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Galway to Cong, Ireland (3,929kms)

Aug 06, 2012

Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:



On the road heading for Roundstone, lucky it was raining so much or we would have been all day taking one photo after another of the incredible views of water and mountains disappearing into it and disappearing into the cloud overhead as we explored the Connemara Peninsula.

• Another grand soft day. Wet most of the day, drizzle and rain, thankfully missed the worst of it and only had to deal with the water left on the roadway. At times sheeting across or laying in pools. Thankfully we didn’t get any on the wheel track lane we encountered on the way to Claddaghuff.
• Being relieved I (we both) felt comfortably warm in spite of the weather.
• Have had a great sense of ‘feeling’ like we have travelled in a very remote area today in spite of the holiday traffic.
• Reminiscent of the countryside we encountered in remote north western Scotland in 2010.



Roundstone Harbour / sea wall while we waited for coffee.

• Winding through fields scattered with small to massive rocks separated by rock walls. Variable amounts of grass and occasionally sheep.
• Cannot believe the number of homes scattered through the stone fields and clinging to the edges of the waterways.
• Noticeable holiday accommodation around as we headed north along the cliffs from Roundstone. Must be good appeal for those wanting a remote experience.
• Spotted a number of anglers with rods out in some fast moving streams today. Hardy individuals!



Road verge flowers as a matter of principle. Not the variety of flowers we saw farther south but took this (in the rain) in case we miss out altogether. These occasional patches seemed to occasionally soften the views today.

• Kept being surprised by the occasional deep leafy glade we would ride into in small valleys and the lea of hills. Beautiful!
• Am in awe of the steepness of the largely bald hills (other than grasses and I guess heather and small shrubs) which rose up around us like great green walls into the clouds (and there were lots of those today).



Kylemore Abbey.

• Very impressed to hear one of the original owners planted over 300,000 trees which have established a substantial and beautiful forest which just shows given the chance this rugged land can still support that.
• As the day progressed there was more evidence of water rushing to the sea. The great green walls of hills seemed to have great lines scraped from top to bottom with impromptu waterfalls and rivulets tumbling down them in the distance and giving spectacular brief views close to the roadside as well.



The view from the front of today’s Hotel. Very nice.

Bits and Bobs:

Galway has had a week of horse races which finished yesterday so the city was in a party mood last night. Lots of people around in all sorts of glam wear as well as the odd tourist from Australia not.

One of the things I’m enjoying is catching glimpses of familiar looking faces. The night before last our waitress could have been a young Peggy Bell (as was one we had a few nights ago). I’ve also glimpsed my young sister Jenny’s likeness as I have my Uncle Lenny. Feels good!

As we were heading out of Dingle the day before yesterday I spotted a race track running up the side of a hill (I kid you not) and over the top of it, I cannot imagine race horses galloping in either direction!

Last nights’ Accommodation:

Park House Hotel, Galway, Ireland


Lovely hotel. The area it was set in seemed like it had fallen somewhat from grace over time and is now experiencing a revival so we were surprised that the hotel had survived over that time…that is until we came inside. The building was just beautiful with gracious public spaces and incredible attention to detail in everything. Impeccably clean throughout and the food and service was magnificent. Happy we could also park the bikes undercover near the rear entry so nice and secure. Would be happy to stay again. Norm even got a bucket of water to give the bikes a bit of a wash and they managed to stay clean overnight and for about half an hour today….mind you they still look better than they did before the wash which gives some idea of how filthy they were!



Park House Hotel


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