Expeditions and Adventures: Heading South on the WIld Atlantic Way

We crossed to Inisheer on a Ferry leaving from the north side of Galway Bay. On the Ferry ride from the Aran Island we headed across Galway Bay south to Doolin. Dee met us at the docks with the rig. Two of our Vagabond members had spend an exciting if exhausting day at a Hospital in Galway. A piece of steak had not gone down as it should. It was not blocking an airway but was refusing to go completely down and let fluids or anything else pass. As the saying goes, "This too shall pass," and it finally did, in time for the individual to rehydrate and take on some nourishment. But not in time for them to enjoy the Aran Islands with us. It was several days before Lance ordered a steak. And you ask about universal health care? That is when the hospital hands the American a bill and says go ahead and submit it to your insurance company in case they might pay something on it and have a nice day! They don't expect or worry about payment....they just work on healing folks.

Back to those of us on the Ferry. We returned by way of the Cliffs of Moher. Notice another of the Watch Towers at the top.

And then we get to walk on top of the cliffs to experience them from both sides. And, well, Dee was sure we needed another wee walk.

Always a bit of sunshine trying to get through.

No guard rails here in Ireland.

Interesting line of clouds moving through.

Just another bathroom break along the ride.

An excellent example of thatching. Notice the details at the top of the roof line. Each thatcher usually has their signature pattern.

We were never far from the mountains/hills (for my lover of mountains who lives in LA) as we traveled south along the western coast line, also referred to as the Wild Atlantic Way.

A pull out along the highway for pictures of the scenic views but I thought the driveway on the other side was scenic, too.

Another bathroom break and brief stop. Tom doing his contemplative part and Liz on the hunt for more pictures.

Another Watch Tower on the far headlands.

Again, Tom has established his pattern on how to enjoy these views.

Dee takes us on the private property of an exclusive Irish School. It was not yet open for the fall students but we came to see up close the Ogham Stones that the owner had collected and preserved on the property.

Can you see the lines notched along the sides? Ogham is an ancient linear script and is the first known written language of Ireland. The stones are read from the bottom to the top. Not that I attempted any of them. We did see several further on in our travels siting out in fields by themselves. We also saw some beautiful jewelery in Dingal that personalized names using the Ogham alphabet.

On our visit to the working sheep farm we met these guys. The dog on the left is called a "creeper" and herds silently creeping and staring intently. The older dog herds using his voice and whole body and isn't reluctant to get right in the sheep's faces. As the Farmer stated up in the very rocky fields you will always know where the older dog is. The creeper could be hunkered down waiting for your next command but you can't see him over the rocks.

He was also single but said that he didn't qualify as a good catch because he didn't have enough land and sheep. He did have a good Irish sense of humor though.

Looking back down towards the road from his fields you can catch the outlines of another ancient fort structure along the coast.

The creeper.....

The two dogs working together with directions.

The sheep really didn't want to go into that pen.....but they finally gave up and did. Good dogs!

The dog made sure that the sheep didn't move on back up the pasture until he was told to release them. The sheep didn't question the looks they were getting. They knew.

There were several famine cottages still standing above the sheep fields. Roomy by RV standards but then they might have had multiple families living in them.

The old and the newer side by side. I was always reminding myself how many centuries these pastures and lands had supported their people. Who ever were the people of that particular time.

The curvy road in the center goes down to a small beach area in the cove. This site was used in the end of the movie Ryan's Daughter, the beach where the goods were smuggled.