RINGS OF KERRY AND DINGLE

July 8 & 9, 2004

The following day we headed out from Beara, through Kenmare again, and along the south coast of the Kerry peninsula.  Because this area is very busy with tourists we decided to just drive the Kerry peninsula and then go on to the Dingle peninsula.

Along the way we met our two Kentucky girls.  We checked in with them to find out how the rest of their ride went yesterday.  They did make it to Kenmare, but had to ride through rain showers and on into the night before they got there.  My hat is off to them for their perseverance.  Today they plan a much shorter ride, just part way around the Ring of Kerry.

We made our way around the ring, enjoying the scenery and the seaside.  Then we went on to the Dingle peninsula.  We were aiming for the town of Dingle, but when we got there it was too touristy and busy, so we continued on and stopped for lunch at a picnic table in Ventry.  Continuing along the coast road we saw a sign for a farmhouse B&B, so we turned off and followed the signs to the Moriarty Farmhouse B&B.  We arranged a nice room there with a fabulous view.

After putting our bags in the room and changing into cycling clothes we headed out to do a loop around the far west end of the peninsula.  Along the way we saw many beehive huts, prehistoric buildings made of stone.  The views along the coast were stunning, dramatic, steep cliffs plunging into the sea, quaint, colorful villages, stone cottages, and hillsides parceled off into sections by stone fences.  This was an excellent ride.

The next day we drove out over the Connor Pass, in the rain and mist, past Mt. Brendan (in honor of our new grandson), and on to Tralee where we turned and headed south along the main highway on our way back to Morriscastle.  We decided to take the fast roads all the way home, so we continued south through Killarney, Cork, Dungarvan, Waterford, New Ross, Enniscorthy, and across to Kilmuckridge and then to Morriscastle. 

What an endurance trial the trip home turned out to be.  We expected to be on the road for 3, maybe 3 ½ hours.  HA!  The trip was about 200 miles.  It took us 9 hours! The roads, even the main highways, are often narrow, twisting and turning, and full of traffic.  Many Irish motorists feel it is perfectly fine to pass at very high speed, crossing over the double line.  The main roads also go right through every town, producing horrendous traffic jams.  It took us almost an hour to travel 2 miles through Waterford, with bumper-to-bumper traffic for miles.  The route goes right through the main part of town, along the quay on one side of the river, over the bridge, and then back down the quay on the other side.  By the time we got home poor Don was totally exhausted.