Tuesday 22nd June Beara Peninsula

The nights start drawing in today! What a cheery thought!
As there is another coach party (Terry Bushell) and also another group in the hotel the breakfast times are arranged by the hotel and are seemingly set in stone.
We have been allocated a breakfast time of 07:30 which is earlier than I would have liked. I ask at reception if we can stagger the breakfast so that the passengers can have a more relaxing experience but they will not do this.
We are not going out until 09:30 so there is a bit of a gap to fill.
It is too early for me today so after sorting the coach out I enjoy a coffee and bacon sandwich in a local cafe.
It is our longest day today and the drive I am not really looking forward to. Part of our journey is on a very narrow road that I wouldn't normally use but after doing a recce here I asked the landlord of the pub we shall have lunch in and he said they get a few coaches coming that way. The only saving grace is the very quiet roads.
So off we go and climb into the mountains going over the Caha Pass. The weather is sunny and cloudy with the clouds very high above the mountains so our views are not spoiled.
We stop at Molly Gallivans Cottage for tea and coffee and a look around the shop, audio visual show and nature trail.
Molly Gallivan is a bit of a local hero who, after being widowed, had to bring up seven children. To supplement her meagre income she would sell anything she could grow or make, including her own Poitin, or whiskey known as Molly's Mountain Dew, which she sold in a sibbeen (an illegal pub!)
We spend a very pleasant hour here before our drive over and through the Beara Peninsula.
We witness some stunning scenery passing through woods, alongside and above the sea, pretty unspoilt villages and a few sharp bends!
As we near our lunch stop in the village of Allihies the roads narrows quite considerably with few passing places. It really is against my better judgement that I am driving along this road and can't wait to reach our destination.
We are only about a mile from Allihies when we come up against a few cars who will have to reverse. The only problem is the first car has a driver who cannot reverse! Soon, after a few unsuccessful attempts, the elderly driver changes places with his younger passenger who isn't a whole lot better! Eventually we make it and I'm told off by the young driver who threatens to tell the Garda. I can understand his frustration but I am not doing anything wrong and am allowed on this road although I wouldn't do it again!!
With a sense of relief (the second day running!) we arrive in Allihies and O'Neills pub in the centre of this colourful village.
I had called ahead so they were ready for us and both the food and service was excellent.
The village is an old copper mining village that is now more of a holiday village with it's brightly coloured houses and nearby golden beach. What a lovely spot.
The road from here is better and the scenery lovely but not quite as dramatic as we witnessed this morning.
We arrive back at the hotel by 16:30 after a good, if eventful, day out.
Dinner is again at 18:00 tonight in another room upstairs from the restaurant.
I sit with Len and Debbie Veals, their daughter Fran and grandaughter Milley and Bob and Elsa Tapp.
As soon as the starters have been cleared away Milley decides to come and sit next to me keep me entertained throughout the meal. She is a delightful and confident little five year old.
I go for a walk after dinner and marvel at the number of pubs in a small town! Never a bad thing!