Final Day

The river Corrib

Well the trip is coming to an end. We asked for an early (8 am) breakfast so we could get on the road from Galway to Dublin. The rental car had to be returned by 11:30 and the drive is 2 1/4 hours. We made good time getting out of Galway and on the N6 all the way to Dublin and should have had the car back one hour early. Unfortunately, when we got into Dublin the GPS went berserk and decided not to tell us where the Hertz return was. It took us to an intersection about two blocks away and said we had arrived at our destination. We drove around and around Dublin city center trying to find it until I finally pulled up on the sidewalk (there's no place to park) and Jo Anne asked a young man if he knew. He pulled out his phone and looked it up. We were three blocks from there but it took us another 15 minutes due to traffic. We had 11 minutes to spare. Whew! Getting out of that car was such a relief. It was even better than when you check your bag at the airport and don't have to lug it around anymore. I felt free as a bird.

Downtown Dublin 

Shopping in Dublin 

The river Liffey

Sweet potato and red pepper soup for lunch 

and amazing gelato for dessert

Getting charged for the trip home, if only we had another two plugs. 

The Gresham Hotel

We tried to get tickets to a traditional Irish dancers dinner show tonight but they were all sold out. It would have been a great ending to our trip ànd we were really bummed about not getting to go. 

Instead, we had Beshoff fish and chips - supposed to be the best in Dublin. It was pretty tasty. 

We have a 5 am pick up in the morning to take us to the airport. It will be a long trip home but it has truly been an epic journey. 

Some stats for your reading pleasure: 

132.4 miles walked

324,789 steps taken

5 trains

5 buses

5 taxis

3 flights

3 countries

4 hotel/Inns

9 B&B's

1,073 km driven

6 sticky toffee puddings

and 1,741 pictures taken

Thank you for following along with us!

As the Psalmist said, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul...my cup overflows"

We have undoubtedly experienced His green pastures, still waters and soul restoration over the last 16 days, and I am so blessed to have been able to share it with my sister. We have laughed, cried, broken into song, ached, reminisced and survived my Ireland driving. We will share these memories forever, and my cup overflows with the power and majesty of His creation.

"Before the mountains were born, or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God." Psalms 90:2 

Day 15 - Galway

Today was a rest day for walking. We shopped at Galway City Centre, which is a long promenade of shops, so we still managed to get in our 10,000 steps and then some. I only have a few pics since you don't really want to see pictures of us shopping. 

County flags

Walkway of shops and pubs 

We ordered Irish Stew for lunch. The stew is what's in the middle and the sides are all around, so potatoes 4 ways and cabbage. The stew was delicious!!!

Afterwards we stopped off for 99's, which is obviously a vanilla cone with a "flake" in it. I bought Flakes at the euro store to take home to all the grandkids. 

Since its a short blog day, I thought I would take the opportunity to do a sales pitch for the shoes I've been wearing. For years I've suffered with burning pain at the base of the second and third toes on my right foot. Even with really good shoes and inserts, I could only walk about two miles before the burning started and then became unbearable. Jo Anne told me about foot tech in Lubbock and I really went in there to see about some different orthotics. When I told him what the problem was, he asked if I had tried Altra shoes. They are zero drop technology. I told him I had worn Earth shoes (negative heel) for years until they quit making them. He convinced me to try a pair and they were on sale for half price, so why not? 

Best thing I ever did. I wore them around to break them in and see if they were going to help. They don't just help, it's eliminated the pain. I quickly began looking for a waterproof pair knowing we would be in all kinds of wet, muddy situations over here and found a pair on sale online. 

Oh my goodness, I have walked over 14 miles in a single day, over some pretty rough terrain, on this trip and have not had one twinge of pain in my feet. I can't say enough good things about them. They aren't very cute because they have boxy toe beds, which is one of the things that helps the problem, but who cares if the pain is gone! They've been covered in water and mud and sheep poop, but my feet stayed warm and dry. That's my sales pitch for the day!

Here's a pic of the B&B we've been staying in the last two nights. One more night here then off to Dublin.

Today's stats: 6.24 miles and 14,729 steps

Day 14 - Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park

The Rock Lodge B&B is where we're staying in Galway. When the hostess greeted us at the door, she said, "now who do we have here?" Jo Anne introduced us and she said, "well sure." She took us upstairs to show us the room. I think we've only had a ground floor room once on this trip. Whoopee! Another trek upstairs with our bags. At breakfast we met two couples from Oklahoma. They're going many of the same places we are but in the opposite direction. 

Our plan today is to drive the Connemara Loop, stopping at the Connemara Marble factory, a Bodhran music store, the Kylemore Abbey and finally Connemara National Park for a short hike. 

We plugged in the GPS and hit the road arriving at the marble factory shortly after a bus load of "elderly people." It took awhile for them to clear out enough so we could shop, but it was a fun and interesting stop nonetheless. 

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The drive to the music store is very scenic. 

The terrain is so diverse. 

On the way to the Abbey

Kylemore Abbey is the most photographed castle in Ireland. It was purchased by a group of benedictine nuns in 1920. It was originally built by Mitchell Henry as a gift to his wife.

 

one of the many fireplaces in the castle 

The view from the Abbey. Jo Anne said it reminded her of the Sound of Music. 

Waterfall

The Gothic church is a mini cathedral, in the neo-Gothic style, built by Mitchell Henry in memory of his wife Margaret. 

Mitchell and Margaret Henry are both interred in the mausoleum.

The Gothic church 

Connemara marble columns inside the chapel. There are several quarries of Connemara marble:  green, white, black, and rose. They've used them all in the chapel. 

Marble carving

Jo Anne and I had a little worship service in the chapel. The craftsmanship is breathtaking. 

Yes, this is Jo Anne playing a wooden xylophone with a stick. 

Entrance to the Victorian walled garden. 

Even at this time of the year the garden is filled with color. 

After touring the abbey and gardens, we stopped in the abbey cafe for bite of lunch, then on to the national park for a hike.  

Start of the blue loop up Black Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park. 

View from the top of the climb. 

Black Diamond Hill

Trying to beat the storm 

The rain is coming. We made it to the car just before it hit. 

"Light shall shine out of darkness." 2 Corinthians 4:6

We walked to Galway city center for dinner at a local pub. I had salad because I haven't had any in two weeks. 

Jo Anne had homemade cottage pie. 

We listened to a little live music...

Then walked back across the river. 

"Oh Lord our God, the majesty and glory of your name fills all the earth and overflows the heavens. . .When I look up into the night skies and see the work of your hands-the moon and the stars you have made-I cannot understand how you can bother with man, to be mindful of him. Oh Lord our God, the majesty and glory of your name." Psalms 8

Today's stats: 8.4 miles and 20,398 steps