We were offered warm croissants or pain au chocolat this morning while waiting on our cooked breakfast.
I had poached eggs with bacon and Kody had the eggs without bacon.
This is the view of the “sleeping giant” from our bedroom window.
We went down mid morning and made some hot cocoa with Irish fresh milk.
It was back to Kruger’s Bar for late lunch/early dinner. Dunquin is a village of homes with Kruger’s and nothing else. The fire in the fireplace on this cold rainy day, was most welcome.
Kody had the chick pea vegan burger.
I had pizza
I had my sights set on the Blasket Islands for our little rest day adventure. Good for me, I didn’t hit that “book now” button because it turns out they only ferry folks over when the weather is feeling generous. And today? Well, let’s just say she’s throwing a wet blanket over our plans. The wind is throwing a tantrum, and the rain is more persistent than an overzealous telemarketer. Perfect weather for curling up indoors! As we made our coffee and tea this morning, we shook our head at the thought of navigating those slippery rocks from yesterday, at a thrilling 64% decline. No, thank you!
The Great Blasket (An Blascaod Mór) is the main island in the Blaskets. It used to be home to a small fishing community of only Irish speakers until it was abandoned in 1953 because living there became intolerable.
People have lived on the Great Blasket for centuries, with the first records dating back to the early 1700s. There was a Ferriter castle at Rinn an Chaisleáin. In the 1840s, around 150 people called the island home. It was the most westerly settlement in Ireland, with folks living in simple cottages on the northeast shore. They mainly fished and added potatoes, oats, rabbits, and bird eggs to their meals. With no wood available, they used heather, peat, and turf for fuel.
The history of the Blaskets is very interesting, but I’ll let you look it up and read about it if you want. There is a 3 1/2 mile hike around the island, and a couple of the homes have been restored for touring. Alas, it’s no longer on our todo list for today due to the weather.
No stats today because we’ve been perfecting the art of relaxation. Our bodies demanded a day off, and now we’re charged up and ready to tackle tomorrow! Can you believe it? We’re already three-quarters of the way through this epic adventure with just four days of hiking left! That’s right—12 out of 16 hiking days are in the rearview mirror. Time flies when you’re having fun… or trudging up a mountain!
Now to the next verse in our song, “Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah”
Verse 3 says: “when I tread the verge of Jordan but my
anxious fears subside.” Again he's picturing the Israelites about to go out of
the desert into the promised land and he remembers how afraid they were. They
were really nervous about stepping out in faith and claiming what was
rightfully theirs. Don’t we do that too? God calls us out of our deserts of sin
and shame into a life filled with spiritual abundance, but sometimes that
wilderness feels a bit more comfortable, so we hesitate to move forward. God’s
telling us not to be afraid or anxious. As Williams puts it: “but my anxious
fears subside.”
The psalmist says, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19 Isn’t that a beautiful verse?
You might feel weak, fragile, anxious and unsteady at this moment, but remember, God is your strength. When conflicts arise, and your soul feels burdened while heartache looms large, keep your Bible open. Allow the words of God to lift you in ways nothing else can.
