On my last full day in Ireland, I was able to get out to Church Island on Lough Currane in Waterville, CO Kerry. The site is home to a Monk Monastery, believed to have been founded in the 6th century by St. Finan Cam. The church is believed to be from the 12th century.

To get to the island, I meet up with Tom O’Shea from Waterville, CO Kerry for a quick boat ride to the island. I originally planned to spend a good portion of the day on the island but the weather took a turn and was pretty wet. I still got to enjoy some time on the Island and other than a few sheep and Tom hanging out in the boat while I took pics, I had the place to myself.

If your in Waterville, be sure to look Tom up for a boat ride to Church Island. www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com

Headstones around the church.

Exterior of the church. The window is aligned with the Winter Solstice.

Entry way to the church.

Inside.

Comparisons of the symbols suggest that the stones were made in the 11th and 12th century’s.

The church.

Three beehive huts can be found at the other end of the island from the church.

Inside the most intact beehive hut (though the roof was gone).

View of the church from the boat.

Tom and I back on land. He kindly waited in the rain for an hour while I explored the site and took pics.

After Church Island, I headed over to Cahersiveen to check out Ballycarberry Castle. The current ruins of the castle were built in the 16th century. I had been wanting to get back to this spot as I found out that some of the stones on the inside had old inscriptions. Sadly the castle has since been close of to the public and I could only view it from a distance. Last time I visited the site was on x-mas day in 2006. Back then it was still open and you could still get up to the third floor of the castle.

Some exterior pics of Ballycarberry Castle.

Here is a pic from x-mas day in 2006. Just to give an idea of what the interior looks like.

Seems though i’ve had a soft spot for valleys lately.

Porsmork Valley. Iceland, 2017.

Fable Valley, Utah. Pre-Cruise Moab wanderings 2019

Black Valley, Ireland, 2019.

I headed over to Black Valley, just outside of Killarney NP. Some nice high mountain loughs and peaks to enjoy for the next few days. The rain was pretty socked in by the time I got checked into the hostel and out to the loughs for a walk.

More views of the upper loughs above Killarney. This is what’s known as “Ladies View”.

On the narrow road that will take me to the Hostel and Black Valley.

Starting my walk into Black Valley. Windy and rainy but enjoyable!

Walking along the first lough in Black Valley.

Quite the bit of weather for my first visit to Black Valley.

Yours truly.

The drive through the forest before you get to the loughs.

End.

A little delayed in getting pics posted, but here are some from day 1. Sorry for the cell phone pics, as I forgot the cable for the big camera.

It really felt good to be back in Killarney. Took a drive up to Molls Gap, in the mountains above town. The views of the upper lakes above Killarney are still some of my favorite.

On to the pics:

Some good views of the upper lakes.

Stopped to check out a small waterfall along the road. The Ring of Kerry hiking trail passes by here.

Further into the forest. The sun was teasing me, dancing in and out of the clouds while I walked through the forest. Made for some good lighting

I ended up walking along Ring of Kerry hiking trail for a mile or so, hoping it would provide some good views of the lakes. It didn’t.

It did provide some good views of the surrounding mountains:).

Old church along the road.

“Ladies View” of the upper lakes.

Views near Molls Gap.

Where i’ll be heading in a few days:).

Some fine views:).

End.

For the past few years, we’ve done a long weekend trip with the Rising Sun 4×4 Club of Colorado, riding and chasing the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (one of my favorites). Traveling between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO, the tracks cross both state lines 11 times. Chasing vintage steam trains in some old Land Cruisers, it’s just a bunch of fun. And the San Luis Valley, well it doesn’t get much better than that.

The Silbaughs enjoying an evening drive, San Luis Valley, CO.

Mornings preparations. Chama Train Yard. Chama, NM.

Maintenance check, Sublette, NM.

I’ll be the first to admit that i’m ready for a break. Been a long, but crazy ten months (since surgery). Ready to get back to Ireland.

Finished printing the 2019 Ghost Town Run poster. Just in time for the annual run this weekend.

Started printing this years 2019 Ghost Town Run poster. Fun to think we’ve been doing this run with the Rising Sun 4×4 club since 2005. Granted we didn’t run it a few years, but going on 9 years for this fun run. Started printing a silk screen poster for this years run. Image was from the 2017 run in the mountains around the old mining town of Bonanza, CO. To start things off, we went over Hayden Pass to get into the San Luis Valley. Here is a image of the poster at it’s current state. Second color run printed.

Every year, I host my local club, the Rising 4×4 Club of CO at the property. We spend a night on, or as close to the Summer Solstice as possible. Always a fun way to kick of summer. This year seemed more like fall than the beginning of summer, but still lots of fun.

Mt. Evans. Some of my favorite views.

Looking NW.

Through the main meadows of the property. Those Aspens are some of my favorite.

At the pond in the Upper Meadows.

Took a nap in the 4runner during the rain. Woke up and felt like I was being watched…

Rosalie starting to make an appearance through the clouds.

Don’t think i’ll ever tire of that drive:).

Taking the club n a drive through the property.

Monkeys Face.

Sadly missed the Wild Iris season.

Looking North towards Squaw Peak.

At the Property boundary with Mt. Evans Wilderness.

Evening sets in over camp.

A brisk morning. Woke up to 28 degrees.

Was nice to see some blue sky though.

Enjoying a nice morning walk.

Camp.

Been realizing that i’m a bit out of shape. So, started cutting new growth at the property to fix that…

End.

Ireland was my first overseas trip. Ended up spending a month exploring the Island back in 2006/07. This was during the holiday season, when the tourists ( I was one of them) wasn’t so plentiful. Had a blast hanging out over X-Mas and New Years in Ireland. Meet some great folks and saw some awesome places.

In two months, i’ll be heading back. Been 12 years since that first visit. Though I only have 9 days for a visit this time, looking to see a lot of places I couldn’t the first visit. The main highlights being: Killarney, Black Valley and a bit of the NW tip of the Ring of Kerry. Seven of my Nine nights are booked, working on the last two.

Upper Loughs, Killarney, Ireland.

Ballycarberry Castle, Ring of Kerry, Ireland.