A late start and on advice from Host Gerry headed first to Ross Castle near Killarney. This tower castle has been fully restored and a guided tour filled in the gaps in our understanding we had had when we climbed the castle ruins near the Shannon a few days ago. Then lunch by Mukross House, a 30min walk through dense forest in the Killarney National Park to a tea rooms where they sold Magnums - all National Parks should have tearooms at the end of walks! On the walk back we got wet (again) but not too badly.
A short drive up the mountain took us to Ladies View Look Out where we could see back into the valley where we had spent the morning. Then the fun began. Gerry had told us to look for a small road going off to the right which looked like a country lane. It would take us down into the Black Valley and eventually up the mountain range on the other side and through the Dunloe Pass. What a trip it was. One car width wide the road wound down the side of the mountain to the valley floor, then alongside a fast flowing river, through a small town and up, via a number of switch-backs, the mountain on the other side of the valley and eventually through the Dunloe Pass between two high mountains. It was an amazing drive. Lots of stopping for photos, many "WOWS" from both driver and passenger, stopping often and pulling over many times to crawl past oncoming cars (and bikes, and even hikers), with much waving. Through the Dunloe Pass the road wound around large boulders and went past three small lakes. A highlight day we will always remember.
We were home in time to have another Pub Meal in Castlemaine and then walk it off around the farm. We will miss the Gerry and Pheenie's company. Each morning there has been lots of story telling and much laughter. Gerry is a real Irish character.
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