Headed North

We are partial to the Wild Atlantic Way, so decided to travel along the coast and around the tip of Black Head on Galway Bay. By doing so we skirted the edge of The Burren (think field of very, large rocks) instead of traversing through it. Were pleased with our choice as we watched the coast become this otherland of plates of flat, fissure-threaded rock. 

All day we traveled in a cloud. Sometimes it rained. Sometimes it lifted a bit but overall a gray day. Drove through a couple of passes where we only glimpsed the shadow of mountains and waterfalls through the mist. Arrived in Balleyconnelly—by far our most remote, end-of-the-road, wind-swept, rock-strewn, gnarly-treed station for the whole trip. When there was a break from the rain I hiked over the rocks, made eye-peace with the cows, and explored a little of the craggy beach nearby. 

There was a heating stove in the middle of the main room. Second morning I reached down to pick up a piece of peat to start a fire. Peat is dense but much lighter than wood. And that was that. A muscle popped/spasmed in this almost-sixty-year-old back and I was down for the count. I freaking didn’t do ANYTHING strenuous or risky. My back just sneered and said it was time to be laid up for about 24 hours. I didn’t have a choice but to bow to its demand. A bruise popped up from the INSIDE the size of a plum and I couldn’t stand or move without that back muscle seizing. Dad & Greg were on their own as I polished off a a book.

Next morning I had a positive socialized medicine experience. Found the local medical group. Offered choice of afternoon appointment or waiting to be worked in. Chose the latter; within an hour and a half I saw a doctor and got meds (anti inflammatory and muscle relaxer/pain reliever) all total about $86. Try to do that anywhere in America with no insurance.

High pressure blew the clouds away, so we left the doctor and drove out Sky Drive, aptly named. On to Connemara National Park (whelp, no one in this group hiking today), Kylemore Abbey and Cong, the town/area of The Quiet Man fame. Arrived just in time to watch them lock the gates (at 4!) Was disappointed dad didn’t get to walk where Wayne and O’Hara did but he is so easy peezie that he was satisfied to walk through the museum and say he’d been to the town.

More pics added here.