Ireland and Wales

A 28-day adventure by Irish Welsh Travels Read more

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Trip start
July 24, 2016
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Day 1
Sunday, July 24, 2016 at 10:29 AM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 372 m
United States Central Point 42.3807, -122.9312942°22’51” N 122°55’53” W
Adventures in packing
July 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
We're almost ready to leave. I'm carrying stuff for mom and stepdad, so I had to borrow their larger suitcase to fit it all in. Bless whomever first thought to add wheels to luggage.
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Day 5
Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 3:17 PM
☀️ 36 °C
Altitude: 373 m
United States Central Point 42.3807, -122.9306442°22’51” N 122°55’50” W
Best Goodbyes
July 28, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C
Daryl, Danielle and Destany came to say goodbye before we leave. These (occasionally silly) faces are pretty hard to say goodbye to.
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Day 6
Friday, July 29, 2016 at 5:52 AM
🌙 17 °C
Altitude: 5 m
United States Portland International Airport 45.58641, -122.5928145°35’11” N 122°35’34” W
1 down
July 29, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
Hello, Portland! First flight done, now on to the second. In case you didn't know, 5:00am flights are way too early!!
Oh too early. I was getting Maisy yet another cup of milk at that time.
7/29/16Reply
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Day 6
Friday, July 29, 2016 at 9:31 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 5 m
United States San Francisco International Airport 37.62141, -122.3791837°37’17” N 122°22’45” W
2 Down
July 29, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Hello, San Francisco! Second flight done. Mom and I are enjoying bagels for breakfast before we pace the terminal waiting for our 2pm flight. Had fun starting my Irish/Welsh socks (one foot for each country?) And then watched another flight land nearly in tandem with us!Read more
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Day 7
Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 1:20 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 241 m
Netherlands Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 52.30816, 4.7730452°18’29” N 4°46’23” E
3 Down
July 30, 2016 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Arrived in Amsterdam 40 minutes late and ran (or as close to running as mom, Kathy and I do) and barely made the flight. We are all tired but I am starting to get re-energized for our arrival in Dublin in 1.5 hours!Read more
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Day 7
Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 6:55 AM
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Ireland The Coombe 53.34867, -6.2796653°20’55” N 6°16’47” W
4 And We're Here!
July 30, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
We made it to Dublin! Our luggage did not!

Apparently our flight from Amsterdam didn't quite get all the luggage aboard, as we were in the lost luggage line with about 30 others. Ugh. The airline thinks all our luggage will be delivered tonight. Fingers crossed it is.

At least our apartment is good. The view is of thd Jameson whiskey storefront/tour and there is a grocery downstairs where I found tea and scones to get me through the loss of luggage. Everything is better with tea, right?Read more
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Day 8
Sunday, July 31, 2016 at 4:43 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Ireland The Coombe 53.34873, -6.2797353°20’55” N 6°16’47” W
3
Dublin
July 31, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Today has been good, despite still missing luggage. We toured the book of Kells, which included the long library. Uncle Dennis, upon seeing the library, exclaimed, "I think this is what heaven looks like." Too true.

After that we did the hop on hop off tour, went to the national art gallery (which was sadly mostly closed due to remodeling), Merrion Square to visit Oscar Wilde, St. Stephen's green, and the noisy Temple Bar area.

Now we are putting our feet up a bit to get a second wind. Unfortunately, there is a rather LOUD music festival going on in the square outside our apartment so it's not a quiet rest.Read more
Dana Smith Can people just write a comment? I really like these sayings!
8/1/16Reply
Traveler Dana, no those are quotes from Oscar Wilde carved into a statue.
8/1/16Reply
Dana Smith LOL that makes it super great and awesome graffiti!!!!
8/3/16Reply
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Day 9
Monday, August 1, 2016 at 7:09 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Ireland The Coombe 53.34872, -6.2790153°20’55” N 6°16’44” W
It's all about history
August 1, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Today we went on a tour of Irish history sites. We started at fourknocks, a passage chamber tomb built 500 years before the pyramids in Egypt. We got to go into the tomb, which was very cool. Even cooler because we were the only people there. Our tour guide literally went to a nearby farmer's house to pick up the entrance key! Then it was on to the Hill of Tara, the ancient seat of power for Ireland. If you are the true king of Ireland and knock three times there on the Lia Fail (stone of destany) then the stone will call your name. I knocked, but it was silent.

Next was Trim Castle. It was a lovely ruin, used in the film Braveheart.

Then we were on to lunch in the village of Slane, where I found Farrell Pharmacy, as Grandma was a Farrell, that was neat. Then we were on to New Grange, the best preserved and well known passage tomb.

After that we went to Monasterboice, which was a graveyard with famous high celtic crosses. Found a few Farrell gravesites there too. The crosses were intricately carved and lovely.

All in all ot was a good day. Our guide told great history tales and helped connect one site to another. And it didn't start raining until we were driving home!!Read more
Love your pictures!
8/1/16Reply
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Day 10
Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at 6:25 PM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Ireland Big River 52.26608, -9.7107952°15’58” N 9°42’39” W
Tralee
August 2, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
I started the day today by shopping for enough clothes to get me through the next couple of weeks (hopefully, anyhow). Thank goodness I walked first into Pennys, which seems to be the Irish version of Walmart clothing section. Then Bill and I caught the train while mom, Jerry, Dennis and Kathy negotiated Irish roads by car.

Taking the train was a flashback to 1995 and all the journeys we took on weekends after classes. The first train I listened to two friends gab about another friend's wedding while watching the scenery go by and the second train I played monopoly with two very sweet young pre-teen girls. All in all it was a nice journey. Now we have tomorrow to get ourselves sorted because the day after we start our walk.Read more
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Day 11
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at 10:45 AM
🌬 16 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Ireland Big River 52.26615, -9.7108252°15’58” N 9°42’39” W
The perils of wind
August 3, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
How can I tell how windy and rainy it is today? By the size of my hair, of course.
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Day 11
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at 1:29 PM
🌬 14 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Ireland Torc Cascade 52.00917, -9.5080752°0’33” N 9°30’29” W
Killarney national park
August 3, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 14 °C
Today, after running errands, including leaving all our clothes to be washed at the laundrette, Mom, Jerry and I drove out to Killarney National Park. It was really busy for a Wednesday but we still managed to take a nice (and wet) (and WINDY) hike to Torc waterfall. Wish we had more time to spend in the park but we still had other prep-for-hike activities to accomplish. Guess it means I have to come back some day.

Tomorrow we depart for The Dingle Way. Fingers crossed the wind doesn't knock us sideways the way it did today!!Read more
Dana SmithAmazing!
8/3/16Reply
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Day 12
Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 5:45 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 55 m
Ireland Camp 52.22101, -9.9099752°13’16” N 9°54’36” W
Dingle Day 1
August 4, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Well, we survived the first day of the Dingle way. It was a long, hard, muddy, rocky day. More later when my feet aren't screaming at me.
Dana SmithWhat a trail! It looks steep!
8/4/16Reply
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Day 13
Friday, August 5, 2016 at 5:06 PM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 24 m
Ireland Anascaul 52.15159, -10.0545552°9’6” N 10°3’16” W
Day 2
August 5, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Thank all that is good, but today was a much, much easier walk. Most of it was on either gravel roads or tiny, one-lane paved roads. What a relief after yesterday! Mom and I still chose to only walk from Camp to Inch (7.2 miles) and Kathy picked us up there. This cut 3 miles off the overall journey and meant that we've spent the afternoon resting and wandering the small village we're staying in. The best part of the day? After a brief rain shower this morning it has been sunny and warm. So lovely.

Now we are in Annascaul, home of Tom Crean, an heroic member of Ernest Shackleton's team to the South Pole in 1914-1916. He has a pub named for him and a statue of him in the town center. In the statue he is holding two puppies, so mom and I figure he had to be a pretty great guy.Read more
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Day 14
Saturday, August 6, 2016 at 2:01 PM
🌧 17 °C
Altitude: 38 m
Ireland Lispole 52.14233, -10.1610652°8’32” N 10°9’40” W
Day 3
August 6, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Today, after nearly forgetting my rain jacket at our bnb, mom and I walked half the distance to Dingle. We decided to stop in Lispole and catch the bus, figuring that 7 miles was enough for today. The walk to Lispole was fairly easy. We mostly walked on small roads, the only challenge involving the number of hills we had to hike up and back down. Along the way we saw Minard Castle, one of the many castles destroyed by Cromwell. Its remains are perched on a cliff overlooking a pretty, rocky beach cove. It was a good spot to eat our morning snack.Read more
Beautiful!
8/7/16Reply
Dana SmithThese pics are breathtaking - glad you are taking it a little easy and checking out the villages!
8/8/16Reply
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Day 15
Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 7:46 AM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Ireland Dingle 52.14162, -10.2683852°8’30” N 10°16’6” W
Dingle
August 7, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Yesterday after arriving by bus and getting cleaned up, I spent little time shopping here in Dingle. All the little shops had locally made products as well as a mix of very Ashland-like over priced trinkets. I loved the woven blankets and scarves but with only 45 minutes to shop didn't find one I loved enough to buy. Maybe I'll see one in a shop elsewhere. After dinner at a noisy pub, where they were watching Gaelic football, we walked down and ate amazing ice cream at Murphy's. It's the one food place I was told I must not miss along the way, and it was absolutely true. Yumm!!

Today we have a 14 mile walk ahead of us. Bring on the ibuprophren!Read more
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Day 15
Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 5:30 PM
🌧 16 °C
Altitude: 23 m
Ireland Dunquin 52.13452, -10.4506452°8’4” N 10°27’2” W
2
Day 4
August 7, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
Today was a long walk (14 or so miles) but mostly not a hard walk. We got to spend a lovely stretch walking along the beach at Ventry and then climbed, climbed, climbed up through fields lined by rock walls. There were also two very long stretches on a very busy road. Fingers crossed that's the last we walk on that road because I think I'm more sore from holding my shoulders near my ears in fear than from the miles on foot. Ugh.

All the climbing though did lend some pretty amazing views, especially as it was blue skies and warm for much of the day.Read more
Dana SmithJust stunning!
8/8/16Reply
Love your photos and see the A's hat has been recovered!
8/9/16Reply
Amazing!! Your posts and pics are my daily sanity right now.. keep them coming ;) ~ Marisa
8/9/16Reply
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Day 16
Monday, August 8, 2016 at 8:11 PM
🌧 14 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Ireland Ballynavenooragh 52.2265, -10.307152°13’35” N 10°18’26” W
Day 5
August 8, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Today's walk was long (14+ miles), but mostly easy. We walked over a small hill, during which it poured rain. We were soaked through. About the time we were mostly dried out, we hit a looooong stretch on small roads. After the roads, thankfully we did a long stretch of beach walking followed by beach cliff walking. Sadly, we finished the day with a stretch on a fairly busy road. By the time we hit the first long road stretch the sun had appeared and I am now sporting a very red face and neck. I guess spf 50 is no match for Irish sunshine. Hee.

Along the way we also stopped by a lovely pottery store, and found a very pretty teapot to add to my collection. They also had restrooms so no peeing on the side of the trail today!

All in all it was a good day, though my feet and ankles hurt quite a lot this evening. I'm guessing that's partly due to the road walking and partly all the harder stretches catching up with me.

Our bnb tonight is in the middle of nowhere but has a restaurant and bar downstairs so is surprisingly busy. Mom, Bill and I are taking a rest day tomorrow, while Dennis and Jerry tackle Mount Brandon. I think my feet will appreciate the rest.Read more
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Day 17
Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 3:26 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Ireland Owenmore River 52.23625, -10.1816852°14’11” N 10°10’54” W
Day 6
August 9, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Today we chose (wisely, I think) to skip the hike over Mount Brandon and instead have spent the day sleeping in and shopping in Dingle (well, the girls shopped, the boys read books). Choosing to have a shopping day meant that Jerry had to drive over the one-lane Coner Pass three times to ferry is all to and fro. He's a trooper when it comes to driving, and I'm sincerely grateful. Coner Pass is a rather scary single-lane mountain pass where traffic goes both directions and you have to look up or down the mountain to see if you can get through each section without a car coming at you in the opposite direction. Terrifying.

My feet and ankles are also sincerely grateful for the day off. Besides, what's a vacation without at least one day with nothing on the agenda, an ice cream cone after lunch, and time for a nap? (Side note: It's a good thing there isn't a Murphy's ice cream shop at home or I would be 500 pounds heavier by the end of the year! Yummmm.)Read more
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Day 18
Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 1:40 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Ireland Castlegregory 52.25743, -10.0202752°15’27” N 10°1’13” W
Day 7
August 10, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Today Mom, Bill, and I chose to not walk the full 17 miles and instead took a shortcut which saved 8 or 9 miles. Our bnb is wonderful, probably the fanciest one yet, and we feel guilty showing up sweaty and windblown to such a beautiful home. I'm glad we decided to cut the day short though so that we can enjoy where we are rather than arrive exhausted and ready for nothing other than dinner and bed.Read more
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Day 19
Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 3:50 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 58 m
Ireland Camp 52.22094, -9.9098952°13’15” N 9°54’36” W
Day 8
August 11, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Back to the beginning. Sort of. Today's hike brought us back to Camp, which was our destination the first day of hiking. Luckily, today's hike was very, very easy and not the horrible torture that the first day's hike was.

As the hike today was only 6 miles long, we arrived by 1pm and are spending the afternoon and evening prepping for tomorrow's journey across the island to Rosslare. We will spend one final night in Ireland before we catch our ferry over to Wales. I'm sad that the Dingle portion of our trip is over. It's been mostly pretty pleasant to see the country on-foot, even if it has meant we haven't seen some of the more typical tourist spots along the way. Instead we've rounded bends to see beautiful vistas or ramshackle churches or fields of wildflowers or quaint homes (or not so quaint, massive, modern homes). It's a different perspective on a country than the average tourist gets, and for that I'm thankful.Read more
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Day 20
Friday, August 12, 2016 at 12:34 PM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Ireland Glanmire Station 51.89949, -8.4661751°53’58” N 8°27’58” W
Cork
August 12, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Today is an all bus day for me. So far have gone from Tralee to Cork and next am off for Waterford. If the bus is on time there I should have about two hours to explore.
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Day 20
Friday, August 12, 2016 at 4:23 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Ireland Waterford 52.26333, -7.1157352°15’48” N 7°6’57” W
Between Buses
August 12, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Got 30 minutes between buses in Waterford, so took a peek aroud the old Viking town, which I am sad to report has mostly been turned into a shopping center. I did step into a lovely church, with a beautiful set of organ pipes. The bit of Wayerford I've seen may not be beautiful, but it was nice to stretch my legs and get a cup of tea regardless.Read more
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Day 21
Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 8:25 AM
☀️ 14 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Ireland Rosslare Europort Train Station 52.253, -6.3368252°15’11” N 6°20’13” W
Saying Farewell
August 13, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
We have just boarded our ferry for Wales. I'm sad to say goodbye to Ireland, as there was so much we didn't see, but I'm also excited to move forward in our next vacation adventure. Fingers crossed this ferry journey is far less pukey than the last ferry I took to/from Ireland/Wales!Read more
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Day 21
Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 1:37 PM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 35 m
Wales River Gwaun 51.99385, -4.9761651°59’38” N 4°58’34” W
Wales
August 13, 2016 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
We've arrived in Wales. Now we're waiting for the bus to get us to our house for the week. I'm looking forward to settling in for a few days and just breathing without having any real plans. I've already found the city hall here in Fishguard. They are looking for councilors, which sounds familiar. Guess I can work here if I want!Read more
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Day 22
Sunday, August 14, 2016 at 6:34 PM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 46 m
Wales St David's 51.88234, -5.2641251°52’56” N 5°15’51” W
Rest and Relaxation
August 14, 2016 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Today we spent the day resting, doing laundry, and wandering in town a bit. I took a walk down to St. Non's well and chapel, which is right along side the Pembrokeshire Coast Trail. It was a lovely short walk to the coast.

For dinner I was very glad to get in the kitchen and make roast chicken, new potatoes, roasted asparagus, and sauted carrots. Sometimes a little work is the best way to rest.Read more
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