Dairy farms

Day 21 – Tarbert to Tralee    72 km  (955 km   593 miles)

(via Abbeydorney, Ardfert, Fenit)

We survived the night at the strange deserted hotel.   Today we came across country from Tarbert, but dipped down to the coast and out to Fenit at the end of the Lee estuary, before coming back to Tralee.  We could see across to the hills that we’ll have to cross tomorrow to get to Dingle.  They were shrouded in rain clouds.  Hopefully better tomorrow.   It was cooler today, though still warm and windy. First real clouds we’ve seen.

No Guinness today.

We’re out of sheep country now and into dairy and beef farms.   Cows gaze at us with mild curiosity as we zip by, content to (appropriately) ruminate on life and brief excitement we strangers bring.  For most, their future is best left shrouded in mystery.

The air is filled with the sweet smell of silage fermenting in round bales wrapped in black plastic lying out in the fields.  The country side is really amazing to cycle through!

How tidy Irish homes are!!! At first we thought it was the local area we first went through (and economic status?) but we have now been in 7 counties, on tiny back roads, country roads,  farm roads, tourist areas and EVERYWHERE  the houses are kept very tidy, often without any adornment of flowers etc.   Paved drives.  Even the ones that could use a bit of fixing up were still so orderly.  At first it was a bit eerie but in the end it was just Eire!

Turf stacks ready for collecting. We pass house after house with sheds stacked with turf for the winter.
Typical grocery store lunch eaten in a classy park instead of random fields.
Ardfert Cathedral. 12 century. Previously on the site was a monastery founded by St. Brendan in the 6th century.
M could officially get Little People status too!

Rose of Tralee
Tequila Sunrise Rose of Tralee (hic)

 

The mountains you can’t see because of the clouds…tomorrow’s route…

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “Dairy farms”

  1. That must be the st Brendan who sailed to England and had something to do with founding a school which ended up being the college where I work.
    It’s really hot here today, was forecast 30° and must be at least that! We were hoping for a thunderstorm yesterday but the rain missed us!

    1. Must be the same one. St Brendan, patron saint of annoying teenagers.

      Has been cooler here last couple of days, thank goodness.

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