Cross country

Google maps caculated a journey of 3h 20m to get across to our Airbnb in the Wicklow Mountains but we had all day. I struggled to find anywhere good to stop on the planned route. There was this statue just half an hour away at a viewpoint over a lake but the view was obscured by hedges.

We travelled on and passed through Carrick on Shannon which is a big boating centre - I'm sure it looks better in sunshine. Next we thought we'd stop for a coffee in a town en route but we got caught up in traffic, couldn't park and gave up. We were a bit fed up by now. We had some shopping to get in and happened across a Tesco so popped in. We got the food but, unlike other big Tescos in Ireland this one didn't have a coffee machine. Once back in the car we had another look at the map. We changed our route thinking we would go to the western side of the Wicklow Mountains possibly for a walk but discounted this idea because it was raining heavily. Then I pointed out that if we drove through Kildare we would pass the National Irish Stud. I had come across this when I was researching our trip and thought I'd love to go but our itinerary didn't take us through this area. But now was my chance! Our spirits improved now we had a good plan.

We arrived about 1.30, ate our lunch and finally got our cuppa in the cafe. We joined a guided tour run by a comical fellow who was very clever at describing the covering of mares with phrases and language suitable for children but the adults still got the info.

The M50 has been built close by and, as compensation, the government paid for some beautiful gardens to be built within the grounds.

The new born foals were far away in the paddocks whilst we were on the tour and the guide recommended we pop back up at 3 to see them being led back to the stables and we were allowed to wander freely around the stables seeing all the new borns, then the maternity unit with all the expectant mothers. We watched a lovely video of a foal being born and trying to stand up.

This one is 2 days old;

One of the 8 stallions;

Invincible Spirit is at the stud. The cost to the owner of a mare for her to be covered by this stallion is 640,000 euros! It was a great two hours and we were both really taken by all the foals.

Our drive to our accommodation took us over Sally Gap through the Wicklow Mountains - it was snowing hard. It carried on snowing but it didn't settle down in our village. Kath flew to Dublin then caught a bus and we collected her from a nearby town at nearly 10pm. She was shattered as she had been up at 5 to audit a manufacturer.

Our last airbnb;