Waterfalls and cake

John driving us south today, he is a mine of fascinating information and an excellent guide. Loving the landscapes. In the lower lands the few bushes and trees there are shaped by the wind in fields demarked by the low stone walls, and widely spaced cottages. We stopped by an ancient one roomed building. Got out at a beach to have the cobwebs ripped off in shreds from our body by the keen wind. Whiskey rudely sniffed at by two dogs whose owner sat in a white van. Looked at the information about the history of Irish submariners. 

Into Ennistymon the town nearest to Sue and John. Gorgeous place with the pubs painted marvellous colours.  We went into two lovely bookshops, Salmon bookshop I think has a poetry press associated with it. I spent some time looking at books there. I had in my mind an anthology of poetry about the West of Ireland, but everything I looked at was very international in its focus. Across the road to another bookshop, where in the poetry section I found a few issues of the Irish Magazine Channel with a page of mine in. We had a coffee in a shop, with only one table. And then while John went off to buy a chocolate caterpillar cake we went to look at the waterfall, tea coloured water and very beautiful.

Whiskey definitely falling into the category of acceptable dogs. She once stole my watch and ran away with it in Bromyard, but now we have reached an understanding. Her concerns are loftier these days. Apparently she is affronted by vapour trails, and Sue having looked this up, has found this is a known thing. Lorraine and I are allowed to be in her pack.

A cheery relaxed evening. Also cake. Sue was given an excellent lemon drizzle cake that I have made it my business to consume, not to mention the chocolate cake John had bought.

I took myself for a small walk around the neighbourhood in Doolin. 

Below: a stone wall, a photo of John Phillip Hammond, a pioneering Irish submariner, and father of the modern submarine, on the beach at Ballysteen, with more paved rock going out into the water. A glimpse of the falls and buildings in Ennistymon. A small lane in Doolin.