Blown Away

All the guide books say Galway is a compact city that can be walked around in a day.  The people we've talked to in town all say the same  thing.  Yesterday we were going to take our shot at doing just that.  The wind had other things in mind. 

William running from the camera.

Jeff taking it like a man.

We started our walk by going across the street to the beach and walking out on the causeway toward a lighthouse we saw yesterday. The wind was really picking up as we walked along the beach, by the time we made it up onto the causeway it was getting hard to walk in a straight line.

Jeff soaking up the sun during an all too brief sun break

Looking down the road to the lighthouse

The tide is going out

Looking back toward the Claddagh, home of the famous Claddagh Ring

Looking toward Salthill on the other side.

This is a far as we could go

Out walk was cut short by a gate with a Not Open to the Public sign hanging off of it.  I was disappointed that we would get to reach the small island but I was happy to turn my back on the incessant wind.

The River Corrib with Galway Cathedrial in the backround.

On our way back into town we cut across a football field ad then followed the River Corrib into the city.  We were very ready to get out of the wind so we quickly found a place to stop and have some lunch. I gave Jeff the seat by the fire because he has come down with a cold which he's doing his best to fight off.  We've never taken a vacation when he hasn't gotten sick sometime during it.  I am doubly grateful that he isn't whiny when he get's sick and he's still willing to go out and do things with us everyday.

The food was amazing and we spend sometime soaking up the heat and watching Irish Football. It's an odd game, kind of a cross between Rugby and normal football (soccer).  All the players are unpaid amateurs who have to go back to their day jobs after getting the hell beat out of them for an hour each night. It was great fun.

Back on Market St., the rain was just starting to come down in small spurts and the wind from the coast had found it's way inland.

Even with the wet weather the street was busy.

Crossing the river on our way back home.

We cut our walk short, after visiting a few shops.  I was getting tired of fighting the wind and William was getting bored.  On the way home we found a proper grocery store and bought supplies for dinner and snacking. The rest of the walk home was miserable.  The rain was like frozen needles blowing straight into our faces.  The wind had picked up to the point where you had to lean into it to made forward progress.  I have rarely been so happy to get back to a dry and warm house.  We spend the rest of night, watching movies, listening to the wind howl outside and checking to see if the waves were making it up onto the road.

The tide coming back in.

The ship out there came into the harbor to wait out the storm.

The wind continued until well past midnight.  I told Jeff we need to get t-shirts made that say, We Survived the Galway Hurricane. 

It's looking better today so we may venture out again and see if we can make it all the way into town this time.  Wish us luck.