Aran Island & Ice Cream!!

Funny subject line and I'll get to it!! 

Started the day with a yummy breakfast here at our B&B. loaded up and headed back to Doolin to the end of the pier where we booked a boat trip to the Aran Island of Inis Oirr and a ride past the Cliffs of Moher. We slathered sunscreen, purchased some water and waited for our boat to come in..HA!

As we waited we were treated to the graceful dance of the lone dolphin that chooses to live near the pier here in the cold North Atlantic. She has quite the reputation as Frank ( from bus in Dublin) told us about her when we told him we were traveling to Doolin. The townsfolk have named her Dustin and she seems very content with all of the human friends she has. 

After waiting in what we thought was the front of the line to board the boat, we were surprised ( not in a good way) to find out we'd been at the back of the line as they had to shuttle us out (12 at a time) to the big boat. Peggy and I were shuttled first and Mike and Roy were to follow but they got put on the "fast" boat so we had to disembark and join them. Well, for those of you that know what a water nymph I am, I pouted all the way to the island!! It wasn't about getting there..it was the journey!! I got over my pouting when we arrived on the island and got into a horse drawn wagon driven by Tom ( an island resident) as he took us around this strangely beautiful island and told us so much about the island, the ruins, the people who inhabit it and their way of life. WOW...how very different from the way we live. It is the smallest of the 3 Aran Islands with approximately 250 residents. They are about an hours ferry ride from the mainland. Will share his story with whomever wants to hear it when we get home. Finished with him and waited (longer than we were told) for our boat to pick us up and take us to the Cliffs of Moher for a spectacular view from the water. 

Made it back to the pier and got into our car where we headed straight back to O'Connor's Pub for a delicious late lunch/early dinner. I had Guinness Beef Stew that was so very tasty. Once again, I think of my dear John D as I ponder the recipe! 

Now for the Ice Cream part of this day....yesterday as we were headed to the Cliffs we stopped in a grocery store to purchase picnic items and they had a counter that sold soft serve ice cream cones..well..we had to have one and, oh, my was it yummy. So...after a long day in the sun ( they are experiencing record setting heat of 90 degrees!) we decided to go get another cone thinking it was just down the street from our B&B. 30 minutes and many U-Turns later, we found the ice cream in the next town 11 miles away! We had more fun laughing about all the trouble we went through to find ice cream! Then, we embarked on the really long and narrow way back to the B&B which took us to many back roads and the chance to marvel in the true beauty of the countryside. We were rewarded with green, green pastures, stone fences for as far as you can see and the occasional church ruins and centuries old burial grounds.  We finally made it back to our place 3 hours after we started out for an ice cream cone! Sat outside for awhile and now all are sleeping as I blog. 

Not real sure where all,our adventures will take us tomorrow but I do know they will be beautiful and fun...till then, may God be with each of our loved ones. 

Including pics of the shipwreck on the island along with Tom and the horse-drawn wagon.