Tramore Gallops - last riding day

Friday, 25-Sep
Today was our last riding day, and it was gallops (oops! I mean "controlled canters") at Tramore.

Since we weren't actually riding until 2p, Lynn, Maureen, Cyndi and I went up to the Workhouse. Built in the early part of the 19th century, this was the last desperate stop for the poor and destitute. There was a strict regime, and people were put to work at things that did not compete with outside trade. Breakfast was oatmeal and buttermilk, supper was 3 lbs (!!) of potatos and buttermilk, dinner was more oatmeal and buttermilk. The only greens or meat protein they may have gotten would have been from the wild blackberries that are everywhere or fish. There was doctor's calls Tuesdays, and schooling for children. There was no smoking, drinking, gambling, or "illicit reading material". There was a very interesting audio presentation of a woman named Hannah Harrity - a woman who lived through the famine, virtual slavery, eventually finding her way to the workhouse. She was there for a time, then left and became a peddler, eventually dying at age 90. Very compelling place to visit.

Then it was time to change and mount up. We headed back into Horn Head forest, along some tracks, through the dunes, and onto Tramore. It is an incredibly long stretch of sand (you'll remember that we visited it on Wednesday) and there are incredible rock formations at either end. The waves roll in, and its pretty surreal. You can look up the cliffs above you, and see sheep looking down to hear what all the commotion is about. Incredible.

All too soon it was time to head back up the dunes, back through the forest, and home to the stables. Helen, Niamh and Claire will be having dinner with us tonight, and then it will be time to say goodbye.

Its been an incredible week - it lived up to, actually surpassed, all my expectations. I'm not ready to leave. I will never forget this week, and definitely plan to return.

Random thoughts: Wilky joined us for the whole ride, and since, as a dog, he was running up and down investigating everything, I figure he probably went 3 times as far as we did!

It is estimated we did about 15 miles yesterday. So I would say maybe the same or a bit further on Tuesday, maybe 6 Wednesday and maybe 4 today. So these rides are not for the faint of heart or unfit - that's for sure!

Voodoo has been a lovely companion this week, and I am so glad Helen trusted me with him. He's only 5, so still learning alot.

The McGinnley bus comes all to early at 7:30a Saturday morning. Boo!!