Speeding through the Beara Peninsula

We are staying at the Riverville House in Kenmare, Ireland. It is a B&B located above the town in a very quiet area. Looking out from the house you see beautiful green hills where you hear sheep bleating. The house is run by Margaret who is a very unobtrusive host who made a delicious breakfast of poached eggs, toast, and wonderful streaky bacon. She was very helpful with our travel plans for the day. Originally we had planned on going on the Ring of Kerry which is very touristy with lots of traffic and tour buses. Bill and I have been there. After talking with Margaret we decided to do the Beara Peninsula which is less traveled and we were told is more beautiful. It was great advice. The scenery was beautiful.

May I remind you that we are riding in a 9 passenger Mercedes van and the roads look big enough for two bicycles. My brother, Steve, lived in England and is experienced with driving on the "wrong" side of the road. However, he has never driven a tank like this but had the confidence of a Daytona 500 driver. He seemed to forget that there was a left side of the car. We took out several bushes along the way and possibly a few sheep. It was like riding a roller coaster where you never knew if there was a car on the other side of the hills. It was like riding on the Amalfi Coast in Italy with no brakes. He thought he was doing a great job; however, when we got out of the car there were scratches all down the left side of the van where he had run against trees and bushes. We have a $1500 deductible and I have a feeling we may be buying the car. My plan is to report it as stolen so we will not be charged for a new paint job.

Our favorite part of the Beara Peninsula was Healy Pass which is between two mountains. It was breath-taking. Sheep were roaming free and it felt like Ireland 1,000 years ago. We climbed to the top of one mountain (hill) and took pictures of ourselves.

Besides the gorgeous mountains, the coastline was beautiful. Yesterday we went to the western most land of Europe and today we drove to the southern tip of Ireland. We stopped in Castletownbere and ate at Jack Patrick's. The owner was Cathy Harrington was a delightful person. Her husband owns the butcher next door to her restaurant and does the cooking. We had the best fish which had been caught that morning. Cathy got the website to my blog and said she was going to follow it. So Cathy, if you are reading this, thanks for a memorable lunch.

By the time we arrived back in Kenmare, my muscles were sore from bracing myself during the drive with the "speed demon" behind the wheel. I needed a chiropractor or a massage. We ate fresh scallops from Kenmare Bay and then went to a pub. I made friends with an Englishman and his Irish wife and had a few laughs.

Off to Kilkenny tomorrow. Thanks for reading.