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!!
Showing posts with label vacation on horseback. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation on horseback. Show all posts
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Marble Hill
Thursday, 24-Sep
Happy Arthur's Day - apparently at 17:59 (that's 5:59p for those not keeping time) we were all supposed to raise a pint of Guiness to celebrate 250 years of the stuff. That would have been great - except we were still out on horseback.
When we woke this morning, it was...what else? Raining. No matter - riders will ride! Today's adventure began at 11a, when we headed through the water, over the sand, up the dunes, along the road, up a few lanes and onto the sand at Marble Head. We had a good canter, then a good gallop (although there was someone out of control, and a calmer, more serene ponychick did not pull her off her horse and beat her with the stick - but 'nuff said about that here). Then along the dunes, and up the track a little ways were we paused for lunch.
When we pause for lunch on these long rides, there are chairs, a fold out table, the lunches the hotel has packed for us, and the horses get tied to a bush or tree with a bucket of grain, and plenty of grass available - so everyone gets to eat.
Niamh had to go back to teach, so Helen (her mother) took the mount on Rodney and we headed for the old railroad and famine trails. The going on the famine trail this time of year is very boggy. Ciual in fact lost a shoe, and Cindy had to take Clair's mount on Midnight, and poor Clair had to lead Ciual back to meet the truck and farrier, and then ride him home.
The old railroad tracks are really something, there are some areas that were pretty clearly blasted through the hills and the rocks walls rise up on either side of you. All the old ties and stakes are long gone, and its overgrown with grass. Great cantering on the clear grassy parts, with drops on either side of you going down 20-25 ft.
We alternated between clearing and blustery rain today - but whether you believe it or not, you DO get used to it. I'm starting to feel spoiled by heather covered hills, friendly sheep that baa as you walk by, lovely cows, and donkeys, undulating green hills, and looking to see if the top of Muckish is visible or covered by cloud. Surf breaking against the rocks, gallops on the beach, climbing through the dunes, and looking for Tory Island.
We rolled back into the stableyard about 6:15 tonight - a long day's ride. But, since I've long ago run out of superlatives - awesome! I actually stayed to brush Voodoo, gave him my lunch apple, and did some back lifts and stretches with him. I left him blanketed up and eating dinner.
Tomorrow is our last ride (boo!) and our fastest. We ride for 3 hours, heading out to Horn Head Forest and Tramore again - for fast gallops up and down the beach. Helen, Niamh and Clair will then eat dinner with us, and we head back to Dublin Saturday morning. I am going to be very sorry to go - this week has flown by and I am not ready to leave.
Notes:
I have been misspelling Niamh's name (hint: its not spelled Neve :-)
A peat fire is the best smelling fire there could possibly be...I don't know how much I can get in my suitcase however...and it looks alot like a brick of heroin...so it probably isn't a great idea.
They have fushia hedges here....its just like the fushias we spend a fortune for in hanging baskets, but they are everywhere here growing as hedges!
Saw what we think were 2 Golden Eagles hunting a field as we climbed over to Marble Hill.
Happy Arthur's Day - apparently at 17:59 (that's 5:59p for those not keeping time) we were all supposed to raise a pint of Guiness to celebrate 250 years of the stuff. That would have been great - except we were still out on horseback.
When we woke this morning, it was...what else? Raining. No matter - riders will ride! Today's adventure began at 11a, when we headed through the water, over the sand, up the dunes, along the road, up a few lanes and onto the sand at Marble Head. We had a good canter, then a good gallop (although there was someone out of control, and a calmer, more serene ponychick did not pull her off her horse and beat her with the stick - but 'nuff said about that here). Then along the dunes, and up the track a little ways were we paused for lunch.
When we pause for lunch on these long rides, there are chairs, a fold out table, the lunches the hotel has packed for us, and the horses get tied to a bush or tree with a bucket of grain, and plenty of grass available - so everyone gets to eat.
Niamh had to go back to teach, so Helen (her mother) took the mount on Rodney and we headed for the old railroad and famine trails. The going on the famine trail this time of year is very boggy. Ciual in fact lost a shoe, and Cindy had to take Clair's mount on Midnight, and poor Clair had to lead Ciual back to meet the truck and farrier, and then ride him home.
The old railroad tracks are really something, there are some areas that were pretty clearly blasted through the hills and the rocks walls rise up on either side of you. All the old ties and stakes are long gone, and its overgrown with grass. Great cantering on the clear grassy parts, with drops on either side of you going down 20-25 ft.
We alternated between clearing and blustery rain today - but whether you believe it or not, you DO get used to it. I'm starting to feel spoiled by heather covered hills, friendly sheep that baa as you walk by, lovely cows, and donkeys, undulating green hills, and looking to see if the top of Muckish is visible or covered by cloud. Surf breaking against the rocks, gallops on the beach, climbing through the dunes, and looking for Tory Island.
We rolled back into the stableyard about 6:15 tonight - a long day's ride. But, since I've long ago run out of superlatives - awesome! I actually stayed to brush Voodoo, gave him my lunch apple, and did some back lifts and stretches with him. I left him blanketed up and eating dinner.
Tomorrow is our last ride (boo!) and our fastest. We ride for 3 hours, heading out to Horn Head Forest and Tramore again - for fast gallops up and down the beach. Helen, Niamh and Clair will then eat dinner with us, and we head back to Dublin Saturday morning. I am going to be very sorry to go - this week has flown by and I am not ready to leave.
Notes:
I have been misspelling Niamh's name (hint: its not spelled Neve :-)
A peat fire is the best smelling fire there could possibly be...I don't know how much I can get in my suitcase however...and it looks alot like a brick of heroin...so it probably isn't a great idea.
They have fushia hedges here....its just like the fushias we spend a fortune for in hanging baskets, but they are everywhere here growing as hedges!
Saw what we think were 2 Golden Eagles hunting a field as we climbed over to Marble Hill.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Odds and Ends
Wednesday, 23-Sep 8:45pm
Note to self: do NOT begin history lesson of Ireland, including discussion of Molly Maguires, Sinn Fein, IRA, et al at dinner with eavesdroppers amongst the natives. I will be locking our door tonight...apparently it does lock; something I was unaware of and have not done to now.
We saw a golden eagle today - they were extinctified from Ireland, and have only recently been introduced from 1 eaglelet of Scottish nests that contained 2 or more.
Tory Island: its said that Ireland was once inhabited by giants, and Tory Island is where one of them lay down to sleep. He is still asleep there, and you actually can take a ferry there. The difficulty arrives in the getting back. Its a treacherous stretch of water - the worst around these parts. Getting there may work out for you - but don't plan on getting back at a specific time (or day!)
I think that may be it for my post-prandial rantings and ravings....for now.
Note to self: do NOT begin history lesson of Ireland, including discussion of Molly Maguires, Sinn Fein, IRA, et al at dinner with eavesdroppers amongst the natives. I will be locking our door tonight...apparently it does lock; something I was unaware of and have not done to now.
We saw a golden eagle today - they were extinctified from Ireland, and have only recently been introduced from 1 eaglelet of Scottish nests that contained 2 or more.
Tory Island: its said that Ireland was once inhabited by giants, and Tory Island is where one of them lay down to sleep. He is still asleep there, and you actually can take a ferry there. The difficulty arrives in the getting back. Its a treacherous stretch of water - the worst around these parts. Getting there may work out for you - but don't plan on getting back at a specific time (or day!)
I think that may be it for my post-prandial rantings and ravings....for now.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Making Muckish..
Tuesday, 22-Sep
We had our hearty Irish breakfast this morning, and gathered in the stable yard at 11a. We were led off today by Neve, with Clair bringing up the rear.
The weather was sunny, with a bit of a breeze as we started off, and had a wade through the water, then a couple of long gallops along Kilahooey Strand.
Then across the road, and up past both holiday and farm houses. Lots of sheep and cows, and green land like you would not believe. Green like Seattle could be if all developers were penned up and torched so they couldn't keep building over it. But I digress....
Up up up, forever winding up, startling the sheep along the way. We passed a famine graveyard, with both the mass grave for those who were unknown to the area, and those named from the workhouse. We finally left behind the homesteaded portion, and were now riding along the famine track. Literally the track where the evicted and dispossesed travelled by horse or foot or pushing carts to try to get to family, or the coast to emigrate, or anywhere they thought they might find work or food. Ireland lost (depending on the accounting) somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4 of its population during the muliple famine times; to either death, or emigration.
As we neared Muckish, the only other living things we saw besides our own horses were the sheep dotting the hillsides. I don't know (or terribly care honestly) about plant life, but riding through the purple heather was an experience.
We broke for lunch near a Loch, and the horses got a good eat as well. The little car drove up the farm road(s) and brought camp chairs, a collapsable table, and our packed lunches from the hotel. That hot soup never tasted so good! We had a brief shower while we ate (of course!) and then we packed up and headed out again.
We now followed the old railroad track, but it was so muddy from Monday's downpour that we kept it to a safe walk. Lots of sheep, some cows and some lovely donkeys! were our company as we rode along the crest of a hill, and then down toward the sea, where we eventually left the horses to stay the night. The little car came with their blankets, food, and halters.
In all it was an extraordinary day. Not just for the scenary, but seeing history from the perspective NOT written by the winners.
Wednesday (tomorrow) we pick up the horses, and ride back toward Dunfanaghy.
Note: if any of you are following/interested in international politics - the Lisbon Treaty vote is HUGE news over here. Ireland + 2 other nations in the EU voted no the first time it was brought to a vote. Apparently it requires a 100% yes vote to pass. The second round, Ireland was the only hold out. So they are forcing a vote again. I don't pretend to completely understand it, their own EU minister said it was unreadable. It will be very interesting to see if they force Ireland to its knees to vote yes this time.
We had our hearty Irish breakfast this morning, and gathered in the stable yard at 11a. We were led off today by Neve, with Clair bringing up the rear.
The weather was sunny, with a bit of a breeze as we started off, and had a wade through the water, then a couple of long gallops along Kilahooey Strand.
Then across the road, and up past both holiday and farm houses. Lots of sheep and cows, and green land like you would not believe. Green like Seattle could be if all developers were penned up and torched so they couldn't keep building over it. But I digress....
Up up up, forever winding up, startling the sheep along the way. We passed a famine graveyard, with both the mass grave for those who were unknown to the area, and those named from the workhouse. We finally left behind the homesteaded portion, and were now riding along the famine track. Literally the track where the evicted and dispossesed travelled by horse or foot or pushing carts to try to get to family, or the coast to emigrate, or anywhere they thought they might find work or food. Ireland lost (depending on the accounting) somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4 of its population during the muliple famine times; to either death, or emigration.
As we neared Muckish, the only other living things we saw besides our own horses were the sheep dotting the hillsides. I don't know (or terribly care honestly) about plant life, but riding through the purple heather was an experience.
We broke for lunch near a Loch, and the horses got a good eat as well. The little car drove up the farm road(s) and brought camp chairs, a collapsable table, and our packed lunches from the hotel. That hot soup never tasted so good! We had a brief shower while we ate (of course!) and then we packed up and headed out again.
We now followed the old railroad track, but it was so muddy from Monday's downpour that we kept it to a safe walk. Lots of sheep, some cows and some lovely donkeys! were our company as we rode along the crest of a hill, and then down toward the sea, where we eventually left the horses to stay the night. The little car came with their blankets, food, and halters.
In all it was an extraordinary day. Not just for the scenary, but seeing history from the perspective NOT written by the winners.
Wednesday (tomorrow) we pick up the horses, and ride back toward Dunfanaghy.
Note: if any of you are following/interested in international politics - the Lisbon Treaty vote is HUGE news over here. Ireland + 2 other nations in the EU voted no the first time it was brought to a vote. Apparently it requires a 100% yes vote to pass. The second round, Ireland was the only hold out. So they are forcing a vote again. I don't pretend to completely understand it, their own EU minister said it was unreadable. It will be very interesting to see if they force Ireland to its knees to vote yes this time.
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