^rd October but as Chris pointed out we could delay our ferry to France, which serendipitously we had not yet booked!! Interview accepted and I will jet into Newcastle from Southampton for the day and then we will head off to Europe. Fingers crossed I get accepted.

We got to Donegal and were able to find a car park beside the bay, which is a miracle as we have quickly realised that Ireland is not motor home friendly. Loads of car parks and roadside lay-bys have height barriers of around 2 metres and we are nearly three. The helpful tourist office also said we could camp overnight there too. We wandered into Donegal, visited the quaint castle and decided not to stay overnight, heading instead to the coast. After an abortive attempt to drive to a beach, you guessed it the road suddenly came to end and there was a height barrier..........and no warning at the start of the 4k trip. Ah yes we had quickly crossed into Europe, aka Eire, and now have Euros, kilos and kilometres. The height barriers are to stop the gypsies and make life difficult for others.

We drove into Rossnowlagh, a stunning beach, and parked on a flat piece of land in front of two derelict shops. It was the only place without a sign that said hotel parking only. It is famous on the surfing circuit but not on a breezy August day, and we were the only customers in the Surfers bar ( and before the grammar police correct me, their sign not mine!!) which had some European football game blasting out but as it was also part of a hotel so we got to use the Wi-Fi. When I looked at out route down to Galway in our guide book I spotted Carrowmore en route. A megalithic cemetery which pre-dates the other one near Dublin by 700 years, making it 1,700 years older than Stonehenge!! 

Carrowmore selfie!!

Day three and we set off for Sligo, carefully taking our rubbish, following the signs about keeping the beach clean!! Eire is not over endowed with rubbish bins and we didn’t find one till mid afternoon!! Oh and don’t get me started on the recycling............or lack of it!! Sligo was meant to be a coffee stop but parking was almost impossible so we drove to Carrowmore which promised ruins, toilets and a tea shop. Two out of three isn’t bad and the coffee had to wait!! The site was fascinating, yet more collections of stones and you can see from the photo that I had a very able and knowledgeable guide. The fascination for me is often the why, how and what. The Nazca lines in Peru being a perfect example. Why was this used as a burial site and what about the connections to other sites that you could see close by?? No one really knows and of course on top of the archaeological facts is the good old Irish legend.

My trusty guide!!

Early September we will be in Cork for a house sit and we had a suggestion from our hosts that the Westport area of Mayo was worth a visit and there is an old railway line for cycling. We got to Westport and it was raining heavily so we quickly had a cuppa and then headed for Achill island, planning to stay at the campsite at Keel, empty our tanks, toilet etc use the showers ( the van shower is fine but not very powerful) and have some real electric for a night or two. The weather got steadily worse and as we got onto the island the rain and wind were bleaching down. A short stop to get some cash resulted in use parking up beside a B&B and paying 13 Euros for hook-up and water, but in a sheltered spot as the local butcher said Keel campsite would be wild!! We went to the local pub which had a peat fire going, yes in august, and I had a couple of halves of the black stuff. It was a pretty wild night and any thoughts of cycling the greenway were out of the window.

Day four and we set off for a weekend in Galway, first stop Newport for coffee where we also bought black pudding with seaweed and home baked soda bread. As we got to Westport the rain was getting worse and we picked up a couple of hitchhikers and dropped them in Galway. The traffic in the city was crazy and we twice followed directions to the campsite without success. I later found out that it had closed.

Change of plan, we headed for the Burren and Dooilin where we knew there were two campsites. Driving was pretty scary on the narrow roads and we were soon realising that the Irish are not the best drivers, especially the wizened old folks who can barely see over the steering wheel. O’Connors campsite in Doolin is on the riverbank near the Fitzpatrick pub and has very good facilities, which we needed after 4 nights of wild camping. We got settled in and went for a wander and checked out the local buses. In the evening a few beers and a bit of usic and then we had the black pudding with seaweed followed by staek, both of which were delicious. All washed down with a nice bottle of Zinfandel, a gift from the US from Vicki. Cheers!!

Day five and we got the bus to the Cliffs of Moher a stunning viewpoint and wonderful visitor centre, and only 4 Euro if you travel to it by public bus, creative green thinking!! I preferred this to the Giant’s Causeway!! We walked 8k back to Doolin along the cliffs, windswept and rugged it was a beautiful walk and although a little grey we had no rain. Back for a cuppa and a snooze and the pub beckoned again, a group of young musicians were playing and one of the girls had a lovely haunting voice. Chris cooked one of his signature dishes, stir fried lambs liver with noodles and we finished off with goats cheeses and chilli jam.

Today we are heading further south, we have finally found a map with some wild camping spots so we will go down towards Loop Head and spend a couple of days, hopefully doing some cycling  before getting the ferry to Tarbet,  ( half an hour but avoids the Limerick traffic). From there we will head towards Tralee and then to our final destination on Friday, which is Macroom west of Cork.

Take care whatever you are up to

Norma xx