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.