Adventures in County Kerry (wikipedia)
Breakfast at hotel. Sean: crepe with apples, bacon, Kristin: crepe
Stranded and Rescued - Cast
Big Savior: Declan the Ranger
Honorable Mention: Dorothy from Scotland
We find the Uragh circle on the Internet, and copy down the GPS coordinates. We then program them in to the Garmin, and let her navigate - turn left here, then drive 2.3 miles, turn right here, then drive 6.4 miles, turn left here, drive 1.6 miles. Here we are, puttering along a little road (speed limit 80KPH, 50MPH), slowing down for tight turns and dusty dips, driving carefully over steep rocky areas, when Garmin says we have arrived at our destination.
We look around - there's plains with rushes and grass rising up to tall hills in all directions. There's a dirt road winding fiercely before and behind us (only wide enough for one vehicle, no two-way traffic here...) Garmin insists we're at Uragh, but there's nothing like anything around us.
We then program the city located near Uragh, called Lauragh, and it's miles away, back the way we had come. "No problem," we figure, just turn the car around (somehow) and drive back to the road, we'll be on our way in no time. It was only 1.6 miles.
After quite a to-do (involving a 37-point turn) we finally get the car turned around and headed back... for about 200 feet. That's when we reach a rock that had been easy to drive over one way, that was impossible to drive over the other way. Every time we tried to drive over this rock, the tires would skid on the dirt and little stones on the rock, making the tire smoke madly.
We started with dusting the stones and dirt off the rock as best we could (and boy is that dry and dusty work!), and then made several attempts from different angles, including having Kristin drive the car while I pushed from behind - all to no avail.
I grab my water bottle and scout both directions as far as I can. Other than more winding road and hills, there was a side-trail to a house about 1/2 mile back towards the main road. I hike that distance, take the side-trail, and jog the entire distance to their front gate. At the gate, I hail the house repeatedly, but receive no response. I then jog all the way back to the road (more than another mile further back on our trail).
At the main road, the building we had seen there is nothing but an abandoned and bricked-up structure, not the beacon of civilization I had hoped for. No phone, no person with a two-way radio to call for help, etc. Just a couple of cars parked in what used to be a parking area for maybe 6 cars, and no owners in sight.
I cross the street and find a little trail leading off into some trees. It's a trail with wood laid down covered with chicken wire so it doesn't become overgrown. I march around for a few hundred feet but see no sign of anyone. I head back to the would-be parking lot to spy a third car parked there.
Enter Dorothy
A nice Scottish lady named Dorothy is sitting in her car, reading a map, completely not expecting anyone to approach her. I'm sure my presence startled her as I walked on up.
I'm almost 6 feet tall, over 180 lbs, bald, some type of facial hair, talking in a non-Irish accent, and asking for help. Who knows what kind of trouble I could be? Dorothy is nice enough to drive me to a pub a few miles up N71, after I convinced her I am not a criminal (by telling her I'm from California).
After we arrived at the pub, she said she would wait around to make sure I was OK.
The nice lady at the pub directed me to the gift store next door, where a man gave me change and led me to the pay phone so I can call for roadside assistance.
Enter Declan
As I am preparing to dial, a man walks up to me and asks if I am Sean.
Taken aback that some strange man should know my name, I reply that I am. He then says that he will help us tow the car. I thank Dorothy, and the man drives me back to our rented car.
On the way, he tells me how he was driving up that little trail when he saw Kristin minding the car. He offered to help, and she told him where I went, what I look like, and my name. Fortunately, he guessed the correct direction to drive (when he reached N71 from the side trail) and found me at the gift shop next to the pub.
He explained he is a forest ranger who keeps the forest in good condition. He drove me back to the car, put a tow rig to his Range Rover, and towed us back over the rock.
After introducing myself to him formally, he told me his name is Declan. Although we offered Declan money (20 Euro), he refused. He was unable to untie his rope from our tow hook, so he used an axe to chop the rope apart. I then offered him 10 Euro to pay for the rope, which he also refused. He told me to spend the money in a pub, and welcome to Ireland. He was very, very nice, and we wish to sing his praises to everyone! Along with an honorable mention to Dorothy for driving me to the pub! (Always mention nice ladies that drive you to the pub...)
We later looked up the name Declan, and it turns out it's the name of a Saint (wikipedia). I made sure to mention his name and tell the tale in two pubs (well, one pub, one bar) while in Ireland. Thanks Declan!
Lady's View (photos of Lady's View)
At the pub that Dorothy took me to, there's this amazing view called Lady's View. It's apparently called that because Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting enjoyed the scene. (wikipedia)
After Kristin and I were rescued, I had a great opportunity to take photos!
Uragh Stone Circle near Lauragh (Uragh Stone Circle photos)
Once we recovered from our trip up the trail, we continued on our journey to Uragh. We told Garmin to take us to Lauragh, then followed signs to Uragh Stone Circle. It was down another trail not too dissimilar from the previous one, but with slightly more signs of habitation. We occasionally passed a car, for whom we had to pull to the (left) side of the road.
From where we parked, we passed through a few gates in the fences designed to keep the many Irish goats (wikipedia) from wandering. They were shaped to allow humans (tall-thin) through, but not goats, who are shaped differently. Along the path, we walked carefully to avoid the many piles of goat droppings. Speaking of the path, at some points you had to guess which hill to hike over next, hoping the stone circle was in that direction.
The circle itself was fairly small, with one tall rock and four or five smaller ones. The view from the rocks was quite the sight, however! Two lakes were visible to either side. We took many pictures of the countryside, and Kristin took several pictures of me along the rocks.
Druid Circle in Kenmare (Druid Circle photos)
Once we arrived in Kenmare, we only had to drive down a few streets until we saw a sign leading us to the Druid Circle.
Much more of a traditional stone circle than Uragh, this circle is near the middle of the town, and is more heavily trafficked. While we were able to take pictures completely alone for 30 minutes at Uragh, we encountered three other groups at the Druid Circle.
I still got quite a few photos of the circle itself, and two horses in the next plot of land over.
Dinner at Mulligan's Irish Chop House (the pub downstairs)
High Street, 064 39854
Kristin had a "Toastie" sans ham €7.90
I had a very tasty lasagna €9 + Guiness. The side salad that came with the lasagna was tasty, as was every salad I was served in Ireland.
Watched some soccer
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