Hiking in Ireland: Day 6 on the Kerry Way

Aloha all,

Day 6 on the Kerry Way 30 June 2017
Waterville to Caherdaniel Ireland
Statistics:  95 stories climbed, a mere 8.3 miles, or 19,605 Caroline steps
Additional statistic:  34 Stiles (ladders over fences) climbed!!!

Three things I have learned on this most excellent hiking adventure:
1.  Always check the wind direction before clearing your nose
2.  The brown on trowser bottoms isn't always mud.
3.  Have baskets on your poles so when you poke in the bogs, you don't lose your pole!!

Nice day hike today, beginning with a glorious view of the bay, beginning with a stop at the Charlie Chaplin statue.  He used to be a frequent visitor in Waterville.

 Leaving town on the promenade along the bay

 Along the way, we saw the Defibrilator booth...

 Leaving Waterville

 House along the coast, next to a lovely new links style golf course.  I want to come back and play it!

As we started our climb, the view out to the Bay.

The Skellig Islands are in the distance.  You may have to click on the photo and then zoom in.

Wild fuchias along the way.  These are everywhere in Ireland.

 We crossed the summit, found a killer soft rock and had a rest to enjoy the view.

Below...Almost like Hawaiian hiking mud.... this has sheep shit, not feral pig shit!!

 Below are photos showing the various types of trail/path that we"hill walked"/ hiked today...
MUD and BOG- Blissfully less rain!

UPhill on a grassy path

THEN Rocky path

Then the top of the hill 

 Then grass with a lot of stuff to NOT STEP IN.....

 Then rocks and water and bog... beware stepping off the rocks

 Then a lovely path in the woods with roots and leaves

 And then a lovely river along the path...

A lovely house along the way... stone cottage, great plants... killer view of the ocean..

 AND THEN WE FOUND THE BLIND PIPER PUB.... GREAT BEER, GREAT CIDER, EXCELLENT FRIES.  

And the parting photos of the day.... 
Kerri - who never drinks beer and never knew about beer shandys and never had a hot whisky is now converted....

 Above--- Kerri with Beer #1 and below with Beer #2

Great friends and great fun on this adventure. Tomorrow is 11 miles.  Stay tuned.

Aloha
Caroline

Hiking in Ireland: Day 5 on the Kerry Way.

Aloha all,

Day 5 on the Kerry Way- 29 June 2017
Cahersiveen to Waterville
Statistics:  196 stories climbed OR 14 miles OR 32,231 Caroline steps

We elected to have our bags transported.  The weather was wet and "iffy" and we knew we had two serious climbs today.  GOOD call transporting the bags! 

We started just outside Cahersiveen and went directly uphill.  Today's uphill was reminiscent of hikes I do in Hawaii- rocky, muddy, swampy, more rocks, and lots of wet soggy boggy areas.  Only difference - NO TREES.  No canopy to shield the wind or the sun (none today as it was "pissy" rain all day).... Tough "hill walking" day today!

Starting the ridge line climb, the windmill farm is in the distance.

 Above and below, examples of the easy mu 
and bogs we slipped and slides and 
slurped through.

 Looking up to the next rise.  There were about 4 of these..."next rises"....

Below:  The view across the valleys from the ridge line .

The cows are lying down.  I was told as a child that if the cows are lying down, it will rain.   It was true today.

 We found large standing stones coming down from climb #1

 The green valley as we came down from the ridge.

 Below: The NICE path today

 Lunch on another soft rock wall.

And then after our nice soft rock wall lunch... we went back up for another ridge line traverse -- the short cut (!!!) to Waterville , our destination

 The 2nd ridge line we hiked/hill walked.  the wind was about 50-60 mph.  UNREAL.  Hard to stay standing.

 Above, Pat resting on a stile.  We did about 20 of these today.  I lost count!

The view down to Waterville and our B&B.

Another interesting day hill walking.  tomorrow is supposed to be shorter.... only 7 miles!  I hope so.  And I hope the weather clears.  All the rain gear I have worked well, but it needs a day to dry out!!

I close with photos of a cute wild flower that we see all over the hills here:  the Bog Cotton Flower.  Looks like wool caught on a stem, but it is the Bog Cotton flower.
  

Above- bog cotton flowers blowing happing in the breeze.

This photo shows the limp wet bog cotton flower -- very limp... like we felt!

More updates will follow.  Hope clicking on the photos helps to zoom in for a better "look".

Aloha.

Hiking in Ireland: Day 4 on the Kerry Way

Aloha all,

Day 4 on the Kerry Way- 28 June 2017
Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen: 
Statistics:  Only 56 story building climb BUT 19 miles or 43,150 Caroline steps

We decided that hiking 19 miles with 20 pounds on our backs would be a bit much so we forwarded our bags and walked from Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen.  Another fun fairy forest.  And then we climbed the hills outside of Glenbeigh.  Overcast skies but great weather for hiking.  Good views as well across the bay toward the Dingle Peninsula where we had hiked one week ago.

 Another FairyForest

And then we left the fairy forest and began our walk across the hills.  Up and up and more up. We rounded the corner of this area of the peninsula.  We saw a newborn lamb - just a few hours old- and LOTS of Irish wild flowers.

 Above and below- photos for my Tree friends.  This tree had unbelieveably shallow roots!

 Our way UP

 Looking out on the hills and the scenery

 Walking higher from town.

 Views across the bay to the Dingle Peninsula

 Below... I think this is heather

Below flower is an Amphibious Bistor... I think.  Very cute... a belly flower as 

you have to get really low (almost on your belly) to photograph these.

 Above and below- the new lamb and his mom

And we kept walking on-- past old crofter cottages.  

The new crossed a river.... I wonder what fish are swimming in these rivers. 

 Our way finding sign

Somewhere over the hill is our B and B...

 above- more way finding markers.

 Above Irish Gorse

 Above... the wild blackberries that are everywhere!

 More wild flowers and I will find the names soon.  

 Above then through more meadows.... oh please no more hills!!!

A little miniature cottage out in the middle of a field.

And then our hostel for the evening.  The latest in Yoga positions is the upward dog.... great for tired hiking feet.  Feet up in the air, body on the bed !  A must each day when we come in to rest!

 Feet up - photo above
Heads and body resting- photo below... feels excellent

 We earned this huge plate of fish and chips.

 AFter gorging on fish and chips, we wandered around town.  This Catholic Church is the only one named for a layman, Daniel O'Connell, the emancipator for Irish Catholics.

Another day of interesting hiking and seeing more of Ireland!