My dear friends Derek & Lynda will be returning to America in 10 days (boooo) … and I will miss them until they are back in Ballinamore for a lengthy visit (yehhhhh) … real soon this year.
I asked Gabriel Owens if he would take them and moi on a tour of the land and lakescapes around Ballinamore … he has done this before for other friends of mine as I don’t have a car … or a sense of direction.
The day started with Coco waking me when the light came in the window at 8am … I’m a bit worried about the summer morning light … 4.30am!
It was a very cold but gorgeous clear sky day.
Gabriel drove us around many Leitrim and Cavan bends … to a radius of just under 10 kms.
It’s astonishing how the landscape changes in such a small area.
I’m going to now just show you the story in images … and I don’t know all the names of the places we stopped … so just enjoy the beauty.
Many many thanks to Gabriel … I just love my good neighbours.
Lynda & Derek at the waterfall just outside of Aughnasheelin. Gabriel thinks I could cycle there from Ballinamore … yeh right.
Pronounced … pool an ass … Gabriel told the meaning … something to do with donkeys/asses carrying loads and stopping at this pool for water.
Top of the waterfall where mad Irish friends of mine have actually gone swimming in the summer … say after me … too cold … too cold.
me with Lynda & Derek
I adore the sculptural quality of trees in the winter
An ancient sweat house … thousands and thousands of years old. This one would fit 2 or so people sweating over hot rocks. They were built near running water so you could throw yourself into the cold afterwards … mad mad mad.
small stream by sweat house
Gabriel telling a great story … he is a font of knowledge about the area and always willing to help.
This is turf that’s been thatched to protect it … we were now up the mountain area
The landscape becomes quite desolate … and this was where thousands of people were made to settle from Ulster in the 1800′s … forced settlement … many walking.
Quite a few Ballinamore people would be related to the Ultachs.
This was one of the wee stone sheds built by the settlers to hold their tools.
yeh – gorgeous
In the distance you can see Lough Allen and Drumshambo
People talk about living up the back of a boreen … meaning way way away. Boreen (probably spelt wrong) means … small road. Sure was … we stopped and moved off the road a few times to let cars by.
Isn’t the light wonderful?
an old schoolhouse … window set high so children couldn’t look out … lovely … I’d still have day dreamed against the wall!
one of the myriad of lakes in Leitrim & Cavan … south Leitrim and parts of Cavan are closer in distance than North to South Leitrim.
The island holds a cemetary. People get there by boat … and I’ve heard stories of a year when it was so cold that the lake froze … and people could walk over.
The church in the background is waaay over a thousand years old and has been catholic … protestant … catholic … protestant … depending on who ruled in England. The big boat takes the casket and then people are ferried to the island in the little boat … think it’s Gabriels.
love the light and stillness … the clean air … no traffic … bird song … lucky us who live here … I am always grateful and delighted.
Hope you enjoyed our magical mystery Tuesday tour.
Slan
Liz
Oh, I have so much more to see! You should be employed by the local tourist board. Beautiful, beautiful pictures…Pam
Thanks Pam
I love this whole area and it just comes through in the photos.
Liz
Liz, Pam’s right! You could be paid for doing what you do so beautifully and happily! [g]
Thanks to you and Gabriel for this gorgeous tour! I appreciate it so much this morning–our temperatures in Southern New England are in the single digits and there’s a bracing wind, too. I am just longing to be outdoors again! So this is an entry I will bookmark to view again and again ’til it warms up a bit. Oh, I’ll bet Gabriel’s commentary was priceless, too. [s] How generous of him to show your friends ’round the area.
As for young Coco getting up with the first light of day: inevitable, I suspect. That was the cycle of my life with four cats for many years. The first ray of light, the first bird stirring and they were up. Which meant I was, too. [s] But it helped make my spring and summer days very productive ones. [vbg]
Thanks again, Liz, for sharing your magical tour!
Your pics were a lovely surprise Liz. I adore it up there. I’m always amazed our broad band can “see” our dish from there and I always think of those Ulster settlers when I see that stone, as we Ulster settlers (Co. Antrim) moved here 1 year ago almost to the day. Aren’t you lucky to have such good friends. Gabriel is such a lovely chap, he knows everything! He even knows our house and the guys we bought from, even way out here, we were very impressed. It is a pretty unusual house.
Give Coco a hug from me, I’ve become addicted to the Dog Whisperer on Sky, it makes me want to run to the pound and get a couple for an ultra-loving home, better wait till finances improve though! Or I won’t be able to afford doggy caviare!
K xox
HI Anne and Kerry
I’m delighted that the photos bring you pleasure.
It was a gorgeous winters day … unlike today … soggy, cold, windy, rainy … I’m snug by the fire.
Liz
I’ve had a lot of people stopping me in Ballinamore and telling me how much they loved these photos … that delights me… many thanks.
Liz
I have learned some essential things through your blog post. One other subject I would like to mention is that there are many games available and which are designed specially for toddler age youngsters. They involve pattern acceptance, colors, wildlife, and shapes. These normally focus on familiarization rather than memorization. This will keep children and kids occupied without feeling like they are studying. Thanks for posting Magical Mystery Tour Tuesday Liz Biz – a rendezvous of musings.