We got to wake up sllowwwww and on our own time! Thank goodness because I am feeling a little sick this morning…. Dad got it first in Dublin, then Joe, then Mom, then finally me, I held out a while though! It is a stuffy, sore throat, achey annoyingness. Anyway, Mom made me some Theraflu (you are missing out in life if you have never had this) and I went back to bed. I was woken up again by a plate full of steamy hot breakfast that Mom made. She was afraid the rest of the crew would eat it all before I got up to have any….. love you mom!
I slept it off a little and ventured upstairs. Everyone was just hanging out and having a good time. We got ready to go to on our castle adventures!
I had researched and wanted to go to Ross Errilly Friary, a Friary that was built in 13something, added on to in 14something, and was abandoned in 17something.
Now people use it as a burial site and it is still holding strong!
We tromped all over it and had a wonderful time taking pictures and trying to find a way up the bell tower that was blocked off. Safety reasons yes, but we wanted to go up anyway! We didn’t succeed, and made our way to the other castle on the list!
We drove the 2 Km to the next abandoned castle, of which I don’t remember the name on this one. We drove the tiny road up to it and immediately stormed the castle! The boys found a stairwell between two walls and didn’t hesitate to go over the rock barricade, in, and up the stairs. The first part wasn’t bad until we got to the spiral part with half of the steps missing, the other half on a sketchy slant, and some so small your big toe barely fit….
We did it anyway. Dumb, but very cool! Mom took our pictures from below as we were standing at the top of the castle! We basically felt on top of the world!
Words cant describe how it feels to explore the piece of history from so many years ago and image what it would have been like and that the people were actually living in the castles! And there we were, climbing the stairs to the top.
After the castle we went to Joyce’s, the only grocery store for miles! We have been making jokes about it, the Joyce family owns everything in the area basically.. so its always “guess who owns that store!!” “The Joyce Family!”
The grocery store actually was impressive though. They were the first ones to have taco seasoning! Score! Tanner’s pick was tacos and it was the boys’ night to make dinner!
Dad and mom walked back from the grocery store (about 4 miles) and the rest of us (Tanner, Joe, Bronte, Gram, Trevor, and I) took the car back to the castle; Trevor drove since he was the only one of us that could drive stick confidently.
We unloaded the groceries, made a few cheese, meat and cracker plates to snack on, and waited for Michael and Jenay to get back. Eventually we heard the knock on the front door! Dad and the boys got right to it with dinner! We had all the meat options for the tacos! Breaded and fried fish, ground beef, or chicken! They were all so wonderful and yummy! Dad and Joe did the major cooking!
Props for the dudes, dinner was good. Trevor kept a fire going for us, it’s a beast of a castle and we need a constant wood fire to keep warm!
We then had a “knights at the round table” heart to heart as I called it! Talked about our directions in life and such…. And then argued about fashion, (Joe thinks he won the conversation, but no way Jose!)
The boys are now a half-mile away at the closest bar (They walked so we will see if the ghosts get the best of them on the way back!) Bronte is passed out on the couch next to the fire, and Mom was asleep but is back own here chatting with Jonathan and Codi. She apparently has FOMO and doesn’t want to miss anything!
Again, love you all! We are still having the time of our lives!
-Payton (on behalf of Gram, Bronte, Trevor, tanner, Joe, Michael, and Jenay!)
I slept it off a little and ventured upstairs. Everyone was just hanging out and having a good time. We got ready to go to on our castle adventures!
I had researched and wanted to go to Ross Errilly Friary, a Friary that was built in 13something, added on to in 14something, and was abandoned in 17something.
Now people use it as a burial site and it is still holding strong!
We tromped all over it and had a wonderful time taking pictures and trying to find a way up the bell tower that was blocked off. Safety reasons yes, but we wanted to go up anyway! We didn’t succeed, and made our way to the other castle on the list!
We drove the 2 Km to the next abandoned castle, of which I don’t remember the name on this one. We drove the tiny road up to it and immediately stormed the castle! The boys found a stairwell between two walls and didn’t hesitate to go over the rock barricade, in, and up the stairs. The first part wasn’t bad until we got to the spiral part with half of the steps missing, the other half on a sketchy slant, and some so small your big toe barely fit….
We did it anyway. Dumb, but very cool! Mom took our pictures from below as we were standing at the top of the castle! We basically felt on top of the world!
Words cant describe how it feels to explore the piece of history from so many years ago and image what it would have been like and that the people were actually living in the castles! And there we were, climbing the stairs to the top.
After the castle we went to Joyce’s, the only grocery store for miles! We have been making jokes about it, the Joyce family owns everything in the area basically.. so its always “guess who owns that store!!” “The Joyce Family!”
The grocery store actually was impressive though. They were the first ones to have taco seasoning! Score! Tanner’s pick was tacos and it was the boys’ night to make dinner!
Dad and mom walked back from the grocery store (about 4 miles) and the rest of us (Tanner, Joe, Bronte, Gram, Trevor, and I) took the car back to the castle; Trevor drove since he was the only one of us that could drive stick confidently.
We unloaded the groceries, made a few cheese, meat and cracker plates to snack on, and waited for Michael and Jenay to get back. Eventually we heard the knock on the front door! Dad and the boys got right to it with dinner! We had all the meat options for the tacos! Breaded and fried fish, ground beef, or chicken! They were all so wonderful and yummy! Dad and Joe did the major cooking!
Props for the dudes, dinner was good. Trevor kept a fire going for us, it’s a beast of a castle and we need a constant wood fire to keep warm!
We then had a “knights at the round table” heart to heart as I called it! Talked about our directions in life and such…. And then argued about fashion, (Joe thinks he won the conversation, but no way Jose!)
The boys are now a half-mile away at the closest bar (They walked so we will see if the ghosts get the best of them on the way back!) Bronte is passed out on the couch next to the fire, and Mom was asleep but is back own here chatting with Jonathan and Codi. She apparently has FOMO and doesn’t want to miss anything!
Again, love you all! We are still having the time of our lives!
-Payton (on behalf of Gram, Bronte, Trevor, tanner, Joe, Michael, and Jenay!)