Laura’s note:  sorry to be a little late today, gang.  My husband and I are moving to Maryland tomorrow so it’s been chaotic to say the least.  I think I have everything set to post tomorrow and Tuesday’s travelogues from my tablet.  Fingers crossed!   

All packed up, and once again Kat performs her logistical miracle so all the bags fit in the car. They’re prepping for another wedding as we check out and head on our way. It’s goodbye to the wild Atlantic coast and the mountains, and onto Cong.

It’s a shortish drive under skies that can’t decide whether to beam or brood on mostly skinny, windy roads that cut through land going softer. Long, wide fields and gentle rolls, many sheep–some recently shorn.

Either a huge farm or several together, with wonderful miles of stone fences climbing up the hills. We’re rattling right along–and yes, for those who’ve asked we–or I should say BW–drives here. He’s got a knack for driving on the left. I don’t, therefore save lives by sitting in as navigator.

We’ve gone wrong somehow, missed a sign and gone east rather than west. Pull over near a pub. A man’s having lunch in his lorry with his family. He’s probably working on the construction there, and we expect his wife and kids brought his lunch. He’s happy to give BW the right way, though it takes some thinking, some conversation, and some suggestions from the wife and kids as well.

And we’re back on the right road again.

Before long there’s the signs for Cong, then the wonderful gates of Ashford. The gatekeeper opens for us so we can drive through the gorgeous old trees, all shadowy and green, toward the shining lake, and there the majestic gray spread, the towers, turrets of the castle against the pale blue sky.

There are places that speak to you, and this is one for me–it was so the first time I saw it, and it’s no different now. We’re greeted by the doorman, with warm welcome backs, and go inside for more greetings by the manager and lovely staff.

I’ll be doing a tea with readers here on Sunday, and the staff has been so helpful setting it all up. We’re early so we’ll have a bite until our rooms are ready.

They’ve done some redecorating since we were here two years ago. The tea room is done is regal blues now, and a vase of huge white calla lilies stand on a piano. But the best are the views out the wall of windows to gardens and green and the shining lake with its knuckles of islands.

Once we order I have to walk outside. Cool damp air, sunshine, all the flowers white in orderly lines around a fountain, the woods and their green shadows to one side, and the lake ahead. I can hardly wait to start exploring it all again.

Back in. Our poor Kat is still under the weather, and we hope the chicken soup she’s ordered helps a bit. I’m after the farmhouse cheeses, and they’re all wonderful.

Antonia–my British editor–and her team arrive. We’re all looking forward to the tea, and will meet up in the morning. I hope they enjoy their night at the castle as much as I know we will.

We’re shown to our rooms. Ours, the same one we stayed the last time, has some new elements. A second bathroom so there’s two now off the bedroom above the parlor, and a little TV right up in the posters of the bed!

But it’s still the views.

We go up–and up–to Jason’s and Kat’s room in the tower. Oh, it’s marvelous! A parlor down, then up more stairs to the lofty bedroom with it’s high views of the lake and the woods.

Down to unpack, then off for a walk. I’m going to the village, and BW walks about halfway with me.

I love the sloping streets of Cong, the massive ruins of the abbey, the little shops and pubs. There’s a statute of Wayne and O’Hara in honor of The Quiet Man, and flowers galore.

I poke into a shop I remember from last trip, bag more Christmas gifts, then another–doing well here–and yet one more on my circuit around the village. But this time I buy myself a sweet little pair of earrings in addition to gifts.

I circle around, start the climb back. It’s tempting to take one of those little paths into the woods. There’s magic in there, but it has to wait a bit. We’ll all explore, do the hawk walk, take a trail ride, and just walk and breathe.

We’re decided on room service, to give Kat one more night to rest. And to watch Tumble. We’re hooked!

An early night–fun work tomorrow. And I watch a little Ironman (love me some Ironman) on the four-poster TV.

Sun and clouds this morning, and a view of the gardens, Lough Corrib and the mountains beyond, dreamy with distance. If you can’t relax here, where?

Very happy to be back.

Time to get myself ready for a busy day that promises to be fun.