Our ferry to Doolin was at 11:30AM, so we slept in until around 8AM. While Sharon was getting ready I decided to see if I could get boarding passes for the ferry. I lurked around the pier but there was no Doolin Ferry office. So I went back to the room.

The magic time this morning was 10AM. That was when the Spar Grocery Store opened (so I could get a deli sandwich for lunch) and it was when the tourist information booth opened so I could ask about the boarding passes.

While we waited on these things to open Sharon and I decided to get breakfast. We decided on the full Irish breakfast – egg sunny side up, black pudding, sausage, baked beans, toast, hash brown, tomato (neither of us ate that), and Irish bacon (Americans would call this ham). I tried most everything, but really only ate the ham, toast and eggs. Sharon was more liberal in her choices, trying the ham, toast, hash brown and baked beans. Geraldine had another lady helping serve us. Later one we saw this lady helping to clean the rooms.

After breakfast we had a short communion service and thought for the day. Sharon and I had both thought it was important to remember to worship our Lord today being the Lord’s day. I’d be amiss if I didn’t say this was the most important thing we did all day.

After our devotional it was 10AM, so I went by the tourist office and found that the ticket printouts that I had were my boarding passes since Doolin Ferry didn’t have an office on Inis Mor.

Later I went by Spar and got a deli sandwich for Sharon and I to split for lunch either on the ferry or afterwards.

It got to be about 10:45AM so we decided to check out. Geradline’s credit card machine was down so we paid her with cash and headed to the port.

At the port there was a bit of confusion on what side the Doolin ferry was one. Some of the ferries stopped at Inis Man and Inis Mer while others went straight to Doolin. An American lady from Indiana was trying to go to Inisheer. When the first ferry came she was told that the other ferry was to go to Inisheer. But when the second ferry came they weren’t going to Inisheer. But somehow the crew got talked into stopping at Inisheer.

Sharon and I grabbed seat on top of the ferry. This helped with her seasickness, but caused me a bit fearful that the boat might sway and my backpack might go overboard. I held it most of the way and took photos and video.

When the boat pulls up to port sometimes those waiting at the port (passengers) will help secure the ropes to the port. There was even a guy (assuming passenger) helping the first mate help secure the gang plank on each drop off of passengers.

Sharon and I both agreed that should we come back we’d try to go to Inisheer, as it looks like the next to the most interesting island behind Inis Mor.

We arrived at Doolin port and walked back to our B&B – Atlantic View Guesthouse. The receiptionist met us at the door and showed us to our room – a nice spacious room on the 2nd floor. There was even a view of the Cliff of Moher which made us even more excited to see the cliffs.

After our lunch from Spar in Inis Mor we deduced to see the cliffs by catching the 3PM Bus Eireann from the Doolin Pier campsite (according to Google). After asking around we planted ourselves at what we thought was the correct stop. The bus came along and I waved the driver down. The bus turned around but did not even open their doors. This left me furious. I then asked around and found the Pattywagon was supposed to stop at Doolin pier in 15 minutes so Sharon and I decided to go there to flag down the Pattywagon.

It was 8 euro each to ride the Paddywagon – a tourist minibus to the Cliffs. The driver told us that the Bus Eireann just used the campground as a turn around spot and it wasn’t officially a stop except first thing in the morning. Our driver was kind enough to point out where at the Cliffs the Bus Eireann stopped at.

We were dropped off slightly further down the cliffs to an undeveloped and unpaved portion. This was because the Cliffs of Moher Visitor center has started their own bus service and no longer allowed the Pattywagon to drop off people at the visitor’s center.

Our view of the cliffs was spectacular, but very crowded. We didn’t know it, but Sharon and myself were cooking in the heat. Afterwards Sharon came out looking like a lobster. I can handle some sunburn without too much trouble. Sharon has fair skin and it effects her much more.

Sharon was afraid of me getting to close to edge and at this point I was a bit apprehensive too. So I stayed close.

Sharon was not having a good time and we headed back to the vistor’s center for ice cream and to cool off. Sharon waited for me and shopped while I went back up to the Cliffs of Moher to where the castle was (2 EURO to climb – I declined). Just beyond the cliffs is a sign saying it the effect “You’re leaving the vistor center portion of the Cliffs of Moher. Depart at your own risk.” Just beyond the boundary someone had setup a trailer selling snacks and hotdogs.

Afterwards I went back to check on Sharon and to visit the exhibit showing the history of the cliffs. Sharon didn’t want to join me because apparently we did not go by protocol and purchase a ticket to the visitor’s center and therefore really weren’t allowed to visit the exhibit.

Sharon and I were very tired to we decided to get the next (and last) but back. The bus was slightly late, but we did manager to catch it.

We ate at Gus O’Connor’s in Doolin on the way back. The bar’s walls are covered with dollar bills for some odd reason. I ordered our food at the bar and sat at a table in a crowded room. Nearby live music was playing. I had fish and chips while Sharon had chicken tenders and fries with some type of garlic mayonnaise. Sharon if you are reading this, please get the recipe.

We walked the long distance back to the hotel room. At our hotel we noticed it was still light and it was 10:15AM. Ireland has really late sunsets.

Tomorrow we are driving to Dingle via Ennis, Shannon, Limerick and Tralee. It’ll be a long drive but will probably be worth it.