I agree with your comment about every place in Ireland being beautiful.
I think people need to be there themselves to understand.
Reading your blog has all my senses anxious to go back!
--Diane Copley, retired educator and friend from Sandpoint, Idaho who visited Ireland in September
We met and got acquainted with two Border Collies yesterday.
Both were "beaching it" along with their beloved peeps and a whole lot of other peeps and pups.
Willow, pictured above, likes to bring back his sticks, while Finn has pretty much passed his days of racing at high speeds.
Finn is a senior citizen Border Collie, while Willow is at his prime at 8 years old.
Anyone who has followed any of our other Ireland trips knows that Bill and I make a point of counting the Border Collies just like my brothers and I did with the deer while on road trips with our parents when we were young.
So far, three days into the trip, the count stands at five, but getting to meet Finn and Willow on one of the most glorious days I've ever spent in Ireland was pretty special.
Both exhibited Border Collie traits we've seen over the years, and it was obvious their owners share our deep love for the breed.
The beach was alive with the excitement of dogs running, folks fishing or gathering bait, people swimming in the Atlantic and seagulls soaring overhead.
Who would have ever "thunk it" that people would be swimming on Oct. 1 on the Atlantic Ocean in the far north of Ireland. I have a feeling it doesn't happen often.
There were endorphins aplenty throughout the day as people took advantage of a gorgeous day following a rainy, cold and windy Saturday.
Bill and I kept fairly close to where we are staying at Malin Head, simply driving to nearby towns and taking in the scenes along the ocean shores.
And, I did express out loud to him the same thought reflected above by Diane Copley: how it can be SO beautiful everywhere on this island. It's a phenomenon that never ceases to amaze me or to heighten my love for this place.
We took a short hike overlooking pastures and the ocean shore. Along the way, we met Denise and John O' Doherty aka "Liza" from Chicago.
John's dad was born in one of the area towns and he has relatives still living here. John also is a big fan of "Yellowstone."
We visited and took each other's photos near a shrine to the Virgin Mary where each Aug. 15 the faithful gather to honor the memory of St. Comcille, one of Ireland's patron saints who was exiled to Scotland.
As we continued up the trail, clouds started rolling in, so we turned around and managed to reach the car before getting drenches from a quick rainstorm.
Today we head south and west where we'll stay tonight at another accommodation, new to us. It's a farm B and B near the ocean, so it should be fun.
As always, we've loved our stay here at Malin Head where the familiar faces and new friends have added another wonderful chapter to our Irish experiences.
Thanks so much, Caitriona, Maura, Michael, Lauren, Sarah, Sophie and the Seaview Tavern family.
And, to all we met during our travels yesterday, it was a pleasure.
'Til next time.
Enjoy the photos. Happy Monday.
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