Kenmare to Dingle

We spent most of today in the car driving the Ring of Kerry from Kenmare clockwise back up toward Killarney. We didn't go all the way in to Killarney, instead we turned up into the next peninsula and came in to Dingle, our headquarters for the next couple of nights.  The place we're staying is called Cill Bhreac House, just outside of downtown Dingle, and just as lovely as the Hawthorne House where we were last night. 

We had an amazing breakfast at Hawthorne House.  All 3 kids tried French pressed coffee (with cream and sugar), and Mitch and Sam wanted more. We had fruit and yogurt, eggs and smoked salmon, toast, and homemade brown bread. All super yummy. 

Bill spotted what looked like a neat pullout just a few kilometers into the Ring of Kerry, so we stopped. It was wonderful. We hiked through a small patch of woods to the water's edge. It was a rugged, rocky outcropping (slanting about 30 degrees off of vertical) where shore birds like to come snack on mussels, as evidenced by the small piles of empty shells here and there all along the rocks. Mitch found an anemone, several actually.  All 3 seemed to enjoy exploring the area. We could've stayed there all day.

But, we pressed on and made many stops to take pictures and just to look around. One of the best stops was just before Waterville, where Papa, Bill, the kids, and I hiked up 304 meters (~1,000 feet) to the top of Beenarourke. Views were 360 degrees, all stunning. Got our blood flowing!  Started raining lightly on our way down, and got steadier as the rest of day progressed. Nothing too harsh, just moderate and steady. 

We drove a short bit of Valencia Island, but the clouds were set in pretty good, making it hard to see much of the landscape. 

We got to Dingle and checked in to the B&B, then drove back in to Dingle for supper.  We ate pizza then walked around and got some nice pictures with the evening sun coming in at a lovely angle. Dingle is right on the water, so the sail boats and fishing boats make a picturesque scene. 

I'm pretty tired from all the driving today, but happy to report that our side mirrors are still firmly attached, despite a couple of close calls with some massive tour buses doing the counterclockwise route. I'm really enjoying learning the left-side routine, but it does force you to think even harder, which wears you out faster until you have it cold. I'm getting there. :)