Just a warning

The weather news is getting worse. No good weather in sight and a storm coming in on Wednesday night. The south and east (where I am) will apparently be hit hard.

Co Wexford, especially around Wexford town, is already afloat. The National Heritage Park is underwater and even the main reception building including the café was flooded. Of course it had to close. There's no report that I've heard with an estimate of the damage but some of the recreated Viking buildings are half under water. We were lucky to have visited when it was merely sort of flooded but workable.

Plans for this week are not finalized, other than staying dry and not driving far. Fingers crossed that if something comes up the roads will be open. There might not be much to report. The cottage where I've set up camp, is not equipped with life jackets. Maybe I'll make enquiries about getting one.We are on high ground so maybe that would be over-cautious.

Wandering? not today

Today I gained an hour as the clocks went back overnight. My apple watch, Macbook and iPhone all behaved well and reset themselves. I woke up to the news that Braden and Sammie were at the airport at the boarding gate and ready for the trip home. They'd spent the past couple of days in Dublin taking in whatever sites appealed to them. Their special souvenirs from Egan's made it through security and will be enjoyed at home. 

I miss having Heather, Braden and Sammie with me. They are all excellent company and travel companions. None contributed greatly to the Irish economy by splurging on souvenirs although a couple of items returned to Canada with them. The beauty of carry-on luggage is that it restricts the number of purchases one can take back home. Heather's souvenir sweater from the Alpaca walk (it was cold and she needed something warmer to wear), and Braden and Sammie's Guinness glasses will help keep them warm back at home.

Yesterday was a relaxing day at The Store. Donal delivered some fresh eggs from the resident chickens and John O stopped in for a coffee. Aside from that I stocked up on groceries at Aldi, topped up the gas tank at Texaco and withdrew my rent money from the ATM - all in Bunclody. For a small town the traffic would rival many larger places. 

Last evening I had a lovely dinner with Susan and Damien, just up the way. They have a remarkably long and winding driveway on which you would never want to meet another oncoming car. There was no need to worry as I was expected. To keep people on the narrow road, they have some signs like "do not pass" all installed for the purpose of keeping drivers on the track. If one should ignore the signs your fate would be sealed, tumbling over the edge. It was very dark and pouring rain, but on leaving, Damien with his umbrella, guided my reversing so that I'd safely manoeuvre my way back to the "main" road. It was barely wider than their lane.

We enjoyed a mainly genealogical bent to the conversation. Susan has done extensive researching of her roots and Damian's. Both she and I are writing the family stories now. Why is it that everyone else's family seems more interesting than my own? We are both very keen to have accurate records, while being very aware that there are errors on our family trees. That doesn't deter others from wantonly copying people from one tree to another without regard to any real relationship to their own, nor to any notes we've included to say that a particular person or fact has not been sufficiently verified. I've given up caring.

It was a relatively early night, followed by an extra hour's sleep. Today is a lazy hermit sort of day. It's raining now (quelle surprise!) and promises of similar weather all week could mean progress with my writing or research. I might only need slippers as plans don't involve the outdoors.

So, cosying up with a coffee and the trusty laptop, here's to progress in writing.

Finding a new theme song

This morning when I got up it was bright, dry and quite mild. So, I was ready to burst into "It's a beautiful day in the neigbourhood." Since I wasn't alone and I have a terrible voice, it would have been more of silent lip singing. That thought came and went quite fast.

It was my last day with company and I suppose I'll have to start not only talking to myself, but also doing all the cooking and cleaning up. It's been wonderful having live-in help who are also cheerful and easy to please. They were amenable to all suggestions and had some of their own. Now I have to plan my own days and meals too. And there's nobody to clean up after me.

The second song I considered for my theme, and this one is a recurring theme, is an Irish song that includes the lines: "we're on the one road, maybe the wrong road" and that is a very accurate statement about my directional ability. We set the map app for our destination of Greystones DART station and for some reason she didn't start yapping right away. I had a look at the map of our proposed route and immediately misunderstood. The voice was so annoyed with me that she continued the silent treatment. Try as we might she wouldn't give oral directions. And, setting out anyway, I went in exactly the wrong direction and wondered why, when she started to talk, she kept directing us onto L roads leading who knows where. 

The penny finally dropped and we turned around, having wasted about 20 minutes. No sweat, they could get the next train and I'd still be on time to meet my friends for lunch. Once we saw signs for Arklow and the M11 which would take us to the destination, I stopped following "the voice" and used the road signs. It probably took a bit longer but it was time to take a stand. 

After dropping Braden and Sammie in Greystones, I let "the voice" direct me to the Avoca shop at Kilmacanogue. This time it was blind trust. I could only do what I was told and couldn't look at the map at the same time. The trust was justified as I arrived at the right place only a few minutes late. Parking there is a bit of a nightmare but luckily I saw someone pulling out and was able to replace them before the next raindrop hit the pavement.

We had a lovely lunch and caught up on happenings since our get together last year. Some folks just get along well and our little group of four certainly does. We met at the Canada Come Home Gathering in 2013 and have stayed in touch.

Once again trusting the voice to direct me back to Minmore, I set out on the N11 and happily sailed along the highway. The sun was beginning to lower and from time to time it was quite a nuisance having it shining in my face. Luckily, the clouds stepped in front and saved the day once I reached the dreaded L roads. This time I had the pleasure of following a large truck for about 15 kms. Happily that meant I would not be surprised by an oncoming car swooping around the next corner. Bad road+truck=benefits.

The owner was still waiting for the plumber to repair whatever ails the pipes to the shower when I arrived back. The shower was by then completely out of commission. So, I accepted the invitation to move into The Store a day early. I packed in a hurry and once I got sorted out in the new digs, realized I'd forgotten a couple of items in the freezer along with my toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and soap in the bathroom. Thanks to text messaging I contacted the owner and he's going to deliver the items to me in the morning. Great service. It's a couple of hundred yards away - right across the road. But I no longer have the keys.

I hope he's able to get the shower situation sorted out. The next lot of visitors arrives tomorrow afternoon. He's a very nice man and was very apologetic. Things happen, and besides, it gives me something to say.

Anyway, here I am, with my latest candidate for song of the day "Raindrops keep falling on my head." This time it's "raindrops keep falling on my roof" because I'm warm and dry indoors.

No photos were taken today so there are none to share. I can't promise anything for tomorrow. It may be so non-memorable that I won't even post. 

If you (don't) like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change

It was a lovely mild morning when we got up and got the laundry on. It wasn't yet quite sunny but very acceptable. The usual fog or low clouds were easy to see as we checked the view. Braden tested for Covid and he was negative. It's really just a cold. He wore a mask to keep from "sharing" and we set out for Hook Head. The laundry was done so we didn't need to decide which socks were the cleanest among the dirty ones. 

No detours were suggested by the voice in my phone today. I think the Apple Map navigation is more accurate than Google. Then again, we did have that misstep yesterday where we were in the middle of nowhere and told we'd have to walk the final 500 metres. I still have no idea where we were when we reversed course and got to where we should have been earlier.

And the navigation voice I'd been mistakenly calling 'Ms Google,' is getting a bit demanding. When we are about 100 metres from a turn she'll almost bark "Turn right."  I guess that's so you follow her directions. Even if I complain about her mood or instructions, she has been a godsend and will continue to be one, although my travelling is pretty much over. I'll just be around here for the final two weeks.

The route was mostly on good roads and we experienced everything from glorious sunshine to rain while driving. It was raining when we arrived at the lighthouse, but tickets were obtained for the next tour, and we had time for soup and brown bread for lunch. I indulged in the wonderful seafood chowder - having enjoyed it both other times that I visited. This time I declined to take the lighthouse tour, leaving the 151 steps for others. Instead, I ordered a capuccino and relaxed in the cafe. That's getting to be a very pleasant habit. By the way, Hook Lighthouse is the oldest continuously and still working lighthouse in the world.

Arrival at Hook Lighthouse, in the rain

The end of the capuccino and view of the sea

The return trip included a stop at Fethard Castle - now a ruin. And it rained again, but were not deterred. Well, I was, but the castle expert was not. 

Remains of Fethard Castle

From there it was on to Egan's pub to say hello and basically confirm that our musician was not up to performing due to his cold. Instead, Guinness was consumed by all and we enjoyed a couple of hours of conversation along with the black stuff. And there was that shot of Poteen for good measure. Nope, not me, I'd tried it before and found it "wanting." Wanting to be consumed by someone else. We tasted some hazelnuts, after shelling them, collected and brought in by Aiden who later played some pool with Braden and Sammie. That visit seemed to banish his cold. Possibly it was the poteen. The only thing comparable in my mind is Screech from Newfoundland.

First Guinness coming up

Aiden with the hazelnuts to share

Larry and I talked history and genealogy and I have some new avenues to explore and possibly a clue to finding out "who was Mary Foley?" She was a child who was born very near the Byrnes in Coolruss, apparently went to New Brunswick with her parents in 1848 and yet ended up living with the Byrnes from at least 1851 to 1861, before simply disappearing from any records I can find. That's for another day, but very soon.

Now back at the cottage, the kids are packing up their belongings for tomorrow's drive to Greystones to catch the DART into Dublin. They will complete their trip in the big city. I will meet some friends for lunch and then come back to pack up my own things for the move across the road on Saturday.

Brief update

 It's just a cold. Taking it easy but still going for a drive today.

A little bit of heaven

Do you know the song "A little bit of heaven fell from out the sky one day?" Well, that almost seemed to be the case today.

As we left the cottage on the road to Shillelagh, the view was a little bit different. It was clear enough, not quite sunny, but as we drove along and looked at the view, the clouds had settled very low in the vallley with the hills visible above them. It was quite lovely, and the kids took some pictures as I stayed in the car pulled as far off the road to the left as I possibly could get it. 

That was just a taste of what was to come en route. Our destination was Limerick, literally across the country. The roads were good, no more washouts, and for the most part we were on major roads. But as we drove west we hit some patches of severe fog, making it feel like the clouds had dropped down on us. And then over the next hill, the skies would clear, and the low clouds hung over the lowlands and the hills were visible above. Heavenly.

While the drive to Limerick was pretty straightforward, it was nearly three hours of driving before we arrived. Limerick is a very old city. It was never designed for cars. It's bad enough driving on the left, shifting gears when I'm accustomed to automatic transmission, and using good roads. At almost every new street we had to make a turn. It often looked like the car would have to be an accordion, shrinking between cars parked on both sides of a two-way street, and the lane only wide enough for one vehicle. I was a very shifty character until we came to the castle.

We looked for the pay and display machine but after reading the sign – very high up on a post – it seemed we were in an e-parking zone. What is that? Well, to pay, you have to call the number on the post. So I did. Not helpful the first time. I was not fast enough entering the license plate. Second time was a winner – or at least I think so. No charges were shown on the post. I suppose it will be billed to Hertz from whom I rented the car. Just another little kink in proceedings. I'm sure it's not as expensive as parking at home but I will find out when I return the vehicle. 

King John's Castle has a long and of course violent history. The story was told very well in the museum you pass through before seeing the castle itself. I remember almost nothing of what the signs said. I do remember that I'm grateful for not having lived through any of those awful times. In one passage they posted signs of how waste was disposed of and how awful the smells were. I momentarily feared that they had somehow conjured up a way to let us have that experience. Whew. They didn't.

It became quite cloudy as we moved out past the more-or-less underground bits showing the original walls and tunnels (dug by hand with enemies approaching each other underground). This is the reason behind the term "undermining." Who knew? Well, if you did, please don't make me feel stupid, because I didn't.

I opted to do a taste test of the capuccino in the cafe while Braden and Sammie climbed the walls. Well, not the walls, but nasty winding stone staircases inside the parts of the castle open to exploration. The capuccino passed the test and I'll be happy just to see their photos. 

We had a late lunch at Katie Daly's pub across the street. It apparently dates to 1798 and Katie Daly was born in California, daughter of a man born in Roscrea, just down the road. She never came to Ireland as far as I could see, and ended up dying in Alcatraz. The family business was moonshine and things didn't quite work out the way she'd planned. Anyway, the seafood chowder was wonderful along with the every-present slice of brown bread. But why is the pub named after an American criminal?

Off we went to see the Rock of Cashel. No problems en route. I decided to stay in the car for a nap while the kids set off up the hill. They arrived 2 minutes too late to be admitted. Last time I was there we were 5 minutes too late to get in. Today the last entry was 3:45 and last year it was 5 pm. Different month, different closing time I guess. Anyway, they were not amused. 

And then the driving fun began. We decided to take a detour to Clonegal, very near our cottage. But our navigational aid (turns out NOT to be Ms Google), was seeking revenge. Either that or she was confused or just messing with us. As we drove towards what I knew was the road to Clonegal, we got a directive to take an "L" road. Hmmm. OK - worth a shot? Turns out the answer is "Nope." 

We arrived on the backest of back roads and were told "park the car and walk from here" in a slightly different version of that statement. Park? Walk? We are NOT in Clonegal. It's a town with streets, and businesses and houses. This was not that at all. So, I backed up into a lane and turned around. We reset the app to "Clonegal old RC graveyard" instead of "Clonegal" and were guided back on the path from whence we'd recently arrived.

After a brief stop in Clonegal, the real one, for historical verification, by the Derry river, near the narrow stone bridge, it was time to head back home. That part was a piece of cake.

BUT - Braden has developed what we hope is just a head cold. Mary Byrne gave us a recommendation for a cold remedy "Lemsip" which has been purchased and consumed. In the morning, we will use the other thing Mary provided: a Covid test. At present all of our fingers and toes are crossed that only one line appears when Braden does the test tomorrow.

Plans are on hold until we know how he feels and what the situation is. Update when available. Meanwhile, enjoy a few pictures from yesterday and today.

Entrance to Johnstown Castle - note the Hallowe'en decorations

View from inside the castle - just before the rain started

Tower at Ferrycarrig bridge

Amazing clouds over the Irish Sea at Courtown, Wexford

King John's Castle, Limerick on the Shannon River

Low clouds over Shillelagh

It's not raining - let's go sightseeing

The day started dry and ended dry and had lots of sun, a huge rainbow and a few strategically timed heavy showers.

The drive to the Irish National Heritage Park near Wexford town was uneventful. Traffic moved well and the roads were OK. No major puddles. After yesterday's road closures and scary encounters with deep water (not OUR encounters, just some on video) we had great conditions.

Braden and Sammie toured the park and were intrigued with all of the Viking displays and replicas of buildings, costumes and tools. That was to be expected. What wasn't expected was seeing a heron catch and play with a snake. I thought there were no snakes here. Do I have to re-think my visits? Anyway, this heron was standing on a gravel path that was completely flooded and we noticed he was "biting" on something that he was sort of flinging around. I hate snakes so there's no way I was going to take a video or even a photo. It looked like a garter snake but believe me, we were nowhere near close enough to be sure. 

They almost finished the walking tour when the heavens opened. Good rain jackets saved the day. Meanwhile, back in the café, I enjoyed a pot of peppermint tea and finished my book. I'd been there before and am indifferent to Vikings so there was no need to visit again. We had lunch there as it was still raining and outside the window was a huge rainbow. The problem was we could see it through the trees but a picture wouldn't have shown anything. 

The road to Hook Head Lighthouse is not exactly a motorway and yesterday was under a foot of water. Our car is not that far off the ground and I imagine Hertz would frown on us using it as an amphibious craft.

So, Johnstown Castle was the next stop. The castle restoration has been completed and we took the guided tour. Very interesting. A fully intact castle is not what Braden loves. So we sought out one in ruins. Google showed us one quite close by so I set the map app and we set out. Well, there is no Artramon Castle. We did get to the townland of Artramon. The houses are nice. The road is narrow. But no castle.

On to Curracloe Beach - well, almost. We were within sight of the parking lot when the road signs warned of flooding. The huge puddle, well minor lake, was enough to say "Hey, I think I'll just reverse up this road." So I did. We couldn't find a place that overlooked the beach. On to Courtown. There we found the harbour, took a few photos and headed back home.

We're about to visit Mary and Jim and then on to the Dying Cow. Photos next time.

We never made it to the Dying Cow. But it was a nice visit to Coolross.