A short weekend in Ballyferriter

And we buy a PowerCaddy

We’d spent three weekends at home which was unusual and had a fourth free so we thought, let’s check out the flights to Kerry International Airport and if they are reasonable sure why don’t we head over there.

The result is that on a lovely sunny day we are zipping across the Dingle peninsula. And before we know ourselves we are in Garvey’s supermarket stocking up for the weekend.

On Friday we decided to make a day trip to Tralee. Tralee is a large county town, pop about 23,000, and has seen better days. And one of the reasons it has seen better days is that the centre has been ripped apart by out of town centres, dotted around the ring road. And in one of those out of town centres is a new McGuirks Golf shop to which I drag himself.

I say drag, I don’t really have to drag because he is getting a present, a new golf trolley, a new PowerCaddy no less. Gone are the days when we bought each lovely and expensive jewellery now we are buying lovely and expensive golf equipment. He himmms and hawes over whether he wanted a PowerCaddy… I pottered about the shop, came back, he is still thinking about it and he is not even the one buying it. The sales chap was no better, in fact he could not even assemble the trolley, “oh they are only new in and I’ve not used one”. Peter then says, oh let me think about it and the sales guy says “sure that’s no problem, we have a sale coming up anyway with 15% off so you could always come back. How to close a deal....not.

We have coffee, another mull over the idea and head back to the golf shop and I’m thinking we’ll be here all day. I corner another sales guy and say “I hear you have a sale in a couple of weeks with 15% off”, he says “oh maybe, we not sure of the exact %”. I say, fine, we cannot make it back for the sale. He says the discount might be available online. I say “well if you fancy doing the deal today, right here and now we’ll buy that PowerCaddy with the 15% discount. And like that himself has a PowerCaddy.

Getting a Golf Handicap

We joined the local golf club and one of us already has a handicap to play, that’s how well organised the women are, no surprised there. Whereas the men are still asking Peter for more score cards and what better excuse then to head out for a round of golf. And in fact for the first few holes he plays

very well, in fact too well and when I mention that this level of golf might affect his handicap he immediately drops a level.

The golf course is looking in splendid condition. There were a number of competitions on over the weekend, including playoffs of county matches which created a lovely atmosphere in the club.
All in all an extremely enjoyable 9 holes of golf, card signed and put into the office for the calculation of a handicap.

Sunday morning and a walk on the beach

It proved to be the perfect time to walk on the beach. We are absolutely determined to walk on the nearby beaches most days. It was one of the key reasons to be near the sea and there is nothing more relaxed, calming and energising that a walk. 

This is our local beach, Bail Ban, and it is a little gem. There are nicer beaches around but it's easy to knock of 5,000 steps strolling along here.

Our next challenge is to cycle there, its about 2km and then walk.

A Drive Around Slea Head

One of the choices as we leave Dingle to head to Ballyferriter is whether to drive around Slea Head. I am sure there'll come a time when that choice is not longer exciting. For now driving back to the house via one of the worlds most beautiful drive is still exhilarating. We decided to do it this weekend because as the summer season reaches its heady heights in August the road will be jam packed. 

As you round one bend this is the view (on a clear day) that greets you. Truly breathtaking

Further on around the drive you come across Coumeenole Beach. One of the most iconoc sites on the Dingle Peninsula, Coumeenole is a popular stop for travellers on the Slea Head Drive, providing dramatic views of the Blasket Islands. 

One of the filming locations for  Ryan's Daughter, the currents in the water here make it unsafe for swimming.

It is also an haven for surfing and despite the signs not to swim or surfing there'll always be people in the sea. If you visit it is a must.

You can find out more about the other beaches of Dingle here. 

Caife Na Tra

Time for coffee and we'd heard about Cafe na Tra, which is the Irish for Beach Cafe. It is in Dunquin, and right on the edge of the cliffs. 

An enterprising person has set up tables and chairs, baked lovely cakes and scones and opened a cafe.

On days like these we had to stop and enjoy the views.

Well worth a visit.

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