Ireland Day 14

Today was  a quiet day in that it was a travel day. We woke up to the sunniest day yet, not surprising  as we were leaving Ireland and catching a ferry back to the UK.

No need to rush, didn’t need to leave the cottage until 10pm. We also said goodbye to Derek and Carrie,

we head to Liverpool, they head back to Wales. We had a lovely drive along the side of the Wicklow Mountains enjoying the sun on the hills, and soaking in the villages, shops and farms one last time. We did notice why it is people are gaining weight  it is not the beer, no it is the food as you can see on this sign.

Soon we entered the Port of Dun Laoghaire and make preparations for boarding the ferry. I must admit that while in Ireland, I wanted to see is drinking a pint or two of Guinness each day would cause all excreted bodily floods to turn black. I am happy to report that after 12 days of Guinness, there was not a black liquid leaving my body in any form. At the terminal, we had a picnic lunch and wandered around the terminal before getting on the ferry. This was a high speed crossing on a twin hull (catamaran) ship that has most of its body out of the water.

The Stena Explorer has 4 massive jets that push her across the Irish Sea at close to 30 knots cutting the crossing time very close to half of the usual ferry run, still it takes just under 2 hours to cross.

Good Bye Ireland

Hello Wales

 When she gets to port they swing her around and with jets on the bow back into the port and ferry terminal. Quite cool!

There no sensation of this massive ship turning as she prepares to back in to the port. We land back in Holyrood Wales and proceed to drive towards Liverpool.

 As we near Conway we decide to take a side trip to Conway Castle. This huge castle lies right on the coast and has its walls encompass the city.
 

 "Conwy, constructed by the English monarch Edward I between 1283 and 1289 as one of the key fortresses in his 'iron ring' of castles to contain the Welsh, was built to prompt such a humbling reaction."

 "There are no concentric 'walls within walls' here, because they were not needed. Conwy's massive military strength springs from the rock on which it stands and seems to grow naturally. Soaring curtain walls and eight huge round towers give the castle (a World Heritage Inscribed site) an intimidating presence undimmed by the passage of time."

 Now it was back in the car and on to Liverpool. As we Entered Liverpool we had to take a tunnel under the Mersey, this one of the longest tunnels under a river I have been on and as you approach the Liverpool side there is a side tunnel to take you to a different part of the docks.

We found are hotel and then went looking for dinner. After dinner 5 of us gathered in one room to play Rummikub and have a beer. Before long eyes were drooping and it was off to bed. Tomorrow off to explore the Beatles history.