Packing frenzy! We have nine people spread around a good-sized house for a week. But we’re up to the challenge. Strong young men haul loaded suitcases up from the bedrooms. Kat makes bacon sandwiches. Jason hauls out trash, loads suitcases in our car as Logan, Savanna and Colt are going to ride with the wonderful Ray from Ashford—and much more luggage.

I do a thorough Mom check, all levels. Discover a drawer of socks, then learn not ours—were there on our arrival. Put them back.

All systems go, and in the misty morning we head out. It’s not raining, and the thick skies thin here and there, just a little. Those clouds are smoke over the mountains, and the water’s a steely gray spread to a thousand shades of green. Ray’s in the lead, with Kat (In Carl the car) Kayla, JR and Griffin who apparently does some booster seat dancing to Kayla’s playlist. Jason and I have the rear flank.

All so gradually along our just-under-an-hour drive, a little more clears up above.

And here’s the turn for Ashford, and the cheerful gatekeeper. Now we’re on the tree-lined road, green tunnels, those wonderfully enormous trees. Another turn, and there it is. The gorgeous gray stone castle and the lovely Lough Corrib with its green knuckles of islands.

Catherine Kenny, who’s been our guardian angel throughout, waits to greet us. And Niall Rochford, the GM, with her. I remember them well from our last trip, and remember the staff as well as the sheer magnificence of castle and grounds are what make Ashford so special.

The sun’s pushing to come out as if to greet us, too. In no time we’re whisked in. My room’s ready so we can hang there for a bit, or wander, or gather in the tea room for a drink or lunch.

We do all of that. Catherine’s also contacting a nurse to talk to me—my voice is still pretty much out—and Kayla, who’s improving every day. This gives me time to unpack some, join the others, then back to my room to talk to the nurse on the phone.

No sore throat, no shortness of breath, no nothing but congestion and kind of half-assed laryngitis. We go over what I’ve been doing, and while she’s happy to make an appointment with the doctor, she believes I’m already doing what he’d say to do. When it’s Kayla’s turn, the recommendation is to make an appointment if she gets worse, as she’s already nearly back to 100%.

More unpacking for me, then I join the others, have some chips and a glass of champagne. Ahh. And the sun’s out!

So we take advantage. A long lovely walk on the grounds, where Griffin is thrilled to find a maze. Mazes are one of his favorite things. Live music across the way at Cullen’s. They’re doing Rhinestone Cowboy.

I am amused.

A little shopping in the gift shop crosses four, count them, four, more Christmas gifts off my list. From there, it’s the walk to the walled garden, over the grounds, around the trees and through the stone tunnel.

It’s so beautiful there. A long arbor of green, blooms everywhere you look. Flood of feathery astilbes, pale lavender roses with a glorious scent, tumbles of nasturtiums. And curiously, a patch of corn.

I’m drafted to fight zombies with Griffin-a Minecraft thing. So we run—me in my heavy boots—with our invisible wooden swords. Kat stands as a villager with iron swords to sell. So we upgrade, fight some more. Colt joins and we upgrade to diamond swords sold by Villager Jason.

Walking back, Kat, Griffin and I take a path through the woods. It’s a little muddy from the rain so Kayla in her white sneakers declines. We wind our way, out again, cross paths with the rest. Colt, Griffin and Kat go up a stone tower and down again.

Then we spot Logan and Savanna on the path, and all go in together.

I’m back to my room to organize a bit and will meet the gang in the Billiard Room where they can wait until their rooms are ready.

It’s a big castle, and I get turned around, but someone’s always there to assist, and I’m shown the way to the Billiard Room. JR’s knocking balls into pockets for Griffin’s entertainment. Others lounge. I step outside where the air is so fresh, the sky blue again, and  the lake’s so pretty.

Rooms ready, keys delivered, and we’re escorted to Jason and Kat and Griffin’s suite. It’s lovely, roomy and bright. There’s a stuffed red squirrel and a book as gifts on Griffin’s bed in the adjoining room.

The rest are on the same floor, so we check out everyone’s space. Lovely rooms, lovely views.

Plenty of time to take a breath, for all to unpack, shake off the travel day. We’re having dinner in The Dungeon on the castle’s lower level. I go back to my rooms, have some tea, check the headlines back home. Put that away as much too depressing.

Change for dinner, check in with Kat and Jason, and as there’s time, tell them I’m taking another walk and will meet them at The Dungeon at dinner time.

We’re blessed with a seriously beautiful evening. Blue, blue skies, blue water, light breeze, shining green, the shadows of distant mountains. When I’m in my boots again, I’ll take another path through the marvel of the woods.

But it’s time to meet the gang, and Jason’s waiting for me at the top of the stairs just in case.

Everyone’s changed into We’re-Having-A-Nice-Dinner clothes. More champagne for me, thank you very much. Kat entertains bow-tied Griffin with a disappearing purple Pikmin. Jason and I assist in the magic tricks. We talk—I mostly croak—study the menu. At home, we probably have steak once every month or two, but I’m having it. So is Colt, so is Logan. And there’s warm, yummy bread and butter.

We eat well. I manage half my steak. Colt manages his and the rest of mine. Where does he put it???? Kat takes Griffin off to bed—she’s ready, too as her non-alcoholic cocktail went to her head. I suppose alcohol-adjacent was enough for her.

The rest of us have dessert. A hot fudge brownie sundae? Oh hell, yes. I can’t finish it, but oh boy, what a way to cap off a meal.

We make what I’ll call a plan-ish for the first full day. Breakfast whenever—that’ll happen while I work out, and someone will bring me some bacon (I do love Irish bacon) and a Diet Coke. Some of us will likely walk down to Cong and poke about. If the day is clear enough we’ll take the short trip to Ross-Errily. I really want the younger set to experience it.

There’s the Glebe stone circle a blink away, so there’s that. We have activities booked, but later in our stay.

My view this morning is some hopeful sunshine filtering through the clouds, and islands of green floating on the blue-gray lake.

Ashford is as wonderful as I remember.

Nora

We have an actual reservation for lunch at the restaurant in our adventure park. Our destination’s about 45 minutes away on this cloudy, misty, rainy day. And the adventures we want are all inside.

Good deal.

So off we go, piling into cars. Out through the little village and beyond to mist-soaked hills and fields. Long stretches where the world seems empty of people. Just a world of varied greens, stone fences, a stand of pine, red drops of fuchsia all under a curtain of mist.

Then boom, another little town or a scatter of houses with bright gardens.

And we’re there. Into the car park, a walk through the light rain. There are playgrounds outside, picnic tables under tents, and as everywhere, flowers soaking in the wet.

We take our big table. Fish and chips for me, and when it comes—and quickly—it’s enough for three people. We fuel up for the adventure ahead. And Kat goes to check us in for just that.

There are big windows so you can watch kids of various ages, parents, other adults harnessed up for wall climbs. A whole huge room of them. Just as Kat’s about to lock in our time there, someone else snags it. So after some chaos, she books our other activities. There’s a bit of a wait, so we trek over to the little shop.

Ice cream. No way after that meal, I think, but some disagree. So under the tent for ice cream to while away our wait time.

Jason takes Griffin off for a rainy exploration of play ground and little diggers. The rest of us head in for the escape rooms.

There are numerous small rooms in this maze of them, and you split into teams. For us, it’ll be the girls against the boys. The Colleens v The Three Musketeers. We watch our orientation—the rules of the road—then Kat, Kayla, Savanna and I head one way, JR, Logan and Colt another.

First room, Druids, I think, magic herb formulas. And it’s dark! Each room is loosely based on an Irish myth. This tiny, dark room defeats us, so when our time’s up, we decide maybe try it again later, and move to another. I think a pirate thing. Skulls and crossbones, treasure chests. After some WTF, teamwork prevails, and we escape to the next. And the next.

A couple require two tries. We were so close! So go back, start again, finish it up.

There are mental challenges in some rooms, physical ones in others, and hybrids. We try them all, racking up points. Try the second floor and hit The Giant’s Causeway. I know the myth, but you really don’t need to. What you need to do is cross over on widely placed stumps of various heights, hit the right ones in order, press the button on each as you go—swinging on ropes, I’ll add, to reach the Scot giant mural on the far wall. Kat and I wisely leave the actual doing to Kayla and Savanna, and assist with the mental portion.

When those plucky girls arrive at either side of the mural, they have to stretch across, hold hands, and press the buttons on the wall together.

He is defeated!!

Room by room we go for our 90 minutes. At the start, Kat asked what a good score might be. The guy in charge said only one team—who bought extra time—had ever hit all 52. Average score? 8. He’d be impressed if we got 16.

We scored 19–above average! More than impressive! The Musketeers and The Colleens tied at 19 each! Woo!!

Down again to meet up with Jason and Griffin. Logan, Colt, JR are heading to the Ninja challenge. The rest of us are visiting the play village. It has a movie theater, salon, market, Garda station, fire station and so on. All pint sized. Griffin wants to be the shop keeper, so we get our tiny baskets, choose tiny fruits, veg, cheese, whatever.

He rings us up. He decides Kayla’s apple costs $12. Savanna’s pizza slice is like $130. My loaf of bread? Over a thousand bucks. I guess that’s what happens when he’s the only market in town.

Onto the theater with its little stage. Kayla plays some Taylor Swift on her phone, and Griffin busts a move. Lots of moves. Gotta say, he’s got those moves. In the restaurant, he takes orders, fixes soup for Kat, invites me to have a seat on a very tiny chair.

Then he decides to be a copper. And arrests a baby doll. Into the nick with her. Before he’s done, he’s captured the entire Baby Doll gang.

The Ninjas have ninja’d, and we’re done with our adventures. The rain’s light but steady, and there’s another restaurant only minutes away toward home.

Another big table, drinks all around, orders placed. I’m going for the steak sandwich and chips. Kayla’s got a couple of veggie options, and goes for the pasta. I believe Griffin and Colt stick with their fave—chicken tenders and chips—one child’s portion, one adult.

The steak sandwich is just right—at least the half I could manage. Logan’s also gone with the steak sandwich, and takes my second half when I offer.

Then it’s off for home again where the mist has thickened to fog. It’s sort of eerily wonderful, but then again, I’m not driving. It thins and thickens, adding to that sense we’re the only ones here—at least until another car comes along.

Home. Kat and Jason head back out. Her car needs gas. Kayla, JR and Griffin have a dance party. Kayla, show us your moves! Now, JR! Now, me!

They’ve all got them.

I head down to do more packing.

Back up for some discussion of tomorrow, down again, organize and it’s bedtime.

The sky’s thick this morning, but I don’t see rain. Yet. I hear Griffin, so he’s up. I need to pull myself together for our ten o’clock departure.

It’s been a fun, lovely, silly, entertaining and beautiful week here by Galway Bay.

Now we’re off to storm the castle.

Nora

I take the weather forecast at its word. Cloudy, but a minuscule chance of rain. We’re gearing up for a day in Galway City. After workout, I dress appropriately for the also forecast low sixties. Everyone’s up and about, though poor Kayla’s still not feeling well.

Ray from Ashford’s right on time, so we leave pretty much on the dot of 11. And the minuscule chance of rain starts to spit. Oh well. It’s a big, comfy van with plenty of room for our gang of nine. And Ray’s as pleasant as our ride.

Yes, the skies are gray and the air misty, but it adds that wonderful mystique to the landscape of fields and hills and stone fences. And there are such bright flowers in dooryards and on roadsides. I see bold pink hydrangeas on bushes nearly as big as a tree.  Creamy white calla lilies twice as tall as any I’ve grown.

On a patch of green, roadside of a fence, sits a bright blue rowboat full of red flowers.

As we get into actual traffic on the outskirts of the city, there’s back-patting that we chose to get Ray for the drive instead of attempting it ourselves.

We have our plan and Ray’s number when we’re ready to go back. And the plan’s for lunch first. I think the recommended spot is The Brasseriebon the Corner, and I realize it’s our first sit down outside the house meal. This is a nice change. No cooking or running for carry-out, no dishes! And I have a very nice glass of wine to start it off.

Logan and Savanna each get an enormous bowl of mussels. There are veggie options for the vegetarian. Jason and I both opt for the toasted ham and cheese sandwich, though I delete the onions and tomatoes. Lots of chips!

Next in the plan is for most of the group to head off to Shop Street. Kat and Griffin will escort Logan, Savanna and me on our wind-blowing, rain-spitting way to Galway Bay Tattoos—another Ashford recommend.

I got my first tat in Waterford, my second in Clare. Now I’ve decided to get my sixth (the others are the work of our talented artist in Boonsboro) in Galway. I think this makes Logan’s third, and Savanna’s first.

Ashford hit it again. It’s a nice, very clean and very friendly place.

We’re already discussed what we want and where, discuss again with the artist in charge so there’s no mistakes. Savanna wants a dragon on her shoulder blade, and her artist takes her image, simplifies it as she wants, gets her approval—and off she goes. The same process with Logan and me. We’re all inked at the same time. Logan wants a trinity knot, shaded, on his forearm near his five-fold symbol. I finally pull the trigger on the Ogham script of the word imagine on my right upper arm.

Mine, due to position sort of between biceps and triceps, needs me to lie on the table. That’s nice, a little rest before shopping. I feel it, of course, but I’d give the discomfort level a two on a scale of ten. My guy’s very precise, which is exactly what’s needed for Ogham script.

Three tats, and we’re in and out in around an hour, and all more than satisfied. We’re definitely three happy customers. If you’re in Galway and want some ink, you can’t go wrong with Galway Bay Tattoos.

Kat’s taken Griffin for a walk along the river with its fabulous flowers and views, and down to a church where a wedding’s happening. I hear the pass-off to Jason as I’m getting my tattoo.

Then Kat, Logan, Savanna and I head out to Shop Street. The day’s cleared. There’s actual sun. Not only shops line the wide pedestrian street, but so do the buskers. Inside a couple of blocks you hear ABBA, Elvis, Irish reels and country. It’s wonderful. Seriously, it lifts both energy and spirit, music in the air, sunshine, people wandering. A little girl in a stroller bounces to the beat with a huge grin on her face.

Kat’s looking for a specific sort of gift, and I’m hunting for Christmas. We separate from Logan and Savanna. And I find my first couple gifts of the day.  We continue our hunt in the beautiful weather the forecasters predicted.

Better late, for certain, than never.

We shop, we browse. Kat finds what she wants, and I score another on my list. Then another. Now we hunt for a shop where Kat can buy some yarn. Go this way, then that, and bang, hit one. And while she picks yarn, I find two more gifts.

Jason’s group is having ice cream at a place in the mall I’d forgotten was there in the first place. Text Logan and Savanna the location, and we head there to find Griffin dead asleep on Jason, Kayla napping on JR. Dump our bags, get drinks. Logan and Savanna return and report they found a jarl (?) pronounced yarl, an ancient ruin discovered buried below part of the city. Pretty freaking cool.

Text Ray, arrange a pick-up spot, and the whole troop heads out, with Kat initially carrying a very heavy and still mostly sleeping Griffin. The boy wakes, walks hand-in-hand—much easier.

Jason’s chosen a tour bus pick-up stop, which proves perfect. We’re barely arrived when a big tour bus pulls out, and Ray pulls in. The weary shoppers pile in, collapse. Ray skillfully maneuvers through traffic—lots now—and we’re headed home. Before we get there, the rain spits again. We had a very lucky, very lovely sunny window for our time in the city.

Back to unload—thank you, Ray! Kayla naps in the sitting room. When I come back up some are already at leftovers. Since we’re in for the evening, I opt for pjs and heat up a bowl of spaghetti. Just the thing!

Lots of talk about the day, and about a potential movie to cap it off. We need to find one that suitable for all, including a six year-old. After various suggestions, we settle on Lilo and Stitch.

Gather and flop in the TV room and watch the fun, clever movie.

At the end of it, Griffin’s delighted, and terms it Overpowering!

And I’m off to bed.

The sun’s out this morning, so I’ll get in a walk. Kat’s heading about a half hour away to a Craft Village. I think Savanna’s going with her. I have work, some writing time, some proofing galleys time that are due before I get home again.  We have plans for an adventure park tomorrow, so today’s Recovery Day. 

It’s about time to work out, check in, then get to it.

Nora

Quick note from Laura:

I’m glad you’re all enjoying the travelogue. What’s different this year is I don’t have all my electronics connected the way I do in the office at home. In fact, I’m doing all of this from my phone while on vacation too.

So my usual spell check work isn’t happening. And getting photos from a shared Google album to WordPress isn’t the smooth transition I expected when the tablet and phone refuse to acknowledge each other.  So I use what works.

All of which to say, please enjoy as presented. We’re doing our best to convey the fun of the trip and the joy of family time. And I’ll go back and fix spelling errors when I’m finally in one place for a week. (I’m in the Lakes District now. )

Thanks!

We’re on our way on an 8:30 pm flight. A little stress and chaos as Kayla’s hit with a fever a  couple hours before takeoff, but the doc cleared her, so we’re off. Griffin, as always, is thrilled with the whole idea of flying, which somehow manages to cut down on my absolute hate of the whole idea of flying.

All in all, smooth flight. Not without some bumps, but easily 90 percent smooth, which I very much appreciate. Nobody got much sleep, but we arrive, and to sunny skies. Yay!!

Customs is pretty smooth, too. We landed early, so we’ll wait awhile to pick up our cars. Two cars as there are 9 of us. Plus luggage for nine. We’d arranged with Ashford—where we head next week—to send a follow car for the luggage, but Kat thinks she can load us up.

If anyone can, it’s Kat. But I’m looking at the mountain range of luggage, the space in the cars. And thinking, no possible away.

In about twenty minutes, I realize once again: Never underestimate Kat.

This is Jason’s first time driving on the left—he’s practiced virtually, but this is his debut. And Kat hasn’t done it since we were here in 2019. Nothing to do but do it, so we head out of the airport toward Galway. I’m in the passenger seat with Jason, Logan and Savanna in the back. Kat has Kayla, JR, Colt and Griffin.

BW’s going to Portugal in September for a photography deal, so he opted out of this trip. 

Jason does fine, though I let him know along the way, he’s riding a little too close on the left.

Wide roads to start, and little traffic on this Saturday morning. Then it’s through towns, some neighborhoods. It’s lovely to see the flowers here again, all so bright and lush in dooryards or growing wild on roadsides and fields

A little too close on the left as roads narrow and wind on this nearly two-hour drive. (After little to no sleep.)

And there are the green fields under blue skies, the hills rolling up to the mountains. The white sheep and lazy cows. And here a village with the narrow road hemmed in by parked cars on both sides. Jason threads that needle.

We’re into Connemara, the wild, stony mountains etched giants against the summer blue sky. It’s just glorious.  And here’s Galway Bay with its little knots of green islands, spreading out blue. Houses with gardens bright in dooryards, field after green field cropped by sheep.

Narrow, winding roads flanked by tall hedgerow of fuchsia, red drops on walls of green.

A little close on the left!

We’re nearly there, and very early for our check in, but they’ve told us to come ahead.

And it happens.

Around a curve, a car coming on the right. Seriously close on the left this time, and bang we hit the rocks on the shoulder. Oops! The car noisily objects. We pull over when we find a spot.

Two flat left tires.

Text Kat as Jason tries to contact roadside assistance.

At least we broke down in a pretty spot!

Kat delivers her load of luggage and passengers—we’re just minutes away from our house on the bay. After a lot of effort Jason finally reaches a human being who will send that assistance. Savanna and Logan explore the hill behind us, the field across.  Kat comes back for the rest of us. Jason will wait with the car.

And to hark back to Young Frankenstein, we say: It could be worse. It could be raining.

We have a lovely place on the bay with a lot of room, pretty gardens, a green lawn. The views! The air! The glory of not being in a moving vehicle of any kind.

Turns out the follow-car drive from Ashford had been at the airport. We were early; he was earlier, and therefore didn’t get the message we didn’t need the service.

But he’s delighted he’s has the drive, hasn’t been to this area in quite a while. He brings us two welcome baskets from the castle. Wine, cheese, bread, honey, chocolate! A big and tasty surprise.

The mountain range of luggage now spreads through the eat-in area off the kitchen. I ask strong Colt to take my garment bag down to my room. I’m on the lower level, which I guess here is the first floor. Big windows opening out to the patio, flowers, tidy stone walls butting up against the spread of green lawn. And a little fireplace! I may get that going some rainy night.

I unpack that one, go up to the kitchen area where we have the side door to a little porch open for the beautiful breeze. Kayla’s out of the shower and in bed. Not feverish but not feeling wonderful either. I make her some toast—Kat and some of the gang are heading out to get some lunch. I break out the champagne I’d put in the freezer on arrival, have a glass while Griffin and I entertain ourselves.

He’s found a chess board, wants me to play. Neither of us really know how, but it doesn’t stop us.

We have a lot of rooms in this place—one’s a little gym I’ll make use of this morning. Kat brings back a pack of soup mix (Kayla’s request) from the nearby gas station, so I make that while she and JR head to the market.

Take the girl down soup, a slice of brown bread from the basket, some tea with honey. She’s looking better to her nana’s eye.

Time to put groceries away, and have JR carry my other suitcase down. Unpack, wonder if I’ll really need all the clothes I was certain I’d need when I packed them.

Jason’s back! They actually sent two new tires—the others were shot.

I go outside to wander, marvel at the cranesbill which is five times the spread of any of mine. The air feels so good, and the view just gets better. A little white sailboat glides along.

Griffin, never one to miss the opportunity, decides he and I need to have races—three laps, he decrees—over the lawn. He has the advantage as he’s six, I’m not. I’m barefoot, he’s not.

But we run, then apparently it’s time for battle and choosing weapons. He has a Legendary Bow. Well, I want one, too.

 I am, of course, defeated.

In one of the living areas, they’ve set up a Switch. We also discuss dinner and opt for carry out on our first night. We’re tired travelers, which I prove my conking on the sofa during Switch. Wake to find most of us eating pizza or chicken tenders, chips. Logan is conked in his room.

Eat, talk about tomorrow, and everyone thinks it should be a lazy, easy day—not a lot of driving. Clean up the kitchen. Jason and Griffin have conked on the sofa now. It’s barely eight, but we’re all done.

I made it until about nine, just closed the curtains on the windows, and crashed.

Now ready for whatever the day brings after some real sleep that wasn’t at 30,000 feet. But first, I’m going to make use of the gym on a day with breezes and cloudy skies.

Nora

Note from Laura:

I’m learning that coordinating apps, internet and photo types takes a bit of concentration. So I’ll get these up as I’m able.

And you can find my travelogue her: On the Road

L