Clifden, Galway

We drove from Ballycumber this morning to Clifden in Galway on the Atlantic Coast, about 150 km. The lady in the restaurant tonight said, “You’ve come that far!” It was a lovely drive through the mountains alongside a lake for a lot of the way, dodging red and blue painted sheep grazing on the side of the road. Kylemore Abbey was on the way so stopped in for 10 minutes which lasted two hours. The “house” was grand but the walled Victorian garden was something special. Maybe the block out the back at home is going under some French, Irish, Scottish, English redesign. It was misty with rain when we visited a castle and the man in the ticket booth said, “Tis a soft day taday it tis.” Clifton is a lovely town sheltered from the ocean in a large inlet. We’re staying in the same B & B as Jo and Kev when they were here. Thank for the recommendation! The owners directed us to the old farm down by the water where stone walls divided small paddocks. The low trees were sculpted by the wind and it must have been a tough life living in the cottage that was now used by the cattle. The High Sky Road leads to a vantage point high above the town and overlooking the Atlantic. The sky was grey and the breeze was fresh, but out to sea a tinges of weak light were on the water. We drove home along the cliff road in the dark. I thought Sharon might hold my hand but she gripped the handle of the door instead.