Dark grays and varying shades of white fill the views out the cottage window this morning standing in stark contrast to the previous few. The town of Youghal, across the river, normally so easy to view, can barely be seen through the thick blankets of fog that cover everything in its path. The abundant brightly colored flowers that grow about the cottage in their happy pinks, oranges, and reds, along with the grass and trees in their distinguished greens, all seem to be covered in white icing. The colors are still plentiful, but it is as if I am viewing them through a white colored lens. It is fascinating and beautiful in its own way. I am not normally one for fog laden rainy days and do not have the appreciation for them that I should but this morning I am finding the beauty and joy in them along with a grateful heart for the sunshine of yesterday. As my tea brings much needed warmth to ward off the chill of the morning, I am reflecting on yesterday in cozy comfort while admiring the spectacular view from the window.

Our recovery day, from the previous bike day excursion, began slowly as we took stock of the injuries we had accumulated. My tumble into the rock wall and weeds left me with cut hands and arms and significant bruising to my legs while Audra and Kevin acquired sunburns, and all of us some minor aches and pains; Although, I suspect Kevin’s is more from driving in too small a car that he is probably not meant to fit into. After laughing over most of it we moved on to enjoy a few hours at the Ardmore Open Farm Mini Zoo. As our arrival was during lunchtime, we ordered from the indoor cafe and watched Ellery play amongst a growing number of children in the indoor play place; Her version of heaven, mine, not so much.

We ate our meal quickly and went to greet the animals. We started at the indoor bird aviary and made our way outdoors where we discovered Flemish Giant Rabbits, Shetland Ponies, Poitou Donkeys, Soay Sheep, and a whole host of others. Audra’s favorite discovery was the Albino Burmese Python and Ellery’s, the Highland Cow. Ellery’s major hope for the trip was to see a “Helen Cow” It took us quite some time to discover what she meant by a Helen Cow but once we realized she was looking for a Highland Cow, we have been on the hunt for one. Thanks to the Ardmore Zoo, we found it and got her a Highland Cow plushie to take home with her. The girls rode bike carts through a racetrack, walked a maze with Kevin, completed an obstacle course, and ended with a ride down a tall multicolored slide. We finished our time in an indoor game room engaging in wall games like rope toss, a version of ski-ball, and frisbee shoot.

After a quick stop back at the cottage, proceeded on to discover the Copper Coast drive, a winding stretch along the coastline, linking Dungarvan to Tramore, named for the massive mines that operated there in the 19^th Century. Much like our trek through the Comeragh Mountains, words to describe the utter beauty of the sights, have yet to be discovered. There are a multitude of areas for travelers to pull off, photograph, and explore and we took advantage of most of them to take pictures, walk cliffs, and comb beaches. We stopped at a park in the town of Bunmahon where Audra and Ellery took turns riding the zip line. After Kevin and the girls thoroughly tested the outdoor fitness center equipment, we made our way up the road to a pub and restaurant called The Engine, ate a quick dinner, and ended our visit in Bunmahon by the beach collecting shells and watching the waves crash to the shore. We journeyed on to Tramore, with a few more exploratory stops, turned around to enjoy the scenic drive back home, and ended the evening with tea, ginger biscuits, and games. It was a gorgeous day filled with sunshine that lasted from sunrise to sunset and after rising to the heavy fog and rains this morning, makes me appreciate it even more. Regardless of the dreary and damp today brings, there is much to do this afternoon and I need to get myself ready for it, but only after I finish my cup of tea.