I have to admit that I am very tired after a long day of driving. The morning started off really well with a great run through the Killarney National Park, quite an awesome way to get the juices flowing.

Unfortunately this run put us a little behind schedule for departure and heading off for our trip to see the cliffs of Moher. The drive was still a picturesque one, and we were very excited about the fact that we had decided to take the ferry across the strait. The boat trip did mean that we missed out on seeing Limerick, but we decided that we didn't care too much as the thought of a ferry ride appealed to all of us.

Of course, we arrived at the port just as a ferry was leaving, but we contented ourselves with walking along the quay and making friends with some local birds, for the hour before the next ferry departed. Amy was not amused by our attempts to befriend the gulls. She is not a friend of anything aviary. She is convinced that they are out to get her.

Before departure, a mist started to descend, and it became worse during the crossing. We hoped it would clear up by the time we arrived at the cliffs, but this is not what happened. In fact, by the time we reached the famous cliffs of Moher, the fog and mist were so thick that we could barely see one another, much less see the amazing vista we had been promised by all who have gone before. The cliffs are one of Ireland's top Visitor attractions, some 214 meters high and ranging out for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean. On a clear day one can apparently see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, the Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. We saw nothing

Ah well! What we also wanted to see were the sea birds as the Cliffs of Moher are home to one of the major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds in Ireland. The area is designated as a Refuge for Fauna in 1988. When the wind was right, we could hear the sea crashing against the base fo the cliffs, but for the most part we saw nothing and heard nothing. Too bad.

Further on the drive, we visited Yeats's tower and even though it was closed (as most things are in Ireland at this time of year), it was well worth the trip. We did walk around the house and it is easy to see where Yeats found his inspiration as a great writer. I felt I might be able to pen a pretty good piece, whilst sitting here for for just a little while. Think what you could do while living here all the time.

Tonight we are staying in Galway, the Venice of the West. But, it was not a good omen that the drive into the city was a nightmare. Another problem with visiting Ireland during the off peak season is that there is construction going on everywhere. This is especially true of the roads. We took the better part of an hour to enter the city, so on arrival at the hostel, all I wanted was to get into my room and sleep.

However, the others are forcing me to join them and head out for supper. I need some good food, and end to the rain (called "soft days" here), and then a really good night's sleep. Tomorrow we head all the way up to Londonderry which is a long trip.