Friday, 20th August 2010 - Blasket Island, Dingle

We were up early on a glorious sunny day (unlike yesterday) and drove back out to the end of the Dingle Peninsula (about a 1 hour drive where there are some single lane roads that you have to back up if you meet a car coming around a blind corner really fast and you have to jam on the brakes and then change your shorts - we always care a few spare pairs in case of this kind of situation).

We were in time to catch the first ferry at 11 am. The walk down the steep ramp to the dock was breathtaking and a bit hairy (the thought goes through your mind that you will have to climb back up this walkway when you return!) The little boat took about 25 of us over to the island through some pretty wavy sea – some of the waves were 10 feet high! Once we got to the abandoned village we were given a guided tour on the history of the island and its’ people – it was very interesting and we’ll have to do some further reading and research – he mentioned a book called Island Man written by one of the previous inhabitants of the island. The ferry back at 2 pm was a lot of fun as we rock and rolled to and fro – then we had the long climb up the path to the top of the cliff where we had left the car. Whew! We made it!

We then drove back through the town of Dingle and along the very scenic south coast and stopped at Inch beach for a coffee and watched the wet suit clad surfers on beautiful sunny afternoon, try and stand up in the mushy waves. Then on to Killarney to mail off a few things. We strolled around the main streets before stopping at the Danny Mann Pub for a quick one before the hour long drive back to Camp near the cottage for a great Fish Supper at Ashes Pub (our local). Absolutely Fabulous! Before heading home, we walked directly across the street to another pub that looked almost closed. But, there was an 80 year young guy behind the bar and a couple of patrons. We order a couple of coffees with some Bushmills Irish whiskey on the side. Gemma got talking to the old barman and the other couple and the next thing you know there’s a six person singsong going on! What fun we had – just about closed the place and got back to the cottage about11:30 pm. All in all, a great day and night!