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I ask Maureen if she'd make pancakes for me this morning, and she does. It is a wonderful change from those heavy duty Irish breakfasts, which I like but morning after morning they become a bit repetitious. After Matt takes the other guests, a French
family, and me to the fish hatchery which he manages, he drops me off at the boat dock at Ashford Castle which was once owned by the Guinness family and while generally constructed in the 19th Century its oldest section goes back to the 17th Century. There are not enough customers to go out at 11:00 a.m., so I spend my time before the 2:45 p.m. launch following the walking tour map of The Quiet Man. Just last year Maureen O'Hara visited Cong and stayed at the Rocklawn B+B - in the very bedroom that I'm in.
My hostess shows me the photo she took of Ms. O'Hara and her family. Ms. O'Hara is 77 and has wretched flame red hair in the photo. It's a sad photo really, the movie star (41 films) who desperately tries to stay young. In any event, I am surprised at the accuracy of the tour map and the retention of the 1951 look. Director John Ford would be surprised at how little the village has changed in the 45 years since his film was shot. I spend a wonderful 2 ˝ hours shooting locations, but the highlight of the day is phoning Marcia. It's been a long week of silence - writing notes or letters every day but knowing that they won't arrive home for 10 days. That's a lot of lag time. Marcia tells me it's snowing, and there is
about an inch on the ground. Here in Ireland it's again sunny and perhaps 600. After a coffee and scone at the Quiet Man Café, I take a few shots inside the Medieval Abbey in the village and catch the ferry at Ashford Castle. There are only five people this time, so Captain John tells us we'll not be stopping at Inchagoill Island. But the Lake tour of Lough Corrib is enchanting. Typically there is no development on the lake and in fact only about six boats can be seen on the 48 km long lake. The waters are calm and the trip is
calming. I have a sandwich and mushroom soup and a Guinness in Cong and take the long stroll home. Again no biking but lots of walking. My host puts The Quiet Man in the VCR for me. It is delightful, as usual. |
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