Still in Ireland

Did I mention that good times in Ireland is called "craic" (pronounced "crack"). I've been having fun asking people where I can find the best crack, I need some crack, etc....you get the picture. Yesterday was interesting...not what I'd consider the most successful days but still good. I barely caught a 7:10 a.m. train west to Galway. Once there, I discovered the tour bus for the "Cliffs of Moher" left at 10:00 a.m. Well, I had arrived by train at 9:55...fortunately the bus was late and I made it. The tour was expensive and a little too much for what I felt I got. We only got to stay at the cliffs for about an hour, but it was long enough for me to eat and have my picture taken with my box of Lucky Charms. Met a nice family from St. Louis (Cardinal fans) and when the dad saw his daughter (Katie) taking the picture of me he said I should market it. Just like an attorney I said (that's what he was)...anyway, I tried to profit yelling that anyone could take a picture with my Lucky Charms box but didn't have any takers, even when I lowered it to 50 cents. Incredibly windy on top the cliffs...."knock you off balance" windy. We also went inside some limestone caves in the area. West Ireland is incredibly rocky. This is where you see all of the stone fences that separate peoples' fields. Oh, I did have my first bowl of seafood chowder at a pub on the way to the cliffs at Doolin. Blistered my mouth terribly but it was good. Since I didn't have time to get a place in Galway before the tour left, I decided to go back to Dublin which took a while since we had to change to a bus due to some repair on the tracks. Anyway, I got into Dublin late and when I went to a different hostel they told me it was 32 Euro...I said too much and they went down to 26 I think. Again, I turned to leave and then they said "what would you pay?" and I replied, "the guide book says 17." So they said they'd take it and then said, "Man, you're a really good haggler." Told them there was no haggling to it, I just wasn't going to pay that much. Anyway, good night sleep and then up to catch a 7:30 train to Kilkenny. Again, repair work forced us to take a bus first. For the first time this morning, I called someone "mate"...some guy at the train station. I got to Kilkenny and it's been a great day. Found the tourist office and then just walked the town. I decided to keep my pack with me today which killed my shoulders until I adjusted the straps to put more weight on my hips....Much better! My pedometer is now up to over 41.5 miles so I've put on about 12-15 today. I've decided that I will be able to make that 9? mile/day hike in France in full pack though I still don't think the 20 miler is possible. Had a good time walking around Kilkenny. Found an interesting group of trees that really looked like a place you'd see a Leprechaun, or knome, or Frodo Baggins maybe. Also learned about hurling and even got to try my hand at it a little. For lodging tonight, I'm staying at a 16th century castle tonight about 12 km to the north of Kilkenny. Cost me 4 Euro ($5.60) to catch a bus close to the place and have been offered a ride into town tomorrow morning by a German couple which will save me cab fare. Tomorrow it's back to Dublin and the place I've stayed a couple nights already. That's alot and I need to go.

God Bless,
Scott
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