Thursday 20 July

Vegetable garden, Argillan Castle

Daisy with bumblebee

We left Blackrock on another glorious sunny day...3 in a row. Just a little further down the coast to Balbriggan where we visited Argillan castle (or more truly an 18th century manor house built by Rev. R. Taylor in 1738).

We didn't do the castle tour but checked out the art exhibition and had coffee before looking at the gardens. Large glass conservatories had grapevines with bountiful crops and great looking tomatoes. Another had several citrus trees in good crop.

The vegetable gardens were formally arranged in geometric shapes with miniature hedge borders. Every conceivable vegetable type...vigorous and healthy. These gardens were enclosed in tall hedges so were very protected. There was also a large walled area with exceptional rose gardens and acres of beautiful lawns sloping down to the bay. The water was beautiful and the ? Mourne Mountains in the distance a soft cerulean blue.

We also took several photos of a very large bee on a large yellow daisy (like a small sunflower).

Skerries Windmill

Workhorse (Russ) at the mill.

Then we ambled down the coast road to Skerries and visited the Mills complex and did a tour...and took lots more photos! Dating back to the 16th century the complex comprised of one water mill and 2 windmills (1 four sail and 1 five sail).

We were now just 30km north of Dublin and were able to find our way back to our B&B, 'Knockbrack'. Worrying about our previous experience of getting lost trying to depart Dublin we did a test run to the ferry terminal after settling in and having afternoon tea. Through nearly peak evening traffic which should equate with what we might come against in the early morning.

Quick snaps on the way to Dun Laoghaire

An experience we thought, that just about paralleled Greystanes to Sydney airport at the same time of evening. 20 miles in 70 minutes! We revised our breakfast plans and decided to leave at 8AM to arrive, we hope, by 9.45AM.

We washed the car on route. The passenger side has fine scratches (damn hedges) which probably would disappear with a cut and polish but there are a couple of chips in the front bumper area and a deeper scratch on the drivers side...?Cause?

Sunset Dun Laoghaire

I now realise that although we were advised it was cheaper to leave a car at Dublin and pick up another on the other side rather than pay car ferry it was probably false economy, as we can lose the no claim bonus on 2 cars instead of one!

B&B 'Knockbrack'

105 St. Mobhi Rd, GLASNEVIN Dublin9

Ph.6376489

Jtimlin@ireland.com

http://www.bnb-network.com/associate.html?id=2468

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