Monday (24 August) another day of dog walking for Rog, before handing over the lead and poo bags.
Spent the rest of the week, fine tuning the planning for our future trip (watch this space we go on 7 September), taking family to hospital appointments, seeing friends and family for food and drinks.
Sunday, we had a lovely day at Nic’s parents, celebrating their Wedding Anniversary with Nic’s paternal Uncle and family (not forgetting their pug!), fun times keeping the cat from inadvertently meeting the dog !
Monday (31 August), Bank Holiday, an easy day
Tuesday, got the bus and the train up to Newcastle, went for a long lunch at The French Quarter, our favourite restaurant in Newcastle, and again it did not disappoint. Lots of lovely food and wine.
Checked in to the Leonardo Hotel, Nic had a ticket to see Jane McDonald (a singer known for a TV programme about Cruise Ships. )
Rog was not interested in Jane McDonald so went to the cinema to see the new Spider-Man movie.
Wednesday, had a walk in the rain around Newcastle, including down by the river, before a mid afternoon train back to York.
Spent the rest of the week eating drinking and packing for our next adventure.
Monday (7 September) our next adventure begins as we drive over to our friends in Widnes. The best journey on the M62 for ages, less roadworks, not that much traffic.
Went to ‘Pesto’ for dinner, an Italian tapas/small plates restaurant. Had a nice meal, and a couple of drinks.
Tuesday, after our friends took their dog to the kennels, we all set off towards Holyhead (North Wales) for a ferry to Dublin. On the way we stopped form lunch at the ‘Gardffon Inn’ in Y Felinheli, a good pub we used when we had our month in North Wales a couple of years ago.
It was an uneventful ferry crossing to Dublin, a short drive to the St Helen’s Hotel for our first night in Ireland.
Wednesday, after a full Irish breakfast we headed south, and stopped at the Irish National Heritage park. A really interesting walk through 9,000 years history, and development of Ireland from a Middle Stone Age campsite (currently under development) to a Norman Castle & Crimean War memorial tower.
Next we hunted out the local Aldi for supplies, before continuing the drive to our first AirBnB, a renovated old cottage near Ramsgrange (South West of Waterford).
Thursday, we visited the ‘Bunbrody Famine Ship’ in New Ross, replica of a ship which sailed across the Atlantic to Canada and America during the famine 1845-1852. An informative museum, highlighting the horrific impact of the famine and the lack of help offered by the British Establishment to those in dire need.
Despite our AirBnB being very rural, the only other building anywhere near is ‘The Hollow bar and Seafood Restaurant’ 1 minute walk away, So we went for an evening meal, the food was amazing! A choice of either deep or pan fried fish (Hake, Haddock and Monkfish Scampi was enjoyed).
Friday, we visited ‘Tintern Abbey’ and ‘Colclough Walled Gardens’, then drove to ‘Hook Head Lighthouse’ which was first built in the 1200’s, another cafe visit, we managed to just beat the 28 bikers into the cafe.
The Boys walked the costal path from the lighthouse to Slade castle, via Solomon’s Hole Swim spot’ and over interesting/slightly challenging stone styles and through a field of bullocks.
Saturday, a moving day, so we packed up the car in the rain and drove further west using the ‘Passage East ferry’ in to Waterford.
We wandered around the ‘Viking Triangle’ in Waterford.
Driving further West towards Cork via the coast road, including Tramore and Dungarvan, with a picnic lunch stop at Annestown Beach.
On the outskirts of Cork, whilst heading for a supermarket, we had an interesting detour because of roadworks. Finally got to a Tesco’s but unfortunately it was part of a larger shopping centre, so the parking was a nightmare!
Then on to our AirBnB, again in a rural setting (which is nicer and half the price of an AirBnB in central Cork, but we are only 20mins away).
Sunday, a 40 minute drive to Blarney Castle & Gardens. a wonderful set of gardens, however we did not join the hour long queue to kiss the Blarney Stone, we decided none of us needed more Eloquence, which is what kissing the stone is supposed to give you.
After returning to the AirBnB, Nic had booked a Sauna in Kinsale, the Boys decided to accompany her, as the sauna was in the car park of the Bulman Pub! We did not go in the sauna.
The local entertainment was provided by a group of lads jumping in the water!
Photo credits to our friends from Widnes for some of the photos.
Travurple 