Ferry to Knight's Town

After supper there was still time to ride the ferry over to Knight's Town on Valentia Island for a bit of sightseeing.  We all paid our fare as pedestrians and walked on/off the ferry and around town. We tried for the family on foot fare to no avail.  It was a bit windy and threatened to rain but there was a boat ride involved so that means there was no stopping this crowd.

What a fun way to spend time after supper, exploring this cute little village on foot. We made the last ferry back across before they stopped running for the night and headed to our lodging for a good nights rest.  The next day was one of our most memorable days  ~ Skellig Michael Island and the puffins!

O'Neills The Point ~ Cahersiveen

Atlantic Salmon

 

Crab Au gratin

Crab claws swimming in butter and olive oil 

Lobster!

It was a fabulous supper at a wonderful family run place with the best company a traveler could ask to be with!

...

Fortune Cookie Friday

The one you love is closer than you think.

Cahersiveen ~ Ring of Kerry

Near Cahersiveen at the point there is a car ferry that is a 10 minute ride over to Knights Town on Valentia Island (pronounced Valencia).  We explored the shore by the ferry dock before supper and found loads of interesting sea life that has washed ashore. Jelly fish, crabs, snails and scallops.  Josh found me a scallop shell that is six inches across. We also saw a gray seal bobbing in the water just off shore.

 The car ferry over to Valentia Island.

The wall by the Portmagee Channel is a nice place to sit and gaze out to the water and dream of riding boats all your days.

Coomakesta Pass ~ Ring of Kerry

700 feet high Coomakesta Pass we were out in the cool wind enjoying the great views on either side.  Note in the photo just above there is another ring fort in a farmers fields.

Staigue Fort

Yup you guessed it the GPS had no idea where we were or that the small rural road even existed as we headed to Staigue Fort.  

Off the map as it were.

It was a one lane road and when you saw someone coming your way the closest car to the little pull out (that you see in the middle left of this photo) would duck in and let the other car pass on by and with any luck you did not swap paint or take off the side mirror. It is a very civilized country and everyone that we encountered driving on the roads was polite and courteous.

The ring forts on the Ring of Kerry are the best preserved prehistory ring forts in all of Ireland. The basic features of all these forts are the circular drystone walls that were built sometime between 500 B.C. and 300 A.D. without the aid of mortar or cement.  They are 80 feet across with walls 12 feet thick at the base and up to 20 feet high.  These brutish structures would have taken 100 men six months to complete.

The Staigue Fort is on a sheep farmers land and with the road being so narrow and the large tour buses are unable to get there so it is quiet and peaceful.  Just remember to close the gate so the sheep don't get out.

Yup sheep poop! I was always the one stepping in something smelly!

When these forts were being built it was a time when civilization was changing from nomadic hunter-gathers to settled farmers, herders and they used these forts to protect their cattle and other valuables.  Some think these forts were used as an kind of amphitheater for local gatherings by the chieftains.  However the ditch surrounding the outer walls of Staigue Fort suggests a defensive rather that a ceremonial function.

Whatever the reason for them being built this is one of the most amazing sites to visit.  Off the beaten path and we were the only ones there exploring.

Music Monday

A little break from our vacation photos.

Song: King and Lionheart

Artists: Of Monsters and Men

On  their album: My Head Is An Animal

After winning the nationwide 2010 battle-of-the-bands competition Musiktilraunir in their native Iceland, six-piece chamber pop group Of Monsters and Man were hailed as "the new Arcade Fire" in Rolling Stone magazine.

Ring of Kerry

The photo above is the road that leads to the Ring of Kerry through Killarney National Park.   The Ring of Kerry which is the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry is a beautiful drive on a coastal road with hilly mountains and vista views along the way, like the one below which is called Ladies View.

Sheep along side the road on the wrong side of the fence. Silly sheep!

Muckross House ~ Killarney

This nineteenth century Victorian mansion is set against the stunning beauty of Killarney National Park. The house stands close to the shores of Muckross Lake, one of Killarney's three lakes, famed world wide for their splendor and beauty.

We spent the morning exploring Muckross house grounds, gardens, and woods then walked to the waterfall.  We however did not take any rides from the horse bandits. 

Rule number 7  ~

Do not talk to horse bandits.

This rule applies specially to me! 

River Shannon

A little ice cream break in the afternoon.  We also found some fresh made bread at the little market to go with the cheese we purchased at Alwee Caves.  Both of which ended up becoming a nice meal on the drive around the Ring of Kerry.

 

At Killimer we crossed the River Shannon on the ferry.  The ferry ride saves about 80 kilometers and a drive though the big village of Limerick.  Besides boat rides are so much fun. 

 

Hooray for boat rides!

It was late afternoon when we crossed the river and a great way to round out another fine day on vacation!  We spent the night just north of Killarney with plans to drive the Ring of Kerry the next day.