Day 16

Dad was traveling with us again today. We decided on going to Dingle to try the ice cream, because it is considered by some to be one of the top ten ice cream parlors in the world! On the way we stopped at Ballycarbery castle. It was located out in a cow pasture. It was the only castle on the entire trip that we were allowed to climb on, all the other castles had big signs “No climbing”. Jack, Bria, and Landon loved it from the stand point that we could climb on it where ever we wanted. The castle was covered in vines of ivy, and other weeds. When we walked up to it we could see where the door once was, and the stairs that led up to the second floor. There were many big windows, and interesting passage ways to walk/climb through. After walking and climbing for about 25-30 mins we headed back to the car. Right as we were walking out of the gate Mom asked Dad if that was a bull, standing right there? Dad said, “Yes.” We quickly scooted out and started driving towards Dingle for ice cream.

The scenery was gorgeous, with the rolling green and brown hills all around. When we arrived in Dingle, we found a parking spot and started walking to Murphy’s ice cream parlor. There were many little stands with food, and shops everywhere. Once we found Murphy’s we picked out two flavors of ice cream. And that, my friend, is hard, when there are many different flavors that all look really good! I don’t remember what flavors we all picked, but I do remember that there was a really good super dark chocolate ice (dairy free) that was the BEST! Mom and I loved it. Mom got a cup of dark chocolate ice and I had one scoop of it on my cone with another flavor Raspberry. Landon liked the ice cream so much he bought a ball with the words, “Murphy’s Handmade In Dingle Ice cream that knows where it is coming from!”

We walked around the town eating our cones and enjoying the sunshine and shops around us. We went into many of the little stores and saw many interesting little trinkets. After Dingle we started the longish journey back to the lodge. On the way back we had to travel on one lane roads, with a little wall on the left side and over that was a straight drop and the other side, mountain. At one place on the road there was a pull off and a couple cars were parked and people were climbing up the rocks a ways. We wondered what was up there so we stopped and got out and climbed up. Jack, Bria, and Landon got to the top first and Jack then turned around and came back to get his fishing rode and to tell us that it was a crater lake. Shortly after Jack got back up and was fishing, Bria walked right down to the edge of the water. Jack said, “Bria don’t walk there it is really slippery!“ But she did not listen and one step farther sent her down into the water. Dad then ran right up to grab her hand before she went out any father. Mom and I yelled “don’t”, but he did not hear and out he went. He only got as far as his waist before he caught himself and got out. Bria did get hold of Dads hand and was pulled out. Dripping wet and cold, we headed back down to the car. We started the car to get the heat going so that Bria would not freeze.

When we arrived back at the lodge, I build a fire and we started drying the clothes and Dad and Bria’s shoes. Dad then went up to work and we went to the playground again. After dinner Mom read us more of Black Beauty, and we went to bed early, because we need to be up at 5am the next morning, to be on the road at 5:45am. We were headed to Skellig Michagel island for the day.