Irish surf clam

Online fish monger informs that local surf clams are meaty, so I give it a try. These local surf clam have thick shell and only worth eating if they are really meaty. Cold water clams are sweet but no umami flavour like tropical thin shell clams.

 

Cooked in a broth with pear and tomato, both I have a lot in the garden. The broth turned into a soup with bitter melon

Pear compote

A lot of pears from the 3 old trees planted by previous owner, other than giving away and making dried pear, thought of making this compote. Baked pear with mix seeds and nuts, with a fried egg this will be a healthy breakfast.

Soak flax seed, chia seed, quinoa and millet for an hour to swell up, a lot of pectin will come out.

Chop up mixed nuts.

 Mix a tin of coconut milk with the seed and nut paste, season with a big pinch of salt. 

Peel pears and chop into rough cubes, add to mixture, spread in a big baking tray. 

Bake at 180˚C for an hour, turn over every 20 minutes.  

End August harvest

Just away for a few days and back home with loads of veg and fruits to harvest. New on the list are apple, pear and romaine lettuce sown in end June, So nice to have leafy greens to eat. 

2025年8月28日遠古大石墳場

在西岸遊玩，參觀在山頭的古墳場，有多個巨石墓地，每個墓地以三件巨石作主建築，兩片豎放，上放第三嚿石，在外再以大石圍繞一圈，地下可找到數個至幾十個人的骨頭。

附近山頭，散佈多個如此古墓地，但又找不到聚居留下的痕跡。不少墓地，已經成為現代農場的一部分，只餘下抬不動的三嚿巨石。

建於五、六千年前，在大西洋沿岸各國，都找到類似墳墓建築，是同一路人的文化，自然年代久遠背景歷史所知不多。

據導賞人員解釋，近年在出土骨頭上找到因瘟疫而亡的痕跡，有可能是瘟疫蔓延，所以把墳場建在遍遠山頭，以巨石鎮壓，再以一圈大石劃出距離，是安全措施。

Tour of Inishowen, Ireland 4/4

At the  west coast of Inishowen, we spotted on the map an old monument at the hill top and a modern looking similar round structure at the bottom.

Turned out the round stone fort Grianan of Ailigh at the top was built in the 8th century by the local tribe. It is the first time I see a local monument in decent condition, the wooden roof is gone but the curved huge round wall structure is so beautiful, with a spectacular view to match.

At the bottom in the village is a similar round wall structure with a glass spire at the side. It is Aengus Church built in the 60s’ with an award winning design inspired by the fort. The light coming through the spire shines at the altar, a serene atmosphere.

This is the end of the Inishowen Peninsula tour, impressive landscape, monuments and so lucky with sunny weather.

2025年8月27日新舊圓形建築

一向喜歡曲線、弧形，覺得自然順眼些，走在山路上遠遠看到山頂這個巨大石建築，圓筒形，牆身亦是微曲的，即時眼睛發光。

建於八世紀，本地族人的山上城堡，是少數維修良好、非宗教的古建築。

在其他地方也見過圓形石頭地基，以前的民居都如此，牆壁石頭在歲月中被拆卸用在其他建築上，這是唯一見到有完整的石牆，一般是以木材乾草作屋頂，已經消失。

行石級到牆頂走一圈，四方山水風光廣闊，在北部地區，風亦強勁，吹得頭痛。

要到九世紀以後，Norman和 Viking 人到來，才開始建造四方形的高大城堡。

山腳下的小鎮，竟然又有座現代圓形教堂，有同樣線條的牆壁。看資料是七十作代得獎設計，參考山上古蹟作基礎，配飛簷屋頂和不在中央在後側的玻璃尖塔頂，把自然光投放在祭台上。

排椅亦用原木砌作弧形，當真不惜工本，也是首次在愛爾蘭見到悅目又有特別色的現代建築。
 

Tour of Inishowen, Ireland 3/4

Going along the north coast of Inishowen 100 touring route, rural scenery mesmorising. 

 

There a few more wonderful golden sand beaches, both long and wide, dotted the shore, Culdaff beach, Tramore bay, Kinnagoe bay.

 

 

At Magilligan Point, a narrow strait separating north and south Ireland.

Nearby is Greencastle, a big fishing port and the only place in this Inishowen area where we can get hold of decent seafood. It is at Foyle fishermen coop at the harbour where we are able to buy turbots and squids, really fresh and at wholesale price.

The east coast of Inishowen is not very interesting and we cut across back to the west coast and stay at Inch Island Walkway area. Inch island sounds small, but is a serious agricultural area, with huge wheat fields probably because the middle of the island is like a plateau, an ex-flat seabed, suitable for large scale farming.

Found a well made loop walk/cycling trail along the shore of Inch Island, joining up old railway tracks. There are good views of both lake and sea with many swans, herons and wild geese, it is a wild fowl sanctuary. 

Tour of Inishowen, Ireland 2/4

Further along the north side of Inishowen coast are a few wild golden sandy beaches, Pollan Bay and Five Fingerts Strand.

 

 Along the way to Malin Head, he panorama has a lot of colours, lines and shapes to feast on.

 

 Malin Head, the northern most tip of the republic of Ireland, and a famous weather forecast station.Went for a walk along the coast to see the rugged landscape. It is also the location of Eire 80, one of 83 outposts built during WWII to mark the territory of neutral Ireland. 

 

 2025年8月26日 Eire 80


天氣放晴，駕camper 來到北部Donegal 區的Inishowen 遊玩, 這是三年來最後一段未曾遊歷的海岸，終於算完成環島一圈旅程。

看到海旁險要斜坡以白色石頭砌成的Eire 80 大字，參觀附近博物館，原來是第二次世界大戰的建設。

那時愛爾蘭才獨立廿多年，少軍備、軍人，和其他國家沒有瓜葛，保持中立。在島上四周海岸八十三個地方，由當地居民組織義工，建觀望台和在山坡上以白色石頭寫下EIRE, 愛爾蘭名字和篇號，令各方戰機知道來到中立地方，不能內進。

防的不光是兇狠勇猛的德軍，亦怕英國以戰爭作藉口派軍隊進駐，推反獨立協議。雖然如此，仍避免不了德國在東岸首都Dublin 和附近地區投下炸彈作破壞，防不勝防。又一次回顧了大戰資料，五年大戰，死了約七千五百萬人，能不心寒。