Day 03 (May 19, 2022)

Off to a slow start this morning, Brian’s back is acting up [like a two year old overdosed on caffeine acting up, but so what], so slow and steady is the way. Started the morning with a wonderful (so so) breakfast from the local Centra, I know i said it was similar to our 7-11, but on steroids, as in fresh produce, a full-time sandwich/hot food person. [Cultural norms: Imagine 7-11’s on the edge of every neighborhood preparing hot breakfast foods everyday] Grabbed what I thought was yogurt, lo and behold it had RICE in it. I’ll be more careful next time. [I grabbed watermelon, finger mash sausages and baguette]. All in, with two americano coffee’s it was around $15.

Next on the agenda was a trip to Shannonbridge, the tiniest of villages. It sits just on the Shannon River (as dark a waterway as the Black River) and has a rather old (250+ years) and impressive stone bridge still in use today. I’m thinking there’s a connection between all that and the village name, what do you think?

There was an interesting self guided tour of the fort which at the same age as the bridge is in surprisingly good shape. [On said tour we found this weathered old oak, maybe three hundred + years old? Looks like my back feels.]

The bridge was built for commerce, supporting distribution of goods in all directions

On the other hand, the fort was built to protect the rear of Dublin, as the English were at full war with the French.

Maybe if the Brit’s had skipped occupying Ireland they could have beat the French down! Could you imagine France having the same status as Scotland? 

Either way, the view from the top of the Fort was spectacular indeed

Then on to Tullamore for lunch, and as would have it, ate at the same place we did last trip. This is where, 4 years ago, we were looking at the menu, and a local gent, said to us, the foods grand, walks us in, and tells the waitress to take care of us, as we are his friends. Again, gotta love the Irish…

[Didn’t even know we were at the same spot until visiting the toilets. I’d recognize those urinals, formerly known as kegs, anywhere]

Drove back to our hotel at Athlone, and managed to stay on decent roads. Roads in Ireland are easy to decipher, M roads are motorways, N is national roads, R is regional, and L is local.  These separate into freeways, highways, narrow county roads and dirt roads with high center humps. You know you’re in for fun with big numbered roads, like L36722. FIVE digits means proceed at risk (unless you’re Brian and it means go fast). Regardless, on any road you can expect to share space with huge trucks, tractors on the road and so on. Most roads not motorways you’ll see sheep in the way, all kinds of fun. To keep it in perspective, the road video from yesterday was a R road. Brian thinks it’s his goal to hit all the L roads in Ireland [damn right], gotta love his commitment to scaring the you know what out of me. Maybe this is why i always lose weight in Ireland. wondering how i can market this…. thoughts?????

Back at hotel, nap time again, hey we old, don’t judge. Then off to the pub, and guess what, Fintar had a huge smile on his face, we caught up, he of course bought both of us a pint. It was good to see the gent, he looks well and is only working 2 days a week, good for him. Full of tips and thoughts…a fine man for us to have known

Plotted our next move, on to Doolin, no Donegal, no Clifden for 2 nights. We passed through for lunch in 2015 and both loved the village and we’ll be visiting spot’s in the area like the Connemara National Park. Might even find time to visit a pub or two.