Twas a wet and super blustery day here yesterday.
Nonetheless, Bill and I made the most of the situation.
The day involved a small-world situation at breakfast, dropping off laundry, visiting stores and their owners in Clifden and driving through flooded areas on our way to Westport.
While in Clifden, Bill wasted no time going to Stanley's, a clothing and outdoor supply store where he likes to buy shirts and flies.
Meanwhile, I stopped off at Cullen's, a local coffee and dessert cafe, to say hello to Mary Ann, the proprietor.
I also spent a few minutes visiting with Des Moran and his assistant Lawrence at Des' family butcher shop. Happy to say that this morning's breakfast at our B and B included some of Des' bacon. Delicious!
I met Des on our first trip to Clifden. This time, when I walked in the door, he looked up, thought a second and said, "You're the camera lady."
Des was preparing a tray of sirloin steaks to go in his magnificent meat display at the front of his store. It's always nice to see him and admire his special touch of meat preparation and display.
Our day's activities also included a stop at the visiting center in Connemara National Park where a herd off Shetland sheep trotted through the yard area looking for bites to eat.
We found a geocache in downtown Clifden, and, while dining at Manion's Restaurant, enjoying the company of a charming Welsh couple celebrating their 50th anniversary.
Nice to meet you, Dick and Sue. Since then, we've both seen the You Tube video featuring an interview with Dick, who plays the organ, among other things at his local church.
Our small-world experience happened at breakfast here at Sharamore House B and B while getting to know a group of ladies sitting at the main dining room table.
They were Americans and all related---two mothers with daughters on a "girls' trip" around Ireland. Most were from Colorado, but Mary, one of the moms, told us she'd been through Sandpoint within the last few weeks.
When she also told us she was a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines out of Seattle, I asked if she knew my friend Beth.
Yes, she did.
Beth and her hubby Tom came to visit us at the Lovestead a few weeks ago.
One never knows what fascinating treasures lie behind asking a few questions of perfect strangers.
The timing of our arrival in Westport (about 60 miles from Clifden) provided a new dimension to our many Irish experiences. While driving one of the downtown streets, we encountered a huge crowd in front of a church.
We soon realized that a funeral mass had just ended.
We drove on, but the flower-adorned canal dividing the streets begged for some pictures, so I stepped out of the car while Bill drove on and found a parking space.
As we walked along the canal, we could see that most of the funeral crowd had remained in front of the church.
Turns out the local guarda (police) were organizing the procession where most mourners walk behind the hearse and pall bearers walk alongside.
Soon the procession moved toward the corner and continued walking up another street.
An employee at a bakery where we later enjoyed a pear-almond tart explained that when these processions pass by, it is customary for her to turn off the lights in the bakery and stand outside the door in a show of respect.
We encountered a somewhat biblical experience when I stopped in front of St. Mary's Church to snap some photos of a rose garden.
As I focused on a flower, a gentleman behind me asked, "Do you like my roses?"
Yes, I said, then asking him if he was the priest.
Yes, he said. Then, Bill asked a rather pressing question.
"Do you know where there's a restroom around here?"
The friendly priest pointed to a side door of St. Mary's and said, "Go in there. Just shut the door when you come out."
Bill knows his Bible favorites, uttering one as we walked inside and found the "gents" and "ladies" water closets.
"Seek and ye shall find: knock and the door shall open."
Good timing for sure.
Both traveling to and returning from Westport, we were amazed at the sheets of heavy rain directed by intense winds all along the way. Wild waterfalls were tumbling down the open hillsides, filling water ways far beyond their limits.
Occasionally, water escaped to the roadway, creating some treacherous driving. We felt sorry for those sheep, pictured at the top, which had become stranded on a small plot of land yet to be submerged.
Fortunately, not long after we passed by, the excessive rainfall gradually decreased. Hope those sheep found their way to safer territory.
When we arrived back at Clifden, the rain had stopped completely, allowing us to spend some more time strolling and checking out the store fronts.
Today we'll visit Kylemore Abbey, and with that sun coming on, will do our best to enjoy a hike in the park.
Twas a full day yesterday, rain and all. We enjoyed every moment and every unique experience of this Connemara segment of our visit.
Happy Wednesday.
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