I love cows. They're usually friendly and fairly gentle and once they get to know you, they'll happily follow you around like the family dog.
Lauren and I saw cows every few days when we walked across England last year. We also ran into some nasty bulls and some Momma cows who were protecting newly born calves. Everything I said about cows does not apply to Momma's with calves. Those bitches are mean, and rightly so.
Ireland has Galloway cows and let me tell you what; they are beauties! I can't wait to see our first ones because I'll throw my arms around their necks and hug them. They remind me of Pandas and, from what little I know, they are quite gentle.
Get ready Ireland...I'm getting my cow on.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
The Blasket Islands
I'm a sucker for islands. Always have been, probably always will.
I grew up in western NY and, as a kid, the only islands I knew about where the Thousand Islands. One summer, my parents took my brothers and I on a boat trip through the St. Lawrence Seaway. I was maybe five or six, but I'll never forget it.
Boldt Castle stole my heart and my imagination. I daydreamed about living there when I grew up.
Apparently, I haven't grown up yet, but I am living on an island. Unfortunately, it does not include a castle, but I plan to add that to my husband's to-do list. He's retired and has plenty of time to build us a castle.
I'm still in love with the whole idea of an island...it's magical to me.
Guess what? Ireland is an island.
Guess what else? Off the coast, are the Blasket Islands, which as luck would have it, are also islands. I bet you couldn't guess that from their clever name.
These particular islands are unfortunately no longer inhabited (at least by the living), but they are stunningly beautiful. Lauren and I will add a day to our walk so that we can ferry out to the islands to explore.
Ghost hunting anyone?
I grew up in western NY and, as a kid, the only islands I knew about where the Thousand Islands. One summer, my parents took my brothers and I on a boat trip through the St. Lawrence Seaway. I was maybe five or six, but I'll never forget it.
Boldt Castle stole my heart and my imagination. I daydreamed about living there when I grew up.
Apparently, I haven't grown up yet, but I am living on an island. Unfortunately, it does not include a castle, but I plan to add that to my husband's to-do list. He's retired and has plenty of time to build us a castle.
I'm still in love with the whole idea of an island...it's magical to me.
Guess what? Ireland is an island.
Guess what else? Off the coast, are the Blasket Islands, which as luck would have it, are also islands. I bet you couldn't guess that from their clever name.
These particular islands are unfortunately no longer inhabited (at least by the living), but they are stunningly beautiful. Lauren and I will add a day to our walk so that we can ferry out to the islands to explore.
Ghost hunting anyone?
Monday, November 4, 2013
Kickstart Me, Baby!
From one project to the next, that's how I like to do things. In preparation for Lauren and my next Grand Adventure around Ireland's Dingle Peninsula, we are running a Kickstarter project!!
I heard a few of you in the back mumble, "What the hell is she talking about?" Well, let me clarify things.
Kickstarter is an online, creative way to raise funds for all types of projects. Everything from books to video games to music and art are brought to life through the financial support of people around the world. Since its launch in 2009,4.7 million people have raised over $760 million dollars for all sorts of artistic projects.
How does it work? People like us come up with an idea. They describe it and establish a funding goal with a deadline. People can decide to pledge any amount of money, from $1 to every cent they own, in return for rewards. No money changes hands unless the funding goal is reached. It's a risk, but worthy projects often exceed their funding goal.
Lauren and I have decided to launch a Kickstarter project for our Irish Adventure through the Dingleberry Forest (The Dingle Way). Our goal is raise $3,500 in thirty days. Ultimately, we will produce a hard cover book that chronicles our journey, full of color photos of the landscape, it's people and the cuisine. The money we raise will be used to upgrade our camera equipment, publish and print the book and fund a small portion of the costs of travel. The bulk of the funds will be used for production costs.
We're working to create rewards that will make people want to back this project. Some of them include (for a pledge of $10) a postcard mailed from somewhere along the way, collectible souvenirs ($15) an 11x14 glossy photo of a either a castle or a seaside view made from a photo taken during our walk ($30) and so on. We've tried to offer something for every budget, from $10 to a well over one hundred for those of you who can afford to support "the arts".
The bottom line is that we want to produce a beautiful compilation of photos to accompany the story of our first foray into my homeland. We hope to build a successful Kickstarter project so we can share our adventure with you.
I heard a few of you in the back mumble, "What the hell is she talking about?" Well, let me clarify things.
Kickstarter is an online, creative way to raise funds for all types of projects. Everything from books to video games to music and art are brought to life through the financial support of people around the world. Since its launch in 2009,4.7 million people have raised over $760 million dollars for all sorts of artistic projects.
How does it work? People like us come up with an idea. They describe it and establish a funding goal with a deadline. People can decide to pledge any amount of money, from $1 to every cent they own, in return for rewards. No money changes hands unless the funding goal is reached. It's a risk, but worthy projects often exceed their funding goal.
Lauren and I have decided to launch a Kickstarter project for our Irish Adventure through the Dingleberry Forest (The Dingle Way). Our goal is raise $3,500 in thirty days. Ultimately, we will produce a hard cover book that chronicles our journey, full of color photos of the landscape, it's people and the cuisine. The money we raise will be used to upgrade our camera equipment, publish and print the book and fund a small portion of the costs of travel. The bulk of the funds will be used for production costs.
We're working to create rewards that will make people want to back this project. Some of them include (for a pledge of $10) a postcard mailed from somewhere along the way, collectible souvenirs ($15) an 11x14 glossy photo of a either a castle or a seaside view made from a photo taken during our walk ($30) and so on. We've tried to offer something for every budget, from $10 to a well over one hundred for those of you who can afford to support "the arts".
The bottom line is that we want to produce a beautiful compilation of photos to accompany the story of our first foray into my homeland. We hope to build a successful Kickstarter project so we can share our adventure with you.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
The Dingle In Ten...and then?
Now that my second book has been released, I've spent some time planning this summer's walking adventure around the Dingle Peninsula. Okay, so it's not going to be a coast to coast wallapalooza, but it's going to be very cool nonetheless.
At just shy of one hundred miles, we'll stretch it out over nine or ten days. We begin and end in Tralee, making a circuit of the Dingleberry Forest, I mean the peninsula. Based on everything I've read, we'll walk all sorts of terrain from mountain ridges to beaches to tarmac to boreens. What's even more promising than the landscape is the number of pubs along the way! It's mind boggling; I can't count that high.
But then what? Only eight days of walking won't satisfy the itch in my hiking boots, so I'm trying to figure out a way to zip up to County Mayo to poke around the birthplace of my Dad's father. I've discovered that "Lavell" is a very common name in those parts, much like "White" or "Smith" in the States. I'd like to take Lauren there to reconnect with our history and drink some pints in a place my Dad always wanted to go, but never could afford.
All this planning is making me thirsty...where's me flask?
For those keeping track, here's the game plan:
Tralee to Camp 12 miles
Camp to Anascoul 10.5 miles
Anascoul to Dingle 13.5 miles
Dingle to Dunquin 13.5 miles
Dunquin to Ballydavid 8 miles
Ballydavid to Ballycurane 7 miles
Ballycurane to Cloghane 14 miles
Cloghane to Castlegregory 13.5 miles
Castlegregory to Tralee 14 miles
At just shy of one hundred miles, we'll stretch it out over nine or ten days. We begin and end in Tralee, making a circuit of the Dingleberry Forest, I mean the peninsula. Based on everything I've read, we'll walk all sorts of terrain from mountain ridges to beaches to tarmac to boreens. What's even more promising than the landscape is the number of pubs along the way! It's mind boggling; I can't count that high.
But then what? Only eight days of walking won't satisfy the itch in my hiking boots, so I'm trying to figure out a way to zip up to County Mayo to poke around the birthplace of my Dad's father. I've discovered that "Lavell" is a very common name in those parts, much like "White" or "Smith" in the States. I'd like to take Lauren there to reconnect with our history and drink some pints in a place my Dad always wanted to go, but never could afford.
All this planning is making me thirsty...where's me flask?
For those keeping track, here's the game plan:
Tralee to Camp 12 miles
Camp to Anascoul 10.5 miles
Anascoul to Dingle 13.5 miles
Dingle to Dunquin 13.5 miles
Dunquin to Ballydavid 8 miles
Ballydavid to Ballycurane 7 miles
Ballycurane to Cloghane 14 miles
Cloghane to Castlegregory 13.5 miles
Castlegregory to Tralee 14 miles
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