Cruising through the northwest area of Ireland known as Connemara, we came across Croagh Patrick, a mountain named after St. Patrick (Croah is gaelic for Mount). Climbing it has been a religious pilgrimage for centuries.
Here I am next to the Saint himself, all excited and gung ho about taking on the mountain. I being a graduate of St. Patrick's Academy in my hometown, I felt at home. At right, Croagh Patrick beckons.
and starting to feel it. Actually, you have to first climb a slow, slopy mountain to get access to Croagh Patrick itself, where the incline is much steeper.
Ouch. This is starting to hurt.
We made it! Alive!
Mary Ann takes a well-deserved apple break.
Amazingly they built a small chapel on the top of the mountain.
Me, at the bottom again, knees shot, half-dead.
I took my empty water bottle, and filled it from the trickling mountain stream (see movie). Taking a tentative sip, it tasted pure and perfect. Come to think of it, this is the kind of water source all those bottled water companies claim their product comes from! I also did a complete forward flip and landed on my ass, to the comic delight of Mary Ann. Otherwise a great experience!