Sky Road and Lightning Abbey

October 4, 2012

What a lovely place this is, Ross Lake House.  We slept in and had a delightful breakfast in a formal dining room.  We met a couple from Upstate New York and another from Switzerland.  When they asked my name and heard Geneva, they asked BC if his name was Lucerne!  Ha!!

Off we went to Roundstone passing Maam Cross, Recess, Toombeola and stopping at Ballynahinch Castle for a walk about and pictures of gorgeous hydrangeas.

Just past Toombeola we came upon a herd of cattle in the road.  It was a classic Irish scene.  

We continued around the loop along the Atlantic Ocean which had amazing views.  We passed through Callow, Ballyconneely and stopped in Clifden for lunch at Griffin’s Bar.  We met the head guy, which we named Mr. Griffin.  He gave us the wi-fi key so we could post our blog.  The internet is not so good here at Ross Lake House.  It was going to take us 90 minutes to upload the pictures.  In any case, I ordered chicken leek soup and, you guessed it, brown bread and BC had a chicken and cranberry bap.  Mr. Griffin gave us directions to Sky Road and even Annie O’Brian couldn’t find it, but we did.  We’re sure glad we did.  The scenery was awesome. 

While at Griffin’s Bar I came across the answer.  Instead of giving our residents in nursing homes Depakote, Haldol, or Ativan, how about a pint of Elders Beer at lunch and dinner? 

Then onto Kylemore Abbey via Letterfreck.  Kylemore Abbey used to be the Henry’s castle which they built in 1867.  We were nearing the visitor’s center when we were jostled by the simultaneous clap of thunder and flash of lightening that struck the hill about 300 yards above us.  It almost hit Jesus on the hill, striking 30 yards to his left.  Lordy, lordy, lordy that was something else.  Scared the heck out of us!  We think this might be another of earth’s natural phenomena that seems to follow us around.  Aren’t you glad we weren’t at your house?  The best news is that we forgot the umbrella in the tin can car which would have made us the lightening rod. 

  

We then decided to drive back to the Ross Hotel.  We passed the “Quiet Man Bridge.” Evidently it was a movie that was shot there starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. 

Piles of peat everywhere.

Annie O'Brian wanted to say hi,

The dinner here at the Ross Lake house is very formal.  Everyone meets in the little bar for a cocktail, and then you are escorted couple by couple to your table in the dining room.  While in the bar you choose what you’d like to eat.  When we were seated the young girl brought out our first course.  She said “macaroni and cheese.”  I said, “No, we didn’t order macaroni and cheese.”  BC saved me by saying, “Yes, I had the mackerel and she is having the goat cheese salad.”  The couple from New York nearly fell off their seats laughing.  Gee Whiz… you can dress me up but can’t take me anywhere.  We all had a good laugh about it. 

The dinner was superb.  Very elegant, perfect service and the goat cheese salad was fabulous!  After dinner we all adjourned to the drawing room.  Joe, the butler made us his award winning Irish coffee.  That was the perfect nightcap! 

We are off this morning to Sligo.  We hope to find another pub with wi-fi in order to post this. 

Hope all is well with you.  Take care, bc and gc