June 3rd
Ireland is green. Ireland is really green – and I don’t mean politically, but in its overall color. Now I understand why the island is called by such a color name! As you drive around here, you see all shades of green, and the roads often wind through green tunnels formed by the trees and bushes along the roadside.
There are pigeons everywhere. Likewise, wagtails, robins, … all sorts of chirping and warbling creatures flit around as you set up camp for the night!
Ireland has quite clear streams and rivers. There are supposedly fish in them – although I haven’t seen them much yet. There were a few small trout (presumably) visible when we stopped by a river to observe the life in the flowing water.
In the morning, we got moving without incident – of course, after a shower! Showers aren’t needlessly heated here. A brisk 10 degrees in the morning shower, with the warm water almost running out, certainly wakes even the deepest sleeper. I had slept quite comfortably in a warm sleeping bag (I had already fixed it!) and a well-ventilated tent. Those darn birds were quite noisy in the morning, so even the soundest sleeper got up at the right time.
The journey to southern Ireland was quite leisurely. Carefree driving at low speeds, looking around. We even had time to take pictures. Sometimes we even stopped specifically for photography purposes.
Around noon, Eva asked about our hunger situation. Immediately we spotted an open food restaurant on the roadside in the town center. A great place where you could get traditional Irish food. The ladies enjoyed cod and, of course, I had the Roast Beef dish. We sampled the local beer with the food. For coffee, we stopped at the Kilmacthomas Workhouse complex, where soft serve ice cream with toppings and lattes were absolutely perfect!
The workhouse system took care of the poor and orphaned children here in the past by providing them with shelter and employment. And those children weren’t always even 10 years old when they ended up there. Nowadays, you could also call those houses prisons! And they do look a bit like that! Life wasn’t very good for children in the 18th and 19th centuries…
Our accommodation this time is in a well-to-do area. Those living around Garrettstown House Holiday Park seem to be better off than us. The cars here are different from those in the Manchester suburbs! They call this area the “Riviera” of Ireland. At least it’s warmer here than in our previous overnight stays. Let’s see what the temperature is like in the morning.
In the evening, as we sat with wine next to Tellu, a robin came to us to see if there was any food available. After a while, its chick also came by. The mother even came to pick up a peanut half from our hand but didn’t know how to eat it. The bird did pick up other crumbs and fed them to its fledgling. We watched that activity for quite a while and I think we even took a few pictures of those birds.
The sun is beginning to set. The early birds seem to be having their evening naps. That probably means it’s time for me to close the lid for now and wait for the sandman to arrive soon with his sleep dust. Make sure to vote, folks – by June 9th at the latest.