I would like to preface this entry with a caveat and an explanation --

The excuse: This trip and in particular, the first few days were MUCH more hectic and busy then my typical visits -- partly due to SILs Wish List and partly due to the Thursday afternoon Deadline for being in Cork.

How I typically plan for ANY visit: My usual guideline is to plan as if for TWO trips and then (to use my sons USMC adage), Adapt and Overcome. What that means, in simple English, is that I usually research an area via hints and suggestions from other posters comments, Micheles excellent guidebook and advices and assorted specialty websites, such as Megalithic Ireland, local tourism sites and sometimes, the Links pages attached to some of the accommodation websites. From these choices, I create a list of interesting sites to visit that usually include nearly everything nearby -- even though doing so would require two days time. Then, I calculate a route, with annotations for the assorted detours.

This way, based upon various factors -- we decide to skip a site, the weather isnt conducive to climbing a hill, or trekking through a field, were running late . Etcetera, etcetera I can modify the itinerary On The Fly.

The ADDED benefit is that I need must, invariably, Drop a goodly number of sites from the days agenda -- thereby virtually guaranteeing that we HAVE to RETURN at some future date ---

Day 2: While the ladies showered and shampooed, etc, I did a brief walk about of the strand, then returned to the room to emulate their good hygiene whilst they packed up. We quickly settled up and I drove the car around front ,so that we could load up our luggage more easily. The morning was cold, grey and blustery. We drove into town and located a little café near the Vodaphone shop that the desk clerk at the Esplanade had recommended and enjoyed a quick, inexpensive breakfast and then drove to the nearby Tesco so that I could buy a replacement SIM card for 3 Euro -- It seemed much simpler to do THAT, rather than re-attempting to activate my old one, since I had already purchased the 10 Euro Top Up.

From the Tesco, I drove us North towards the N11 Junction -- but I detoured West, driving through two close together Roundabouts to view the Fassaroe Cross. This one is St Valerys Cross , and is actually located IN Fassaroe -- though there are a number of Fassaroe Crosses scattered about Co. Wicklow. The St Valerys Cross location is namesake to the group. The cross sits along side the Roundabout on a small, raised pedestal and you park on the side of the road -- IN the Roundabout. NOT that doing so is a problem -- I think that I only saw one other car, the entire time that we were there!

After a few pix, I drove back to the N11 Junction and took it South, to the R750, through Wicklow town, then continued South, past Wicklow Head, along the coast, to Arklow. We stopped at the Wicklow Golf Club, parked and followed the path down to the small, stormy and rocky beach -- passing under cart bridges serving the course that laid out above and to either side of the walkway. Its a gorgeous spot. From there, we continued South and stopped again, to park in front of the locked entrance gate to the North Car Park for Brittas Bay. A goodly hike led us through the large car park, past the locked Public Toilet / Concession building to the pathway through the dunes, to one of the longest, largest pure sand beaches in all of Ireland. After a cool, windy romp, we returned to the car and continued following the coast South, into Arklow and turned onto the R747.

That road shadows the Avoca River, through Woodenbridge, where we turned onto the R752 and continued along the river, into Avoca. We turned off there, for a visit to the Woolen Mills and lunch. It was PERFECT timing, it turned out, as about 10 minutes after we arrived, the first of FOUR Tour Buses arrived chartered to Princess Cruise Lines !!! We enjoyed a leisurely lunch watch the hordes milling about, wrangling for seats and suitable bargains

Back on the road, we returned to the R752 and continued along the Vale of Avoca Drive. We stopped again, at The Meeting of the Waters for some photos and I pointed out the bullaun stone resting there. Our next stop was at the Glendalough Visitors Center, for toilet breaks -- and our first encounter with the rudest group of French students -- ever.

They had disgorged from a massive bus, just before we parked and they milled about, blocking every walkway and door, jabbering away, totally oblivious the any and everyone else trying to gain entry. VERY poor National Ambassadors, I would say. The icing on the cake came when two or three, who hovered about, blocking access to a trash can tossed their paper wrappers onto the ground!

With the sky growing darker, we opted NOT to tour the Visitors Center -- particularly since we couldnt see any way through the Invading Gauls -- so I drove down to the Entrance Gate and parked, in the small Car Park along the road to the Upper Lake. We set about exploring St Kevins Monastic site. After an hour or so spent in tranquil adoration, the French students invaded and we fled to the Upper Lake.

It cost 6 Euro to enter the Car Park and the ladies protested my wisdom to do so, but I was on a mission. On our very first visit to Ireland, in 199, SILs wish list included seeing a stone Ring Fort. Timing, weather, our locations and ignorance (on my part) had caused that wish to remain unfulfilled, the, AND in the two subsequent visits that she had accompanied us.

Megalithic Ireland said that there was a caher located just to the West of the Upper Lake -- and I was DETERMINED to find it! I asked the parking attendant where it was located, but he clearly didnt have a clue ???? And referred me to a map in the guard shack. I should point out that he was apparently POLISH and his grasp of English -- though certainly functional -- was less than extensive!

We parked at the far North West end of the car park and took the path from there to the lake. Sure enough, there it was, to our left -- surrounded by a scattering of OLD crosses. Its not a particularly big or impressive a structure -- but it was a genuine, recognizable Ring Fort! We dawdled for a while, enjoying the peace and serenity, but it was getting late and a large Tour Bus stopped, just outside the toll barrier and disgorged a horde of tourists -- apparently AVOIDING the entry charge, since they all walked in, sans vehicle !?!

Back on the road, we detoured back toward town in order to acquire a Diet Coke, some water and two 99s. I then drove us back out, past Riversdale House (where we Self-Catered last June) and onward, through the Wicklow Gap, to Hollywood. The weather kept alternating from blue skies and sunshine to grey, overcast and even short bursts of rain -- but the rain invariably came and went while we were driving and obligingly, always disappeared well before we stopped anywhere. It seemed to get worse as we headed North, or West -- and IMPROVE, whenever I pointed the Focus either South, or East????

Running behind schedule, I edited our itinerary -- so we didnt make it to Blessington, nor to a handful of megalithic sites that lay more-or-less along our line of travel. From Hollywood, I drove South, on the N81, all the way to Enniscorthy. Dropped for our list along THIS stretch, was Moone High Cross, Castledermot, Rathgall Stone Fort and the Castle and Round Tower, at Ferns We DID pause, briefly, in Baltinglass, to view the Abbey from across the river, but we didnt want to arrive in Wexford too tired (or too late) to enjoy our stay

After negotiating the traffic in Enniscorthy, eased onto the N11 and continued South, until reaching the R730 Junction, located just after crossing the River Slaney. I pointed out the imposing Faux Round Tower (built in the 1800s to commemorate the Rising of 98), the ancient bridge and location of The Irish National Heritage Park, but we passed them all by as we headed East, into Wexford town. We turned North and re-crossed the Slaney on the Harbor Bridge, following signs for the R741. Immediately after the end of the bridge is the entrance to Riverbank House Hotel and our accommodation for the night. I had booked another Triple, this one B&B, for 99 Euro.

The helpful and friendly desk clerk provided a map of the town, info on parking and recommended both an EXCELLENT dining option and verified that there was Live Music on, at a nearby pub!

We drove back across the bridge and into town. After a drive by of Selskar Abbey, I parked the Focus in a Car Park at a Dunnes and we walked two short block to the NE to The Yard. Great food, moderately priced amid interesting décor. Well worth a return. After dining, we made our way 2-3 short blocks SW to T. Morris for their Trad Session (every Tues, Weds, and Thurs). Tonights entertainment was a trio -- guitar, fiddle and flute -- true Trad performed for a mostly Local crowd! Most excellent. We arrived about 9:45 and stayed about two hours and then made our weary way back to the Riverbank, to sleep.

More to come ...

Bob

Hi Bob -Great report so far!

Did the Dooley Airport counter move to the new terminal.Last Sept. it was still in the old terminal and was a hike with all our luggage and jet-lag.

Thanks 

Susan

Michele --

This makes #15.  Hoping to return in late September / early October for a visit to the Sligo area, to attend the O'Dubhda Clan Gathering (which is apparently only held every THREE years!?  ) -- among other options .

This was SIL's first visit to the SE -- she's traveled with us, before (Ireland -1999, 2002 and our Spring visit, last year-- as well as New England, in 2001 and NYC in 2011).  Wanted to 'Cram In' as much as possible for her short visit.  Good traveling companion, she.  We mesh well.

PLUS -- she pack lots and lots of 'Snacky Cakes' ...    

Susan -- Dunno WHICH Terminal the Dooley counter is in but it WAS a long hike -- partly, Outdoors --- heading towards the Parking Garages.  Once we had secured our paperwork we went through some big glass doors and rode an elevator down a floor to a ground-level parking area, turned Left to clear the elevator structure / support wall and the Left again, onto a sidewalk that led to an access road.  I could see the SAS Radison Blu from there.  That's where we were picked up by the shuttle bus.

Hope that helps ???     

Bob