Rental car = get away!

I completed my first trip last week with my lovely co-worker, Scotty. I think it went well overall. No major problems and everyone seemed really happy with things.

Our youngest guest was 58. I guess it is typical of the walking/hiking trips host a slightly older population, but this group was a bit slower than the predictions in our planner. We consistently got in about an hour or two after we should from the days hike. Not much down time. Actually it was JUST enough time every day to discuss tomorrow's plan of action, change clothes and get down to dinner. So let me rephrase that: NO down time.

At one point have to steer a man up and then down a section of Kerry Way heading toward Glenbeigh. It wasn't a great spot to be in, but he was beyond the point of "support" (ie rescue by van) so I "helped" him forge onward by pushing him around by his backpack. I used it like a gait belt in physical therapy and it worked surprisingly well. He was surprisingly gracious and glad he made it. As long as he wasn't angry, that's good by me.

Anyway, because of the lack of relaxation, Scotty and I got back to Kenmare DEAD tired and ready for a NAP. 2 days later I finally feel like I have recovered. Fully rested we got up this morning ready to GO! We had breakfast and plotted our get-away via rental car. I would love to go somewhere like Dingle Peninsula or Galway, but Scotty and the rental care are leaving Tuesday and they have work to do tomorrow.

By bike I have explored Kenmare to Laraugh to Ardgroom to Castletownbere then through Ardrigole up and over Healy's Pass and Back to Kenmare (via Laraugh once again). Today we went all the way to the end of the Peninsula and it was GORGEOUS! I am plotting to do a ride (maybe multi-day) down there on my next week off, but it was great to have the preview. Allihies is probably the coolest town I've ever seen. If it weren't in the middle of no where I would move there in a heartbeat.

We originally planned on taking the cable car over to Dursey Island but the man at the booth told us they weren't accepting any more visitors for the day. "There are too many over there already." I guess they have a limited capacity and unless we planned on spending the night there they wouldn't be able to bring us back. Not a bother...we did a smaller hike around on the Beara Way and headed back to town.

Beautiful mini road trip. Worth every second. Tomorrow (if the sunshine keeps) I might go out on a kayak! More pictures.