By early afternoon we were at the 200-year-old pub. Mrs. Ashe showed us where to park our wagon and where to pasture Bob. Coin-operated showers behind the pub washed the dust from caravanners such as us. The caravan was equipped similar to many American tent trailers of years ago: it had a sink and a five gallon jerry can of water. Beside the sink was a propane two-burner stove, and beneath the stove a small ice box. Across the rear was a small table which folded out of the way of a double bed. A few dishes, pots and pans, cutlery and candles completed the outfitting.

After a shower and a change of clothes, Becky and I went to explore the pub. It was nearly filled with local families having dinner and conversation in English with enough brogue to make eavesdropping difficult. Becky was a bit disappointed that the Irish people weren’t more boisterous in the tavern. They hardly lived up to the American movie image of the hard-drinking Irish; there was no singing and no fights. We had delicious meals which included excellent potted mussels and a cockle and mussel soup. At our home on Lummi Island, Washington, mussels grow on pilings and, at that time, no one we knew considered mussels food for humans; but we found we preferred them to clams. The cost of dinner for two with wine was nine punts, or about US$13.50 including tip.