That One Time I Climbed Like a Billy Goat

We woke up alive (shockingly) in Betty's house.  The only good thing about her house was the pot of coffee she supplied.  The food was just mediocre.  No one will ever compare to Helen.  We had to get an early start to take the day-long road trip around the Ring of Kerry.  So, we loaded into the trusty steed, me with my sheep socks on, ready to party, and we embarked on what would be the greatest journey ever taken.  Yes, I am exaggerating, but it was still pretty good.

We, of course, started in Killarney, and made our way through the National Forest.  The label for Killarney Brewing Company is Ross Castle.  We were not about paying tourist fees for entry...so we walked around the outside of the castle just long enough for me to pretend I was a Stark in Winterfell...and then we left.  It really is beautiful though. It was really windy and we were excited to see other things, so we kept on moving.




Next, we stopped by Muckross House and everyone kept trying to get us to ride in their carriages.  Whatever happened to good ol' walking?  We also did not go inside there, my guide book said to hold out for better, so we saw the grounds and moved on.  But before I move on...Can you imagine the Christmas parties I could throw there?!  It would be like a Downton Abbey Christmas Special.  You're all invited.  P.S. Before you let the clouds get you down, just remember.  This is Ireland.  It's too happy a place to be glum all the time.

The next stop on our trip, Prash was extra excited about.  My man has a thing for waterfalls.  We stopped by Torc Waterfall.  I saw this...and thought it was the waterfall and found myself very underwhelmed.  Luckily, we kept walking!

That's more like it.

Ya know, I could tell you all about the trip...or I could just show you pictures.  So I think that's what I'm going to do.  I'll tell you the important parts.

We found a really cool bridge...and I snagged my sweater climbing down here.

Next, we made it to Ladies View.  I'm not sure what I was expecting...but apparently this is where ladies used to come up here and look at the view and drink tea.  So naturally, I bought a tiny Americano at the coffee shop across the street and looked at the view while sipping my coffee.  

Look of Terror

Next, we drove for a little while longer stopped for some sandwiches and Shamrock and Onion (Guys, it was sour cream and onion) chips, and made our way to the Staigue Fort.  Which is really just an old fort made of stones that you can climb all over.  I make it sound so fun, right?  It's actually really cool if you aren't scared of heights.  I don't trust a bunch of non-cemented rocks stacked on each other high in the air.  I mean, okay, I know it's been there since maybe 300 A.D to 400 A.D., so clearly it's pretty sturdy.  But, if you think about it from the other end of it, that's several thousand years of wear and tear...I could be the straw that broke the camel's back.  But, I did make it to the top and the

view is worth it.

After climbing super high, we made it to the warmest (allegedly) part of the ocean in Ireland.  Newsflash...it's still really, really cold.  But I can say that I did it! It felt about as warm as the ocean in Northern Ireland...so I think the guide book is just trying to coax people into stopping there.

Next.  I still have trouble comprehending because it's literally the best thing ever.  Do you remember my three goals for this trip?  Let me recap in case you haven't been faithfully reading (I should make you go back and read)

1. Pet a Sheep
2. Eat the Blood Pudding
3. Go on that scary rope bridge in Northern Ireland that might have made me pass out and fall over the rope-rail

You will notice there is only one thing on that list that has not yet presented itself...

The Sheep AND the tiny mačkas!!!!  My heart literally exploded from the cuteness.  There were a ton of tourists so I kind of hated being there...but I wanted to shove the animals all into Prash's car.  Prash, needless to say, was not so much into that idea.  Regardless, mission accomplished!

We drove for a long while and got a little bit lost, and drove up a 1-lane billy goat trail.  But on the other side of the trail, we found a really cool ruined building that I also braved and climbed.  I know my book said the beach above was the warmest...but I will say that this one was warmer.

In true Mancub fashion, he had to climb to the top.  I did too!  But it was scary and I wanted to get down.  This was our last stop on the trip.  We wanted to get back to Killarney so we could have some more beers with our friend Padraig. 

However, when we got back in the car, I was cold.  So Prash gave me his snuggie from the trunk.  Yes, Prash has a snuggie in his trunk.  The snuggie had the familiar smell of beer.  So, I asked, "Dearest, did something explode in the trunk?"  Something did explode.  I bought four beers at the Guinness Factory for four of my friends...and one of those beers became angry and soaked the trunk.  So, that's how Prash came to own a Stout-Scented Snuggie (try saying that four times fast).

We made it back to Killarney Brewery, had some more IPA's with our good friend, and then had dinner.  Surprise!  It was fish and chips again.  I went over there not even liking it...but now I crave it pretty much all the time. So, there's that.

After dinner, we went back to Betty's.  I discovered another spider, and several spider bites on my legs.  So, thank you Betty, thanks a bunch.  Check in was 9:00 pm.  This American couple rolled up at 9:15.  They knocked loudly for about 20 minutes and called the phone several times.  Betty didn't so much as acknowledge them.  I got grumpy and wanted to go somewhere else because Betty is so mean and those poor people had nowhere to go.  But Prash took his "You're being ridiculous" tone and he went to bed.  Being that we were the only people in the house again, I was scared tonight would be the night she killed us.  So, while Prash snored away like he was chopping down the rain forest, I read a book, found a place for breakfast, and researched things to do in Cork, our next destination.  I did not get much sleep at good Ol' Bettys.  You bet your bottom dollar that when the sun came up, we were packed and ready to go.  

But that's for next time.