On the second day we made it to the 8 am breakfast, (smoked salmon on eggs for me),
and set out on our first hike of the trip, through the Burren to the top of Gleninagh,
the Aghaglinny South and Dobach Brainin hills. The weather was grey and drizzling
with 30 to 40 mph winds. Here is Christy in full rain/wind gear with our only other
hiker besides the guide, a vetran of numerous Ireland walking tours named Claudia.
Our wind swept grey destination. The weather was described by our guide as typical
Irish summer weather.
The Burren limestone landscape.
Stacked stone walls criscross the Burren, marking current and past land holdings.
In the distance the ring fort Cathair Bheannach, around 2000 years old.
The summit of Aghaglinny South under dark fast moving clouds with Ballyvaghn and Galway bay
in the distance.
The Aran Islands from Gleninagh, through rain in the distance.
Our happy guide Brian, Christy and Claudia, enjoying the 40mph Irish summer breeze.
The Aran Islands through rain, as we move towards a sheltered spot to have lunch.
The Burren stretches on.
Galway bay from our lunch wind shelter, a small grassy bowl.
Lunch, Brian proclaiming, "It doesn't get any better than this".
The view back towards Gleninagh from our wind shelter.
Our lunch bowl and the surrounding Burren landscape.
Burren rock ledges.
Gleninagh castle, (16th century), Galway Bay, Conemarra mountains in the distance.
Cliffs of Mhor in the distance.
At the top, Dobhach Bhrainin.
The ring fort, Cathair Dhuin Irghuis, 1500 to 2000 years old.
There are about 400 ring forts in the Burren alone, and as many as 35,000 in Ireland.
From this distance you can see the remains of one encircling wall.
Descending from the Gleninagh hills.
The wind blows hard enough to lever flat limestone rocks into standing positions.
Exploring the ring fort.
Here you can see the height of the walls.
Getting windy again.
The atlantic meets the Burren.
The green road to Fanore.
Looking back at Gleninagh.
That night we had dinner at McDermotts Pub with many pints and another music session. I think we made it to bed around midnight. Day 2 was done.