Just wait 5 minutes and the weather will change

The morning looked pretty bleak as we contemplated getting ready to drive to Cahir, in South Tipperary to see the Swiss Cottage. The roads in that area seemed like they could be somewhat flooded from the recent downpours. Parts of Co Cork are underwater with people being rescued from homes and businesses. Yikes!

Plan B - so let's drive to Blessington which is north of here. Off we went in the falling mist hoping that the weather would improve. Google gave us a fairly main route to follow, since I declined a turn onto a very narrow road that it suggested. The farther we drove the better the weather and the better the roads. Take that Ms Google. A destination can be reached over roads with centre lines. Our route took us through Tullow, on to Baltinglass where we spared a brief glance at the ruined abbey.

We drove past Russborough House into Blessington and then turned around and drove back. We'd have lunch later. The tour didn't disappoint. One can only marvel at what wealth can buy. 

George, our guide, showing us the Russborough House Library
The owners were enjoying an evening of reading when attacked by three robbers who also beat them up before absconding with a few valuable paintings. The paintings were later found.

The link will show you more than we could with photos. Well OK, I confess, I have not mastered the easy way to insert photos. I hope the link remains intact. Yesterday's link did not survive the posting.

Returning to Blessington we had lunch at the Greenway Cafe. Satisfactory. Then dropped into the tourist office for some suggestions as to where to travel next. I don't think the lady working there has passed her tourism exams, if there even is such a thing. However, she made a reference in passing to driving around the Blessington lakes which is what we chose. She seemed keen on having us drive over the Sally Gap. Heather had never been but I've driven that route a few times. It was not the warning that there could be sheep on the road that kept us from taking that advice. We've seen what's on the other side and have travelled the roads from Glendalough to Shillelagh a couple of times, not just on this trip. So - enjoy your own gap, Sally.

The sun was shining and it got quite warm, maybe 18C, and was a glorious afternoon. The views were spectacular and were enjoyed by eye, not the camera lens. Scenery sometimes leaves something to be desired in photos when it's spectacular viewed "live." In other words, sorry, except for one to come, there are no views of the beautiful countryside. Besides, there was no place to pull over to take pictures.

The circum-drivigation of the Blessington Lakes was on lovely narrow roads. They were the kind I've mentioned before, too narrow to warrant a centre line. These were also twistier and hillier than most, and that's saying something. I certainly did my share of shifting gears. And I made sure that if there was an oncoming vehicle that I did the Canadian thing, and pulled as far to the left as I could to let them by. There were times the hedges were very close. These are not hedges as known in Canada. These are about a soft as a stone wall so coming into direct contact is not recommended. At the end of this route was the village of Hollywood. And yes, there is a large sign on the hillside.

Not knowing quite where to look for the sign, we stopped in front of a school where a few people were chatting. Before we were even close we were welcomed by Seamas O'Brien, who I think is one of the teachers. He pointed out the aforementioned sign on the hillside. We had fortuitously stopped where there was an excellent view. We just hadn't noticed.

And there it is 

Hollywood is a charming village, truly a Tidy Town. We stopped in to see the stained glass windows in the church, and wandered a bit until we saw the Fiddler on the Roof. 

And there he is

The Hollywood Tourist Office

The last rose of summer

The sun was shining and with Bunclody less than an hour away, we decided to try to get there in time for a drive part way up Mt Leinster. The idea was good. The weather situation, by the time we arrived was not. Clouds were so low there was no view of the mountain at all. So we stopped at SuperValu to pick up a couple of things for dinner. 

Now, having consumed said items, we're relaxing a little before heading to visit Ann and Tom at the Rocktavern. Not a pub. Just the place where they live. We'll catch up with their side of the family and still make it an early night. Swiss Cottage awaits us on the morrow.