Sunday, October 18, 2009

Adventure day, today. Kevin and I were anxious to try out our new GPS. We really liked having one in the rental car. Our GPS voice has a British accent, since Kev ordered it from Amazon UK, so we named the voice Elizabeth. A little tribute to her highness. Anyway, what a nifty gadget, especially useful around the roundabouts. No more stressful exploring for us!

We headed towards Athlone Castle after breakfast, about a thirty minute drive, west, from the farm, to the big city of Athlone, where the swans live. The swans first greeted us three years ago on our way to Ross Castle in County Cavan.



















The River Shannon


















Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul














































We found the castle closed until May, so we scanned the GPS for directions to the Tibetan Gardens at Tullynally Castle, near Castlepollard. Also about thirty minutes from the farm - but east, in the opposite direction. Castlepollard is located on the other side of Mullingar.

So we drove in a large semi-circle back around the farm. Of course the gardens at Tullynally Castle were also closed, but we had a lovely walk around the grounds.















































The drive was very picturesque. Kevin and I actually explored an area near here when we visited Fore.

We enjoyed a delightful outing, arriving back home around 4:00 pm. in a light shower of rain. Heavier rain is in the forecast all week for the entire country, we heard.

Dinner and a DVD movie tonight.