Ring of Kerry

Today we got up early (well, early for this vacation!) and headed out of town around 8:30 to drive the Ring of Kerry. We were hoping an early start would put us ahead of the tour buses, and for the most part it worked. We saw a few but they were mainly behind us and it is not high season here yet. A bit past Killorglin we pulled into the Kerry Bog Museum. Looked slight cheesy and definitely touristy but our book said it was worth a "quick" stop so we did. Cheesy and touristy and smelled like burning peat (duh - bog). Chuck did like the Kerry Bog Ponies. We left quickly when a tour bus pulled in. Kind of interesting but one thing on which I would have to disagree with Lonely Planet.
Continuing on we had some fantastic views of the Bay of Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula to the North. After driving through some very small towns and alternating hugging coast with inland views of mountains and valleys we made it around to Waterville on the Southwestern tip - fantastic views again coming down into Waterville. BUT, and to agree with Lonely Planet here, the entire drive is worth your time to see the scenery/views between Waterville and Catherdaniel. This is where many postcard views come from and they do not do it justice. You leave Waterville and come up a hill and round the corner and there is the Atlantic as far as you can see dotted close to the shore with the Skelligs (rock islands). We stopped a the viewpoint for further inspection. To the left you can see down the bay/mouth of the Kenmare river and the green fields, cows and occasional house lining the shores. The Atlantic is truly phenomenal. After pulling ourselves away (it was cold and windy) we stopped in the town of Sneem for lunch as it was after 1:00 by now. Nothing to write home about - again touristy (this is the Ring of Kerry) and a large group of French tourists milling about.
We headed home and grabbed a pint at Dan Linchins in Killarney where we (mostly Chuck) talked hiking and climbing with the bartender, Trish, a local.
Great dinner later on at Bricin, also a good Lonely Planet recommendation.