Sat 7th Aug : Tralee - Courtmacsherry

Had a productive day in Tralee yesterday. Found the bus station, and a really cheap/good internet cafe that stayed open 'till 10pm. Made numerous enquiries about ferries and trains and buses as well as updating this blog. Carried on furiously making arrangements today aiming to get them all done by 12 so I could check out of the hotel and move on.

Got a phone call on my mobile from my cousin, which was odd because I was sure my phone could only field texts abroad. Turns out he and lots of other cousins are in Courtmacsherry for a 21st birthday. Perfect.

All sorted. Got the bus to Cork and then another to Clonakilty. Not the bus I had booked, but an even better one. Have to say I really enjoyed seeing the world go by from the comfort of the bus. And it was very comfy. The scenery was great and it finally stopped raining. Actually, would have made a great bike ride!

Got off the bus in the middle of the high street. My bike was in the locker on the roadside so wasnt as straight forward as it sounds. Got covered in oil.

The bike ride from Clonakilty to Courtmacsherry though was sheer bliss.

THIS is how I'd pictured the cycling venture in my head.

Cycled into Courtmacsherry, where Id spent every childhood Summer with my cousins, at about 6pm. As a child, for weeks before my holidays, I used to imagine the drive from Timoleague along the coast road into the village.

I tried to guess who the first person I knew would be. Played the same game now. However, I managed to get all the way through the village to the hotel at the far end without passing anyone I knew by name.



Checked in to the hotel and was pleased to have room 4. This was the room I stayed in with my parents as a child oh...30 years earlier. It looked exactly the same!
Ahh, the somewhat 'Fawlty' Courtmacsherry Hotel, run by the Adams family.


Washed my oily jeans and headed to the Anchor bar to meet cousins Colm & Feena. From there we went on to the 21st birthday party.

To be honest, it was all a bit too much for me. I was already tired & emotional (as in literally - not euphemistically - that came later) having reached journeys end. I was then swamped by relatives and family friends from yesteryear (who all looked like they hadnt aged a day) as well as being introduced to a whole new generation of relatives. People asked me where I had visited but all I could recall was that I was in Tralee earlier today and got the bus to Clonakilty. Didnt sound very impressive. I should, I suppose, have prepared and remembered where the heck I'd been.

After the party we went to the Anchor to see this mad singer. He was like the Muppets 'Animal' in a bad mood on speed. Then on to the hotel.