County Clare and The Cliffs of Moher

On Day Two out in the West of Ireland (day after half-marathon), we decided to leave Clare's place in Kinvara and set out to the Cliffs of Moher.

 (and stop every 30 or 40 feet to take pictures, along the one hour drive)

 

So we drove from near Burren (south of Galway), down to Ballyvaughan, up to the coast road (the black line is a coastal road along the water) which we took down through Fanore and just past,(which is where the Cliffs are), back around to Lisdoonvarna, and back to Galway. Not a big area at all, but we took our time and soaked it up.



 Here's a rock wall with a field behind it that has not yet been cleared of stone. County Clare is covered in limstone. Everytime you see a fertile field, with cows grazing in grass, you know that's only because the field was cleared of these boulders, at one point in history. The West of Ireland is covered in the rock walls because, among other reasons, they needed somewhere to put all those rock piles.

And here is one where it has been cleared. (see above for difference)

 

 Old abandoned Home - Notice the rock wall going up the mountain side

 More of the Rocky Limestone landscape. It was like another planet out here.

 Driving along this road, as the mists cleared, I thought I could see silhouettes, and sure enough, it was a group of hikers coming over the crest. This is called the Burren Trail.

 This view was so gorgeous I could barely stand it.

 Our Trusty VW Rental

 First glimpse of the Cliffs of Moher in the far distance.

 It was blooooody cold, so poor Norah looks miserable  here.

 Norah and Daddy at the Cliffs of Moher

 That first cliff edge, closest to us, is where we'll be standing, soon. =)

 So this is the castle on one cliff top that you'll see later.

 And well, I didn't want to just take pictures of the cliffs with the tiny people on the top - I wanted to be the tiny person on the top. So, out I walk. I'm in the middle of this one, somewhere....

On this, I am the 2nd person in from the edge (a good 12 feet from the actual edge, don't worry). It looks much more treacherous than it is (where I am at least). That guy on the outside, he most certainly had a death wish and was stupid.

 Here, also, I am the 2nd person in from the edge, at the first cliff.

Walking back to safety. People have, literally, been blown off these cliffs, to their deaths and that thought was with me with every single footstep.

 And here's Wayne, same cliff, 2nd guy in. He's looking at us, taking our picture.  

Wayne, 2nd person in.

Looking back at the Castle where Norah was climbing the steps.