8/18/05

The Road to Delphi

Delphi Mountain Resort and Spa was our next destination. We had retired to the study the night before and sat around the fireplace (The smell of peat was almost a little overwhelming but added a nice ambience.) chatting and people were saying the rain was supposed to let up.

When we awoke the next day it had. Now the only problem was logistics. We had made reservations for three massages at 3:15, and two at 4:30. Junel's was at 3:15 and we weren't sure we'd be able to go at the speed we wanted (leisurely) and still get there on time. So Dave said that he (or Teresa) would switch with Junel to give us until 4:30 to get there and would arrange it with their staff when they got there. They had gotten up earlier, had breakfast, and were ready to go, so they then took off.

We had a nice romantic breakfast alone, got ourselves packed, and took off as well. Just a mile down the hill from Rosleague was a little shop called Avoca Handweavers. They also had a nice view of the Manor from there, so we stopped and got a shot of the Manor and Junel found a little wool scarf that matched the beret she had gotten in Scotland.


Rosleague Manor from across the road from Avoca Handweavers. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)

The next stop on the map was at Connemara National Park. We decided to not stop there, but to forge on toward Kylemore Abbey, which everyone had said was a muststop.


Kylemore Abbey. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)

They were right. Meanwhile a short downpour forced us to stop under a tree to wait it out. About ten minutes later we were back on the road. The hills weren't too bad, though I think Junel maybe had to walk her bike up one. But in general, the countryside was lush, and the hills gently rolling.

It was about 5 miles to the Abbey. We got there as Dave and Teresa were leaving (I'm assuming they skipped the park too). It features a gorgeous castle built in the 1860s as well as a magnigicent Victorian Walled Garden.


Victorian Walled Gardens, Kylemore Abbey. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)


Another view of the gardens. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)


Oh, one more. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)

There was also a small Neo-Gothic Church and they were all nestled underneath a big green mountain next to a beautiful blue lough, or lake.


The Neo-Gothic Church, Kylemore Abbey. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)

We probably spent about an hour and a half there walking around and taking pictures. A little lunch was definitely in order, so we grabbed a sandwich and some "crisps" before we set out for Leenane Village.


"Water Feature," Kylemore Abbey. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)

It was about 9 miles of gorgeous countryside to Leenane and with a wind at our back and the help of some nice downhills, we got there around 3:00. Leenane is a cute little village near the eastern end of the Killary Fjord, Ireland's only fjord.


Killary Fjord on the way to Leenane. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)

Having seen pictures of some Norwegian fjords, this one was quite a bit smaller, but nonetheless beautiful. Some people were sailboarding on it and there were fishing boats all along.

We stopped for a breather outside Hamilton's Bar (no kidding). Junel wanted to stop at a little shop nearby. Since it was getting near 3:15 and we still had about 7 miles to go before Delphi, I was getting a little nervous about her making the appointment.


Hamilton's Bar, Leenane Village. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)

We left at 3:30 and as I expected, when we got around the end of the fjord there was a gnarly headwind. On the map it didn't look very far and we kept thinking, it's got to be around the next bend or over the next rise. I kept looking at my watch. 3:45, 4:00, 4:15. Finally I told Junel I would ride ahead so that I could let them know she might be a little bit late. I think it was 4:20 when I pulled in, and Junel got there at 4:27 with just three minutes to spare.


Delphi Mountain Resort and Spa. (©2005, Williams/Bacigalupo.)

It turned out that they had misplaced Dave and Teresa's reservations. Fortunately, they allowed Teresa to take Junel's massage, and then created a couple of appointments for Dave and Junel. I was happy to sit in the jacuzzi, and then go back and forth between the steam bath and sauna. Ahhhhh, can't you just feel it!

We made dinner reservations for 7:00 and again, great food and just very relaxing. Though Junel and I were beat from the mad race to get there, it was nice to kick back and know we had made it, and were now all done with the bike ride.

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