It just keeps surpassing expectations!

First full day at the HomeExchange was a rainy, rest day. We built a fire in the wood stove and stoked it all day to keep the chill at bay. I did laundry and in the afternoon Greg & I went into town to buy groceries. At dinner we watched a pretty nice sunset on the water as the skies cleared. 

Sunday was a very good day. Drove as far as we could on Sheep’s Head Peninsula then hiked the rest. There was a picnic area where dad lounged and it’s a good thing he didn’t try to make this trek. My pedometer clocked a little over three miles, AND 55 flights of stairs. Lots of steep up & downs. But SO worth it. One of the most unspoiled Irish rugged, coastal landscapes—and we only had to share it with a few sheep.

Next stop Drombeg Circle, a recumbent circle of stones dating to between 1100-800 AD. This relic was down a short path that dad could take and opened to a breathtaking vista overlooking the Wild Atlantic Way. Time travel (think Stonehenge with none of the people or commercialization.) So cool. And to top it off, the path was lined one side with a hedge of fuchsia and the other a rock wall teeming with blackberry brambles.

Mad dash to Blarney Castle. Took my friend, Carolyn’s, lead—walked to the top but didn’t kiss the stone. The best thing: no lines or ques. The worst thing: (especially after the two experiences we had previously today) the over-commercialization left me almost wishing we had skipped it.

Up and gone early on Monday to drive the Ring of Kerry. As dad said at one point, it just keeps getting better and better! Rocky coastline. An Iron Age fort. Turquoise to azure water. Rugged mountains. Killarney National Park. Red stag lying in a field. Thick trees and emerald moss. Deep blue lakes. 

And, of course, sheep everywhere. Dad said, I think I want to come back as an Irish sheep. To which I replied, so, I guess that means mom will be a border collie? He laughed out loud and said, that’s about right.

Started and ended in Kenmare going the opposite direction of the occasional tour bus. My friend, Mary, said if I had the chance I should stop in the Lace & Design Center. What a neat, tucked away gem. Displays from the 1800s and lace-making demonstrations. And I thought weaving was intricate.

Note: all the pics (here) I’m posting are downloaded from my phone. Pretty sure I’ve got some keepers on the good camera to download when we get back home!