Peelies travels

We are very disciplined when it comes to packing for our trips. We have a comprehensive list that has been developed over the years, updated as technology has moved on and as items have been lost or broken. One item on the list is an old Trangia, to which we recently added a non-stick frying pan (thanks for the suggestion Amanda). It needs a supply of gas canisters and there was one spare in the box (check!). However the packing list doesn't suggest reading the label on it. If we had done, we would have been reminded that there are six others in the shed, bought when GoOutdoors were having a deal! As it is, we haven't used much gas as on most sites there's a Camper's Kitchen. Usually these have a fridge, freezer, sinks and a kettle. Some are tiny but others cavernous, like this: Very reluctantly we left Renvyle beach at Tully Beg and made the short trip around the coast to west of Clifden (and very close to the house that we rented earlier). Clifde...

Finally leaving Achill but thinking that we would be back one day, we headed south, back along " The Wild Atlantic Way ". This is a 1,600 mile defined route along the west coast and it is signposted everywhere. There's clearly a number of vehicles making the journey, some to the north and others towards the south. We decided to stay at Westport in order to sample a little town life. However there was a stark contrast between the manicured site in the grounds of Westport House and the isolation of our previous pitch at Achill. Westport is a nice town around which to wander. There was a folk / bluegrass festival that weekend and various pubs were hosting musicians however somehow we managed to miss them - either too early or too late for the sessions during the day and we didn't turn out on Friday evening as it was pouring down. The three guys who were planning to all sleep in a T5 motorhome next to us, had gone out that night and rolled-up at 3am and treated it lik...

Just behind the beach at Doogort is a wide expanse of grass that is kept closely cropped by the hardy blackface sheep that are free to roam. Here we were free to try the kite and Dawn had great success! The cutting of peat is everywhere and it really interests me. Here's a photo of a real peat cut-face with the unspoilt ground on the right and disturbed to the left. There are many places that were cut so many years ago that at first glance they just appear to be very hummocky ground. It's only when you look more closely that you realise the moss reeds and rushes have taken over and disguise it.  With our solar panel on the roof we feel very modern, which is true but this also comes with a big investment price tag and total reliance on complex manufactured products. No doubt peat burning will die out but there's an awful lot of peat still being cut, stacked and stored "in the bog" for later pick-up. I wandered down the harbour quay at P...

The campsite at Doogort is now run by Lorraine and Enda and you couldn’t wish to meet a more friendly couple. I’d previously only known two Irishmen, Brother Healy, at St Ambrose College and Father Ted but now I know another! Enda is a bit of a dark horse as he said that he’s a builder. Then he elaborated and said that he “has a construction company”. Someone else told us that he’s the biggest builder on the island although his wife wasn’t impressed reminding us that it is only an island. However he’s an educated man alright as we were only into our introductory conversation and he managed to drop in a bit about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as we discussed the character contrasts between Dutch, English and Irish. How’s that for a holiday conversation? With Doogort as a base, Slievemore in front of us and a nice day beckoning, we decided to climb the peak. Walking in Ireland is unlike anything we are used to. Not only are there no paths at all, no-one else seems to be doing anything...

We left the house at Claddaghduff feeling very happy, as the week with all the family together was hugely successful. Everything fell into place, the house was perfect, the weather was perfect and the location was perfect. We were very appreciative of Dawn’s research that led her to a big house with space for everyone and that has never before been let. The owners had just moved out, down-sizing to achieve some rental income. As their family is very young, this must be hard for them. Off we went to Strandhill, near Sligo for a family wedding. This is a major surfing spot and the Atlantic swell rolls in across a huge bay that is not suitable for swimming but is perfect for surfers. It was very entertaining to be able to watch from the promenade. The wedding ceremony was held on an adjacent, sheltered beach and at the Strandhill golf club, which has never before hosted a wedding. This is unbelievable as it is the perfect venue and setting. Following an extend...