The Gap is a valley that stretches about 7 miles between MacGillicuddy's Reeks and The Purple Mountains. Technically, there are no cars allowed on the route, however, locals can, and do, drive on it. To traverse it as a tourist, you either walk, ride a bike, or hire a pony trap. We opted for the pony trap. They are run by local folks who use Irish or Gaelic as their main language, but who also speak English.
As we clopped along the song from The Quiet Man kept going through my head! (Dee dee, dee dee, dee dee, diddle diddle, dee dee, dee dee, dee dee....) Steve put the thought in my head and once that happens, you can't help but have the tune keep running through your mind along with the beat of the horses hooves!
Getting fortified for the trip - you know, steeling ourselves!
I do not recall the name of our driver - I am a bit ashamed of myself for that - but the horse was named Sue! The driver stands on the back of the cart, just inside the little door. With four of us in the trap, it was a bit cramped! Anyway, he was very nice and as it turned out, he was from this little tiny village in the valley that we had talked about on our bus tour. They have only had electricity there since the mid-1980's!
When we started the weather was cool but sunny. As we went through the Gap, that all changed - and we knew it was coming as you could see the rain and mist in the mountains in the distance.
This was an old barracks used by the Black and Tans. I wanted to egg it...
On this particularly steep hill, we had to get out and walk. I was all for saving Sue's legs and back. It was quite a steep hill though!
See how steep it is?!
We got back in at the top and then the rain and heavy mist got us!
Once we were through the Gap, it was time to say good-bye to Sue, cross the bridge, and move on to the next adventure!
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