(L) Both Deb and I were up by 5.30 ish but it was well after 9.30 before we headed out for a wander around town. We had spent the time doing the blog and sorting photos, always a time consuming task. I had also cooked us a nice big breakfast of Scrambled Eggs served with fried Tomato and potato I reckon a saving of at least €20.... self catering is great although we've agreed that you can become somewhat insular as there's no bumping into staff or a B & B hostess!!

We set out to see what the "downtown" area has to offer and quite frankly the streets were still rather deserted. Seems nothing opens or gets moving until close to 11 - I wonder if it's the same in summer?? It was FREEZING with frost all over the place, but we enjoyed our wander and just seeing what shops were around. By about 11 we were so cold and in need of some time out of the fresh air so popped into the Wyatt Hotel for a quick Hot Chocolate and time for a planning meeting to decide where to next. 

We figured a walk down past Westport House to the Quay would be doable so set off up the street and no sooner had we turned the first corner but a light rain started... we stopped, unsure if we should go on, had one of our usual debates on the pros and cons of every choice and consequences of any decision we could ever make. (I have been carrying around a small umbrella and raincoat in my bag for the last week but only this morning before we left I'd taken them out cos I haven't used them before now and "we're only walking around town"!) It seemed only a light shower so we bravely pushed on...and up... and we walked... and we walked.... and we wondered where on earth this path was taking us.... finally we found another sign pointing to Westport House so we walked through the gates. Deb had consulted Jane who told us in no uncertain terms to turn left and walk straight up the road into town. Unfortunately the big black gates with chains and padlock on them had another idea (thanks Jane!!). Dead ends or "Strictly Private" signs everywhere we were somewhat at a loss as to which way was "home" but luckily a woman drove up to the gates and as she unlocked them we thought we'd ask her directions, she wasn't terribly friendly but did tell us to walk back to town around the lake and via The Quay ( we suppose as she's a real lady living in a Manor House she thinks we're a bit of a nuisance and not worth offering a lift into town to .... I said if anyone in Longreach seems lost the locals will immediately pop them in the car and deliver them to wherever they need to go, but that's just outback Australia for you!!)

Anyway we followed the path around the lake, which was beautiful, and found ourselves in Westport Quay.... time for lunch!! Was 1 pm by now and we were quite hungry so we ended up in The Helm where we had a lovely lunch and glass of Merlot ... €27 we thought pretty reasonable. We used their free WiFi to plot a homeward course... really easy 25 minute walk back to our abode on Peter Street - well ok there was a hill that was a bit of an effort and it did start to rain lightly but we made it home in only half an hour by 2.15.

General Impressions and Observations:

There are a few things that Deb and I keep noticing and mentioning to each other that I thought I'd make note of for our future reference.

Ireland as a whole seems very invested in energy conservation. Most of the places we've been we've noticed the lights turn on by sensor in the womens toilets, electric showers are a thing, neither of us have ever seen these before and the first one we came across we actually had to read the instructions to use it ..... that struck us as hilarious that we couldn't even use a shower without instructions!! All the heaters seem to have Night buttons so the heat is generated over night at off peak energy and stored for daytime release and have a boost button (again we needed to read instructions which neither of us are very good at).

Door handles are whack..... we keep commenting that we hope there's not a fire cos we'll never be able to get out of the place in a hurry! Once you know what you're doing it's OK,

There seems to be an awful lot of rubbish lying around everywhere... now I know that's probably a fact no matter where you go and maybe we're just noticing it more because we're looking around at the scenery but it really is here everywhere. Cigarette butts dropped all over the streets and even walking out in the wilds there seems to be rubbish around. 

I'm a vegetarian and have noticed that everywhere seems to have a soup of the day, that is usually vegetable and when asked about the stock used they always say it's vegetable stock. Quite different from what I've found in Australia!

Not a lot of street name signs around towns so don't rely on those when driving - although having said that we've had a fabulous time driving around and have found all M (yuk motorways), N and R roads are fairly well signed although we have noticed quite often the sign is right at the turn with no advance warning. 

We also think that "the powers that be" need to think a lot more about tourists trying to get the perfect shot cos we've had many a photo ruined by garbage bins, power poles, oh and (other) tourists.... are we a bit fussy about our photos?

(D) Really nothing to add to this as it was indeed just a lazy wander day which we thoroughly enjoyed. When evening came we thought we'd just "pop down to Matt Malloy's" for a drink..... mmm do Liane and I ever just pop into a pub for one drink??? I don't think so!!!

They have a "musicians corner" and it seems that people just randomly turn up with instruments and play away together so of course we had to stay and listen to that. The place was pretty quiet unitl they started about 9.30 (wish it was an hour later just so I could say it started at "ten tirty" - LOVE the Irish accent!) but honestly within minutes of them starting the room was bursting at the seams.

There was also a room out the back where some sort of Irish Step Dancing class was going on and I could tell Liane's toes were twitching as she does so love to dance. Unfortunately for her it was all but over and the sets of 8 were all made up anyway so she missed out. We just watched for a minute before heading back in to listen to the lovely Irish music being made in the other room. In between the music we got talking with some people, other tourists both from America and also some Irish people who actually now live in Australia but are "home" visiting family. All in all it was a good night though I will say that this time we perhaps should have drunk more water..... and that's all I'm saying!