Day Nine: Inis Mor

I think it’s safe to say that for all that can be said about me, I’m solidly a morning person. Even on vacation I’m waking up at 5:30 am without an alarm clock.

Today is going to be potentially problematic weather-wise. There’s a chance of rain that’s meant to be ending a little while after we arrive on the island, and then it’ll start back right around the time we arrive back. However, I’m not pinning my hopes on the forecast and I’m bringing and umbrella as well as a garbage bag to stuff anything I don’t want getting wet, in case of a downpour. Because I’m biking Inishmore today!

I got ready and then hung around the room a bit killing time, then went to the shops to pick up a few snacks for today, before going and installing the tube caps on my rental car. Nothing wrong with an additional safety measure! The ferry to the Aran islands leaves at 9:30 am, but you’re meant to get there 30 min. early, so I hedged and headed down around 8:40 am. It’s a very short walk (I booked this hotel specifically so I could get to the ferry with low stress) and I got in the line with plenty of time.

We boarded at 9 am and I got settled and working on my cross stitching. It’s 1.5 hours to Inishmore (Inis Mor) and 2.5 hours back, so of course I brought something to keep myself busy. The trip to the island was relatively calm and we arrived right after 11 am. I had reserved a bike, so I picked it up and got on the road.

Safety! I immediately missed my own bike. And my biking gloves. Because they’re not really for the handlebars. They’re to protect your hands when you come off the bike. And with all these rocks, very real possibility…

There are several ruins all over the island, but the one I wanted to at least see was Dun Aonghasa, a 45 minute bike from the port at Kilronan. Along the way I stopped at one of the areas that’s known to have a seal colony, and I was able to get some pictures of them sunbathing. There was also a snack bar so I got a coke and some Salt and Vinegar Taytos (chips).

Roan Inish wasn’t filmed here, but seals!

I continued on down the road to Kilmurvey Beach, and then I arrived at Dun Aonghasa around noon and parked the bike. There’s a bit of a hike to the actual site, so I really got to get my legs moving today! I managed to make it up to the fort without a sprained ankle (success!) and the view was spectacular.

The entire walk up to the fort looked like this. Well…most of Inis Mor looks like this. It’s basically just one massive rock that some grass is miraculously able to grow on.

Dun Aonghasa (Dun Aengus) is an ancient fortification on the north end of the island. This place is desolate and from here you can see a good bit of the entire island. It is an extremely important archaeological site since they have dated the construction back to 1,100 BCE. And the entire thing is built on a cliff 300+ feet above the Atlantic.

I do appreciate that the site hasn’t been marred by the addition of railings, but it’s wild how much Ireland trusts the general public compared to the United States. There are plenty of warnings, but if your dumb a&$ steps off the ledge, that’s a you problem.

https://video.wixstatic.com/media/76102c_302993c353b0419f8c55f3c9698b5ca2~mv2.jpg

I made my way back to the shops at the foot of the dun and took the opportunity to get myself an Aran Island wool cap. I likely won’t need it on this trip since it is SO sunny today, but I wanted to get myself some of their knitwear while I was on the island.

Next stop was Dun Beag, which is a collection of standing stones in the middle of a bunch of rock wall fields. Just getting the bike up there was an experience, so after I got to see the site I decided to head back down to Kilronan to find a bit of lunch. And as difficult as it was to get up there, it was even worse getting back. Because Google Maps put me on a “road” that was aspiring to be a road at best. I had given myself plenty of time to make it back, but I was definitely getting concerned that I had gotten lost in the middle of a cow pasture and I was going to pop a flat.

I took that picture halfway along this adventure along this cow path/road. By the end I was much less cheerful and much more terrified.

I carefully made it down this dirt/rock road until it finally turned into pavement right outside of town. I made my way back to the bike rental and dropped it off so I could head to the pub.

Or The Bar, to be precise, since that’s what the pub was called. I ordered sticky toffee pudding, chips, and a cider. And after a solid morning of biking and hiking, everything was delicious.

I got to relax and chill and enjoy the best sticky toffee pudding I’ve ever had (wish you were here, Dad!).

I relaxed for a bit then it was time to queue up for the ferry back to Galway. I managed to get a seat on the right side of the boat so that I would be able to see the Cliffs of Moher from my window, and they were spectacular.

It was a total of 2.5 hours back to Galway, so we got back at 6 pm. I dumped my stuff off at the room and was at McNeill’s Bar for dinner by 6:30. I was hungry after a full day of biking! Dinner was great and then I crashed for the night (after a face mask). I’m turning 40 tomorrow. Got to take care of this skin!