We loaded the tent into the jeep and loaded a steak sandwich into the belly. We loaded the jeep full of diesel and off with us on our merry way, with a couple of things we had to do, a couple of things we wanted to do and one or two things we might just do. The form was good, the sun was up and it was a bank holiday, happy bleedin' days !!
Approaching Galway I feared the luck I was born with was starting to fade, as was the sun. I realised this because at half past nine we had no campsite located, no torch in the jeep and eh, no beer!! So off with me down the promenade in search of a campsite and an off-license (that sold torches) and landed at Bayview caravan and camping park just on the outskirts of the town at 2 minutes to lock down. Fair play to them, by 10 past, me pop up tent was popped, me air bed was pumped and me and Gemma were looking out at the atlantic with a cool box full of bottles of heineken. Yes it was by the skin of our teeth but yes, we were there!
In the morning after we derigged the tent we drove into Galway docks to the canoe polo competition. As ever, its always a great feast of skill on the pitches in there and today was no different. Unfortunately our very own TCC teams didn't make it down this time but not to worry as BOYNE VALLEY ACTIVITIES are in the process of organising a canoe polo event this summer up the road in the Rathbeggan Lakes and I'm sure our local teams will shine and do us proud!!
Moving on up (I'm sure that was a Primal Scream tune) the coast to the quiet fishing port of Rosaveal I had to stop off to check out a crane for work. Yes its a pain, yes its sad but hey, somebody has to fund my trip around the west coast in these recessionary times and sometimes you just have to give in to the man. Otherwise the man will give me a kick in the ass and I'll be doing blogs on the dole queue - "today the dole queue was a bit bigger than it was yesterday" eh I don't think so. So off with me to Rosaveal.....
After my "hard stressful days work in Rosaveal" we continued up the coast to the bustling town of Clifden. Well what can i say!?! Some spot!! Super friendly, busy enough to enjoy its thriving atmosphere where each person who passes you does so with a tip of their cap and a friendly nod and quaint enough to enjoy the true quirkiness of this little gem. We stayed there for a few hours for no other reason than we wanted to. We did a bit of shopping (yes i am a man!). We had some dinner and even lowered down a glass of stout on our visit. Then we sat in the square to see the Rough Diamond cycle through the town, a seriously hard core pedal for anyone. Yet there were families, batmen and robins - even a miss piggy (though that could be the stout!!) I mean the bloody jeep was screaming on those hills, rough diamond? - Crazy diamond if you ask me! WELL DONE FOLKS!!
Off with us again heading to Leenann intending on calling into Killary Adventure Center to see could we catch up with the crew from Gaelforce on the off chance that some of them might have stayed put,but they had all gone up to donegal for their northwest challenge and I believe it was a huge success - as ever!
Breakfast was served and off with us,hiking boots at the ready, water and jacket in the rucksack and the same burst of enthusiam I get every time I head up Croagh Patrick. I'm hardly a pilgrim (and i did have my boots on) but i just enjoy climbing it. Maybe it's coz I cant really get lost and I just have to follow everyone or maybe it's coz I was looking at it for 6 months when I lived and worked on clare island and every time I drove past it I swore I'd do it "next time". Or maybe it's coz you get such a variety of people on it that I don't feel as bad when I'm hyperventilating and wondering how long it will be 'til my head explodes, or maybe it's the mad lads you meet up there. I mean c'mon, bare feet - Jasus! There was two lads there heading up barefoot in bloody bits. I just had to stop and have the craic with them. Well, I was having the craic as i was on my descent, body intact, feet intact, bloody sanity intact and they were in serious turmoil - their feet were ripped to shreds and they literally couldnt walk and I'd say they were thrilled with an asshole like me asking stupid questions like "does it hurt?". It's when they tell you they're grand you just think "am i really gone deaf, I could have swore they said grand?". Yep, there truly is nothing as quare as folk!!
Back in the hotel I'm chilled out in a jacquzzi pretty much living the dream. Well I was dreaming of the jacquzzi halfway down the summit so thats good enough for me! I'm heading for a steak dinner then off to Matt Molloys bar for some traditional music and a few pints of porter with my better half. Isn't it well for me. The town is friendly and the atmosphere is electric. We weren't sure where we wanted to go for a weekend break and what we even wanted when we got there but we got a fantastic time served on a friendly plate of proud-to-be-Irish sprinkled with a taste of Clew Bay charm......
Great weekend:-)
