We are missing our family and we’ve been lucky enough to see a bit of Louis and Niamh on this trip and have little snap shots of our grandchildren Bear and Nely via WhatsApp video but this week we were being joined not only by Louis and Niamh but also Joel, who is still in Europe and Mai, my sisters youngest daughter who has come from Belgium.
We met up with them all at Lakeside Camping in Mount Shannon along the banks of Lough Derg. A very natural looking site, that is obviously very popular with the vast number of pitches dotted around a very wild looking site but virtually deserted now, so we got top spot next to the lake. That’s the beauty of travelling out of season you, get the best pitches!!
The weather for the afternoon was perfect for a lake swim, the water was dead calm, clear and warmish. The boys decided to try out the kayak we had bought along and went off in search of a pair of white tailed sea eagles nesting on an island close by. They managed to kayak close-by and see them fly off and even those of us onshore saw them from a distance.
The only draw back to being next to the lake with no wind was the number of midges, so after supper outside we headed into the Moho to finish the Cliffs of Moher jigsaw. The cliff section had almost got the best of me and Bob at times, so what a celebration we had when we completed it!!
Louis had a plan the next day to take us mushroom foraging – he had completed a course around this area and was keen to practice his skills. We were all really up for walking amongst ancient woodlands at a slow pace searching for different fungi. Louis skills and a few apps helped us find some fungi, but since it’s been a pretty dry summer, it wasn’t as abundant as we’d hoped. Of course rain was forecast that night and they would all pop up after we had left!
We did find a few varieties but in the end we decided not to eat them as there weren’t enough that we were confident to eat but it has spurred on my desire to learn more about fungi foraging.
We covered a few miles during the search and followed it with a swim, (this time the lake water was more choppy so no kayaking) so we felt we deserved to head into Mount Shannon village for Guinness and Pizza. The downside was that they wouldn’t let George into either pub or restaurant, so we had to sit outside (under shelter) in the drizzle to eat our pizza!!
It was really lovely to have family time and we were sorry to say goodbye. This was the last time we would see Louis and Niamh too. It’s been so nice to share some of our travelling with them and we will miss them but I am very excited about the next part of our journey….Galway has been on my wish list for a long time and here we come!!
3 Responses
What an adventure you’re on ! And I believe you were given a book on foraging before you left ? We’re in Cornwall for couple nights prior to Rob returning to work on Thurs after a 7 week break !! By chance, reading through a book about Looe ( St.Georges ) Island, came across a very old recipe for elderflower ” champagne ” Have saved it on my phone for future reference 😁😁
Great set of photos. Timing perfect for family and location. Weather looks good.
Looks fantastic and wonderful to meet up with Family. Love following your trip.