EIS – Ring of Kerry drive (Day 15)

EIS – Ring of Kerry drive (Day 15)

(9/1/2010) Yesterday Carmen came down with a head cold and since we are staying in the same hotel, decided to not go on our drive today. Today we drive the spectacular Ring of Kerry on the Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Ireland. The trip is 110 miles and famous for its landscape diversity and beauty. The coastal drive crosses the McGillycuddy Reeks & Caha Mountains.  Our first stop is at Aghadoe for a photo stop of the Lakes of Killarney with the McGillicuddy Reeks (mountains) in the background.

We follow the Ring of Kerry counterclockwise and while crossing the mountains we made a stop where some Gypsies (Tinkers) had donkeys and dogs for photos.

We continued on our way and we again pass a ruined castle. We have passed many of these, mostly way in the distance, but this one was near the road and I was able to get a picture of it although it is not as focused as I’d like.

We begin to see the coastline and the seas.

As we move along the coast, we parallel an old railroad line. The train line passed through several tunnels and also an old viaduct.

We follow the coast and get some views of the seas and coastline.

More coastline.

We stopped at the Scarriff Inn for a bite to eat and a break. The sign outside the inn declared “Irelands Best Known View (for permitting).

However, today is sunny and fairly clear.

The road we have been driving along is very narrow, as most of the roads, we have been on. At one point, a car with emergency blinkers on and stopped in the road with three cars behind it. As we drove by, the man standing outside of the car started to stop us, too late. As we pass by, we see that there is a flock of sheep that the men are trying to get across the road, unsuccessfully.

We head back inland and stop at an overlook called Lady’s View. From this location, we have a good view of the Lakes of Killarney, this time from the other side from this morning’s view.

We go through a tunnel that is so narrow we barely fit. Some guy was driving a Porsche and almost ran it into the rock wall trying to get out of our way. We also pass a section after the tunnel where there are many side mirrors on the ground from cars driving into the road wall.

We pass more mountains and hills with rocks mostly suitable for grazing cattle and sheep.  But with out most expert of a driver (Dai) we are soon back at the hotel.

Until later, Bob and Carmen – EIS.