The participants in this voyage, coming from the 4 corners of France, found themselves at the village of Ennis in the parents of Stephanie, where the reception was more than cordial, this August 3, 2007

    As of the following day, on August 4, all are found with the abbey of Quinn for a first visit, in this county of Clare, with the Monastery of Ghuinche, (see photographs). After a picnic with the foot of the Statue in full field of St Tola, and visits church of the desert, Portail of entry worked very well, we leave for the 1st walk in Burren (to scan for the name) almost desert landscape, progression on burst limestone flagstones, with nevertheless a particular flora (orchis moustic, bellflower, pink géranium).

    At the top, a splendid sight on the plain even without the sun, the return is a little wet, &ère successful walk; we return on Doolin, where we will remain 3 days with the inn. This evening of August 4, 1st contact with the Irish Pub, speciality of Irish plate and of course with of Guiness (without Guiness not of hello), the whole accompanied by involving music strong

Sunday 5:

    Pouring rain with the rising, departure for famous cliffs of Moher (the cliffs limestones very cut out which falls into the ocean, highest Of Europe 200 m), impressive. We were likely to traverse the path which borders them, the picnic of midday on the spot, with the good odor of the ocean, and in premium, the sun; the photographers could regale themselves. The evening, the group of the best walkers returned while following the clifs to the inn of Doolin, with permanent sight on the ocean. On arrival, therefore, good Guiness in good mood made forget tiredness. Then, meal prepared by Samuel and Stéphanie, which finished in music, flute and mandoline, thanks to our two musicians, Pamela and Charles.

Monday August 6: 

    Share group in 3 teams, Grande, average and quiet excursion. The first 2 groups still appreciated Burren of the area of (Fanore) Black Head, with sight uninterrupted on bay of Galway. Group 3 follows it (Green Road) to the vestiges of an old Celtic habitat; There still, we progress on limestone flagstones burst in length, letting appear in spaces a rare but very beautiful flora. Since the top of Burren, we discover with far, the islands of Aran, town of Galway, as well as wind mills. Then, we always go down again on flagstones, towards Fanore, the place of return to be recovered the vehicles, after having made the muscular meeting of stretching advised by our Samuel guide (effective). This day, except some small grains come from the sea, the sun still spoiled us.

To dine and evening with the pub, with exellents musicians.

Tuesday August 7: 

    Departure of Doolin via the port, one will find Stephanie the following day, loading for the Island (of Inis oirr) in Gaelic, one pronounces “irrich-ir”, very calm crossing, very particular island, not of vegetation, on the other hand of the low walls everywhere; minor road showing the turn of the island (Bernadette and Ginette discovered it in the horse-drawn carriage) photographs. On the other hand, a beautiful sand beach occupied by full bathers, thanks to the beautiful sun present today, which enables us spade-to screw at side. Of course, the turn of the island was essential, sometimes on the edge of the shore or the rocks, and the rollers worked by the tides, make the joy of the photographers. On the bottom of the horizon, we see the mounts of Connemara”. After the spade screws, another loop southern part always rocks, small declivity, way with low wall of protection, we pass between dwellings (only place of the island inhabited, with the corner of the beach where we place, with of course the presence of Pub), at the top, we see with far.

Wednesday August 8:

    After a copious breakfast; 9:00 departure of the vat for Doolin, we join convey (is necessary to see the material, plus food, the small dishes mijotés by Stéphanie, the shock absorbers are with lowest! …) One day charged, we must circumvent bay of Galway to go in Connemara, 3:00 of road. There, we cross the town of Galway, very pretty and we enter the area of Connemara, green landscape, lakes very present. It is during the meal that Charles teaches us how the prehistoric men amounted (see explanation finally page) the afternoon beautiful program, under the sun still! excursion on the hills of “morden” site of a beauty which one cannot write, with circular sight on varied landscapes (photographs with the support). Happy and in full form, return to the vehicles via the inn, which is located in full shift, face have a lake and a forest of fir trees, with the foot of the “Maumturk mountains” which we must traverse tomorrow and with in premium, the main road 59 which makes the turn of Ireland. For this evening it will be without pub and guiness!! have!! but with bananas flamed or almost!!!

Thursday August 9: 

    Difficult alarm clock, fog and rain accomodate us, after a very good Samuel lunch proposes its various plans of day, plan to us cancelled, it passes to B, it is necessary some more than that to stop a group also decided and in love with nature. Therefore, direction Clifden, the coloured city, accessible inn where each one will find its nest for the night. Then visit of the National park of Connemara, rich person of greenery, but also of a museum unrolling the life in this corner of Ireland, work of the Peat amongst other things,” Racing” its evolution of the last 4000 years to today, and forecast for 2050, we include/understand there, to become to it planet ground (large question). To revive themselves, and return at time present, we climb by a way arranged a small hill where the peat is quite present with once more, splendid sight on the ocean and surrounding islands. It is time to join the next visit with knowing Kylemore Abley, with the foot of the mountains, with a lake to reflect itself there. Spade screws sitted in wet grass, but environment always present. Constrained Samuel to take plane B or C I do not know, considering prohibition to make the climbing behind the abbey.

    Finally, formation of 2 groups; the wise ones go along the Fjord “Killay Harbour” old trough refrigerator occupied by the sea, or currently of the breedings of moulds and salmons are very” present.

    The walkers will climb the moutain “daughrouad” or the very wet ground, peat, oblige a walk as a guy zag during more 3:00; We traverse this mountain with sight uninterrupted on the Fjord, and then to amplify the beauty of the place a rainbow caps mountain and fjord during a few moments. In good mood, in spite of qq grains and the wind coming to point out Ireland to us, the 2 groups are found, the wet feet but the inn awaits us, with a good meal, prepared tjrs by our two guides, Samuel and Stéphanie.

Friday August 10

    After a lunched good Samuel reveals us its multi-plans, according to the conditions climatic. We leave for Omey small fishing port, time is so plusvieux and low tjrs; Visit of a store or one finds of very for various purchases and in particular, the factory of Bodhrans, small tambourine, in skin of chêvre tended, instrument for rythmer. Purchases finished, return on Clifden by the coast, contrasted landscape, rocks, small handle with coral beach and or one finds Hermit-crab. We can admire parteres of heather, purple and yellow.

    Clyfden, beautiful reception with the inn, (tourists come from the country of Sardou!!) Connemara obliges! lunch to the inn considering time; then via an island, in the east of Clifden; there, a surprise, it is necessary to cross in water 40cm, on 300m? of length to reach the island everyone, shoes with the hand and trousers rolled up, and us here on the island!

    Go during 1:00, very sympathetic, qq houses tjrs of the stone low walls, with small sand splits; some “courageous bathes” water is good be-saying!!

    One quickly will realize some: return to the surprised crossing oh!! According to certain information that were to be with dry foot!! But here is water was tjrs there and higher! It is necessary for us well to pass in 80cm of water, great hesitation, but not the choice; smallest are not helped, the raised trousers is not enough any more!!!!!

    Lastly, arrived at the cars, very soaked to the buttocks, therefore return to Clifden (in panties); it is really the explosion of laughter. Dry showers and clothing are welcome, and also a good “irishcofe”!! to be heated!

    The meal with the pub, sprinkled guiness, supplemented by the involving music made forgotten the forced bath.

    Forgiveness, a lapse of memory our friend Paul, who showed us his agility, while making fly beer saucers out of paperboard “Carlsberg” a number of great “stunt-flying!”

August 11: 

    After the lunch in possession of our quite dry clothes, direction town of Galway; There we find the mob of the big cities, which contrast with the nature which we have just traversed; all is immense to the inn or the corridors do not finish any, of the world everywhere; afternoon, visit downtown, purchase, visit cathedral, very beautiful besides, and under the rain still. The evening, all the group is found in a small restaurant, “the patatos” well-sure all are entitled to large potatos furnished well with the taste with each one.

    Then ballade in the street of the “pubs” all is full everywhere, the guiness passes to us especially under the nose under that of Paul!! one comforts oneself with the animation of the streets, music, acrobats, of beautiful Irish in “pretty very short behaviours”… which accepent the photographs “comprometantes…” always Paul. many people. .pas of guiness.

    Also direction dodo.

August 12: 

    it is Sunday, that feels the end of the voyage, some attend a celebration with the cathedral, others make the last purchases; on the councils of Charles and Pamela we make provisions of c.d.music Irish obviously.

Dictation

    We find ourselves before the return on Ennis, for this famous dictation which intrigues the group, except, of course the authors!

    Actually, Noèmie raises the key question “why are you come to Ireland?” great surprise when she explains, why the so-called authors of the dictation, are spies infiltrated in this group to make messages the ones with the others, according to their aptitude respective, in order to sow the discord in this peaceful and accessible Irish people and in this group of hikers accompanied too well.

    It was of course only one play; reality emphasized truths qualities of each one, put at the service of the group, for finally contributing to the success of this stay in Ireland, to the recognition of the convivial spirit and organizer of Samuel and Stéphanie, and thanking the Irish people for his courtesy and its kindness.

    Then it is the return on Ennis for the picnic of midday, in a very beautiful park, with full with good things, as usual, and in premium, we made blow the candles with Jean and Bernadette for their “X” spring! and under a beautiful sun please!

    Return to the parents of stéphanie, who to already propose us a visit of the park of the castle of Bunraty or are reconstituted the habitats and habits of formerly.

    It is there, with the pub like formerly, which we clink glasses with Irishmen, happy to discuss, finally with also many gestures. And it is there that one of them “removed” Elisa
 (photograph with the support) to laugh… one good moment of relaxation!

    Another part of the team offered part of golf and the evening, each one told its exploits, or awkwardnesses (with the golf)!!

    For finishing well the day, the parents of Steph, a good meal offered to us, before going to join our hotel room

    Here thus recalled after a fashion, this beautiful voyage in Ireland, or we could appreciate wild and very flowered nature, diversity, the simple environment of the pubs, the reception, the respect of the other in the road traffic. We would like, to finish this account, by saying the share of attention and mutual aid that each one brought, in the various events of the stay, and who contributed has an good atmosphere, and good parts of funs.

    That Stephanie and Samuel, our two guide <Globe-trotteurs> with the wandering spirit are thanked for it, they extremely well achieved their perilous MISSION

    Good wind to both

                                Lucien Jouffreau