Autumn Colour

Sunday turned out to be grey and damp; rain was not far away. We didn't plan on staying too long as P wanted to get back for her mother's birthday.

First thing, Pauline was up and out on her bike. A sycamore on the far side of the lake had attracted her attention; the yellow colour and surrounding trees were quite autumnal - so I was dispatched for a photo.

Unfortunately I got lost following the "black" trail through a planting area where large numbers of tree species were planted close together and a name plate planted before each set. Mostly common species that didn't look special, but a big group of Chilean Pine looked quite bizarre.

The path out this way was barely fit to walk on. While struggling up one of several steep hills I bumped into a local who thankfully chittered away as I got my breath back. He told us, Donegal has joined the ranks of "No Overnight Camping" sign-posters just like the Scots. Mind you, this was round Bunbeg so maybe its not a generic thing.

Just as I was coming back onto a known path, I came across a batch of possibly Lime trees whose vivid green leaves had turned yellow and sometimes bright red. The forest floor was a carpet of yellow and as rain began to fall, more leaves fluttered down from the branches. I tried to capture the falling leaves but it didn't quite work out.

Shrooms

The woods around the touring site are home to a huge variety of fungi; or so it seems to me.

When we were last here a few weeks ago, I snapped quite a few interesting specimens. This time there are even more. Most often growing either on fallen trees or growing trees perhaps diseased. I caught this little fella peeping out all alone in the leaf litter.

Some look like chanterelle and definitely good to eat. Others were dangerous for sure, looking like decomposed meat - dark and probably very smelly.

I should put all these fungi pictures up somewhere so someone can name them for me...

Misty Morning

Saturday morning and the previous nights forecast turned out to be accurate. From 7:00am or earlier, a fog covered the land. Bands of mist floated above the lake. Trees hid amongst swirling cloud just waiting for mysterious horsemen to gallop from nowhere.

There was a lot of activity toward the field above us, cars and vans to-ing and fro-ing. While P drifted down toward the lakes, I cycled up the hill to see what was going on.

I didn't need to go far before I discovered crowds of PS kids making a racket just standing still in groups. Several tents were being erected in the field; looks like some was expecting to camp over-night!

Continued up through the forest and after turning left off the road onto a track barely visible beneath the copper carpet of leaf litter, I came across a fine view through the trees to the sun forcing its way through the mist. The forest bordered farmland here; the grass was covered in so many spider webs glittering with dew, it looked as it snow had fallen or an extreme hoar frost had hit. On the brow of the hill, six trees were dimly visible through the mist.

Some very atmospheric pictures like this one of a web spun between hawthorn branches in the hedgerow.

Sloes in Drum Manor

This weekend we went hunting for sloes down Cookstown way.

We rushed off so quick we had hardly any food to eat; not at all like us. Paused in Magherafelt for what P reckoned should be the finest chips in the province - well, West of the Bann anyways. Sadly they did not live up to expectations. While P fetched the chips, I went in search of some wine to accompany them. Searched through a local mall and not a whiff of a bottle shop; I had to ask in Dunnes where the nearest offy was and suddenly my head sprouted horns. Oops

Arrived fairly late and had a panic refill of water as P had emptied it all on her last trip. The regular Drum Manor site was full to capacity - must be the final weekend of the "Caravanners Club" (we bumped into them last year about this time in Gosford). It promised to be a cold night - not a cloud in the sky but a wonderful view of the Milky Way.

The Drum Manor Triffid

Off to Cookstown this weekend searching for the elusive Blackthorn. We spotted some down in Fermanagh but there were not many; I suspect we were parked beside a sloe bush in Cookstown then so we will have to check...

Yip, it was a sloe bush - so we now know of two new sources (in addition to the Nendrum tree), all we need is the first frost and we can start picking.

Encouraged by this first bush, expected there would be more nearby so I wandered off through the forest. Found loads of mushrooms - or toadstools.and what appeared to be blackthorn but with no berries. Next to the field just above the site, a hedgerow formed the boundary between the forest and the open space - a mixture of hawthorn, holly and blackthorn. But still no berries, not even haws.

Kept walking through the trees as the light began to fade. Came across this wondrous tree sprawling with branches all akimbo. In the twilight it looked most impressive but despite various attempts with and without flash and even in the clear light of day (this picture), I couldn't replicate that moment I first encountered it.

Castlewellan

It seems like a long time since we were away, but its only a couple of weeks.

Zoomed quickly to Castlewellan planning to take the bikes up the long path over the hills.

As preparation, skirted the lake as usual and caught this amazing view with the lake almost as still as glass with near perfect reflection of the trees and hillside.

Next day we set off up the hill this time with Erinne's picnic backpack getting its first airing. After the entrance to the Arboretum, the starting hills were extremely steep forcing us to walk only. The first viewpoint was a welcome recovery point. But it seems my recovery rate is not what it was - not much further on, a group of visiting Poles made fun at my expense as I stood gasping for air. Soo embarrassing!

Finally made it to the top, even up to the trig point.

Along the ridge to spectacular viewpoint looking across the forest, the lake and beyond with Slieve Donard just visible in the distance. Very difficult to get a photo to do justice to this sort of view.

After this is was downhill all the way and it did not take long to descend, the hills were steep with bikes racing at dizzying speeds - began to make notes to self about buying a helmet.

Lakelands

Ah, the Bank Holiday Weekend - we needed this break.

Started on Friday with a quick jaunt to Drum Manor, Cookstown. Think this was the first time I had visited Drum Manor with a bike so spent the next day exploring the lake and other paths.

The park has quite a varied landscape around the lakes or ponds. Formal paths infront of the old house ruins, running down to the lakeside. Regular shale forest paths through different parts of the forest. Then almost tracks through plantation areas.

We wanted to get to the Lakes in Fermangh so we headed off before much longer and just managed to Clonelly as darkness was descending.

The next day we spent mostly at Castle Archdale. First we cycled from the marina car park round the coastal path exploring some of the outlying remants from the war. On one section of shore - perhaps by the "Burma Road" found a sloe bush reasonably lush with fruit; one to remember for the future.

We continued round through parkland arriving at the Butterfly Garden. The day had heated up nicely so this was very pleasant; first walking through the wildflowers in bloom: red, yellow and blue flowers. Caught a poppy head with almost translucent petals. In a section of several Buddleia, several different types of butterfly flitted about the bushes. Was quite difficult to get a decent picture with wings open and lit properly.

We finished up at the remains of the Castle itself and took in the Wartime Airbase exhibition. I remembered this from when we visited from Fintona. The exhibits had improved I suspected cos they kept me well interested. When we started to get hungry, headed into Enniskillen to sample the Greek restaurant

Connemara 12th

We journeyed to Letterfrack for the 12th week.

On the way down we got distracted as we crossed the Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon, a pretty little town. Apart from the obligatory stop in Westport the trip was uneventful.

Out on the shore-line in the campsite we had discovered years ago with the kids when used the big family tent. Neither the site nor the location have changed much. There are perhaps more static vans about than before.

First couple of nights we stayed in an open field sheltered from the sea breezes. Later we moved onto the lower site when we were able to bring the van right out to the edge of the site almost sitting on the beach itself.
In the evenings as the sun set behind the islands in the bay, we caught the most glorious views.

The weather was so good, we barely moved from this location for a couple of days just enjoying beach walks and sunning ourselves.