Kicking Back in Killybegs

Brain cancer is...

Coming into port.  We docked right behind this ship.

 ...doing nothing at all.

Precap 10 a.m.

We made port in Killybegs this morning. Killybegs is in the north of Ireland and is the country's and island's biggest fishing port.

Darrell's day off is off to a great start.  We slept until 7 am.  Sleeping at night is better than not sleeping at night.

Breakfast was leisurely at the Restaurant.  We happened across Susan and Drew and made plans for dinner tomorrow night.  Yay.

Darrell scheduled his entire day aboard until the expedition leader announced that we are at port today...able to walk right off the ship rather than tendering or taking Zodiacs in.  This announcement changed Darrell's plans considerably.

He's planning some walking in Killybegs, lunch at the pool, maybe a nap, and cancelling our 8:00 dinner reservations.  He's a happy man.

Enjoy your Tuesday, Team D!

Recap 9:35 p.m. (Photos loaded above and below.) 

Darrell's Day was a(nother) amazing day.  We went ashore and visited historic sites, came aboard and did in fact spend the afternoon at the pool deck, took a nap, ate dinner (more pizza) in our suite, and set sail for Northern Ireland.  Some details:

No rain today either.  We made it out of the Republic of Ireland without a drop.  Should we ask for our money back?

When I relinquished my responsibility to finish reading A Brief History of Ireland before coming aboard, we read concise websites about what to know when visiting Ireland.  We haven't had much experience, but many tips from the websites have held true.  Drivers approaching us walkers on roads have indeed lifted an index finger from the wheel in greeting.  We have responded.

And locals have indeed approached us for conversation.  Here's one example.

In visiting St. Catherine's well today, this local told us the story of St. Catherine, a shipwreck, a tradition of wells, contested Protestant land, and the healing potential of the waters of the well.

Here's St. Catherine's well.

Just 125 treacherous steps up the hill from the well we had another great conversation with a local.  His dog's name was Murphy. We met them near Kit's Castle (another fort).

Down the hill and beyond was the stone church and graveyard, with sailors lost in the big shipwreck. (Sensing a theme?)

Back on board:  Lunch as planned near the pool.  Plus some walking on the Deck 9 track, where Darrell was reminded that Cloud 9 is, in fact, just a Zodiac ride away.

After a great "holiday" (says Chokhoni.  Love it...a holiday from our holiday), we set sail for Northern Ireland.  Tomorrow we visit the Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle.

This one's for you, Game of Throne's master, Alex Guillaume. (Dunluce Castle is Game of Throne's seat for House of Greyjoy.)

Tomorrow is our last full day at sea.  We have seen much, celebrated much, and learned much on this trip...about faraway places and about ourselves.

We hope your day is a good one.