Tuesday 11th August 2010

Finally did the red circular walk from the camp spot in the forest. It does have warnings that it's tough and you need to be dit and be wearing proper hiking boots etc., and when you get to the uphill bit, you can understand why. Estimated time was 2 1/2 - 3 hours, we did it in just under 2 with a slight diversion at the end......so, very do-able if you are fit, and most enjoyable. Did most of the rest of the Ring of Kerry (didn't realize that it was the horrible Puck Fair in Killorglin - had to drive through that mess!! http://puckfair.ie/   - you can read about it here - stupid and horrid and it should be banned!!) that we haven't done and ended up on Valentia Island where we payed for a campsite - luxury to have nice long hot shower!! Beautiful little place, walked the doggies to the sea front where there was all kinds of activity. The campsite is very new - only been open a few months so everything is clean and neat and brand new - lovely.

Wednesday 12 August 2015

Hung around at the campsite for part of the morning, took another walk to the sea front with doggies, the clouds came over so we decided against kayaking or swimming and went on to Geokaun Mountain and Fogher Cliffs. Did the circular walk and never got to the lookout point at the top because there were so many people and we had our anti-social dogs with us so we didn't get to see the view of the whole island from the top, but it was pretty nice anyway, lovely little place, we might go back......
Went via Waterville on the way back and who should we meet in the street while we were walking along looking for a bin, but a man and a billy goat (called Billy) The man said Billy started coming into their yard a few years ago in Autumn and winter to eat and last autumn decided to stay. They think he's about 14 years old - he's very calm and placid, just lay there. The wild goat conservation people have taken DNA samples to see if he's pure mountain goat because some farmers release domestic male goats that they don't want into the wild so there's a lot of crossing.

With Billy the goat and his man who's English, not Irish

Saturday 8th - Monday 10th August 2015

Usual boring days when Chris is at work, spent Saturday by the fish factory. Sunday at least there's church to look forward to; stayed for tea after the service and got to chat to various people. Funny to meat up with Robert and Helena Mole who are off to North Wales to live. Good message "Do you love me more that these...?"
Monday was spent doing washing and then we headed for Killarney and our favourite camping spot in the national park.

Friday 7th August 2015

Spent the day at Inchydoby beach, another lovely day, walked doggies, we went for a stroll, Chris even flew his kite a bit etc. Just a great outdoor day!!

Thursday 6th August 2015

Headed for Cork; Chris found a specialist running shop online which he wanted to go and visit. I didn't feel like traipsing around Cork so doggies and I just waited while C found some new road shoes. He came back and said there is also an outdoor shop, so we headed for that and he finally found a nice backpack (trail running pack something like mine), we also splashed out and got new raincoats (a definate necessity in this country!!). Thankfully the raincoats were on sale, because that was a VERY expensive day!!
Yay, then we headed for Clonakilty, and Inchydoby beach!! Weather was lovely, and as usual on lovely days, we spent most of it driving so it was great to be at the beach and get outside. It's  a nice place to spend the night - we'd camped here on our way down to Bantry the first time so we knew it to be a good spot; doggies always have fun on the beach!!

Wednesday 5th August 2015

Utterly miserable day, spent the day taking a scenic drive (not on purpose, we got lost) . Just as well we got lost because the weather was so awful it was only good for being inside. Stopped at a nice shop and tea-room. Bought a few goodies - including some more ordinance survey maps (we'd better be coming back to Ireland with the number of maps we've collected!!)
Headed back to "our" campsite, this time there were about 5 other motor homes amped for the night. Walked the doggies to the waterfall; got eaten alive by midges!!

Tuesday 4th August 2015

WASHING, loads of it. Spent most of the day parked outside Adrian and Camilla's house waiting for washing/drying!!
After 5 we finally left and headed towards Killarney. Now, just when one was thinking Ireland couldn't get more beautiful, we hit the ring of Kerry!! Wow!! Found a lovely, but midge infested, forest carpark to camp in, about 5 miles outside Killarney.There are 3 circular walks that start from there; we like the look of the most challenging one which is 2 - 3 hours and goes up on the ridge of the mountain - we'll definately head back to do that!!

Monday 3rd August 2015

Breakfast etc, then at 12 those of us going up to see the boys camp left. 

You can read about the boys camp here:

http://wilderness.ie/

Have pics from that too.......somewhere!!

Left camp at about 4, heading back for Bantry, got back just after 8. Chris had a very busy weekend at the hotel, so he finished work quite late.

Saturday 1st August - Sunday 2nd August 2015

http://www.anabaptistireland.org/sermon-recordings/?sermon_id=241

Messages from the family conference can be heard here.

Being technologically challenged, I can't find/load any of my pictures.............so, hopefully some pictures from the weekend to follow at some stage!!

Friday 31st July 2015

Headed off to Dunmore East all by myself (with doggies) for family conference at Dunmore East Christian Fellowship. Was a bit nervous driving all that way in the motorhome, which I'd only driven for the first time about 10 days ago!! And in a strange country!! But, it is a pretty straightforward drive from Bantry, well signposted at Cork where the roads were a bit bigger and busier, and the church-house is well signposted so we arrived safely. Left at 11, got there at 3.30, with a half hour break for lunch.
The folks had arranged for me to park at Wendell and Sherri, right next to the church-house.
Supper was at 6 and after that it was time for introductions. Silly me, I should have had the camera ready to take pics of each family as they went up, but , of course, I thought of that too late........
Great time if visiting and catching up with friends and meeting new people

 Mike showing us the very clever chair consisting of 2 pieces that slot into each other. This is just one of the pieces of furniture for sale at the shop.

 Hew and Jeanette on dish duty.

 Children and youth having a great time playing outside the back of the church house.

 Mike Pauley doing dishes. The lady next to him is German, she was there with her husband (who doesn't really speak English) and I think 5 children. We are planning to visit them in October when we're in Germany; she's SO excited about that!! They're in Dunmore East for 5 weeks, older children staying with various church families so they can learn English.

 The woodwork workshop was transformed into the dining hall for the weekend.

 Carrie, looking very contemplative. She's so much fun!!