We said goodbye for the next couple of days to our Irish hosts and the four of us headed out Monday morning for the County Donegal and the northern most part of Ireland in the north Atlantic.  This is a much more remote place.  As Kat warned us the roads are much narrower here.  It is sometimes inconceivable that two vehicles traveling in opposite directions can actually pass the same point without collisions occurring.  This is especially true when a bus is coming at you around a corner and he is 2-3 feet in our lane and we’re traveling about 50 mph.  Our steadfast driver, Doug has done a masterful job, even when the hedges on our edge of the road are coming directly at me as he tries to move over to save the lives of the vehicle occupants.  As Doug patiently explained to the three of us, don’t worry, he’s only caressing the hedges with the car.  Or as he put it another way, the secret to successful driving over here is to “brush without scratching!”  From Stroove to Moville we traveled and the scenery did not disappoint.

We made it to our hotel in Culdaff this afternoon in one piece.  I don’t think I have ever seen so many sheep in my entire life as Ireland.  They are everywhere in the fields and hillsides, even across from our hotel in Culdaff.  After lunch and checking into our rooms, we headed off towards Malin Head in search of Ballyhillin beach.  A beach known for agates and jasper.  This is an unmarked beach in a remote location and the four of us had only a general idea where it was.  Setting off on a wing and a prayer, we “happened” upon a gentleman who was stopping along the side of the road in his car.  I approached him and he said yes he knows of the rock beach but he is horrible with directions.  He said, “you know what, just follow me.”  Driving down gravel and dirt roads and making turns in places we never would’ve found, we arrive at the rock beach.  He said he has lived here all of his life and has never been to the beach but he pointed up the hill and said, “That house up there is my Granny’s.”  He wished us well in our travels and was off.  Here is a photo of us with our new friend.  Serendipity again!!  The beach was a treasure trove of semi-precious stones.  We even had a cow welcoming committee to greet us as we returned to our car to travel back to Culdaff!