Dave Byrnes' Adventures

Round Ireland - 2016
Overview     Planned Schedule     Map     Diary     Pictures
Day: 015
Date: Friday, 8 April 2016
Start: Millstreet
Finish: Ballyvourney
Daily Kilometres: 26
Total Kilometres: 470
Weather: Cold, windy and drizzling most of the day.
Accommodation: Mills Inn
Nutrition: Breakfast:  Full Irish Breakfast
Lunch:  Jam tarts, muesli bar and chocolate
Dinner:  Turkey and ham roast of the day, and chocolate for dessert.
Aches: None.
Highlight: The eerie and surreal journey through an isolated fog-shrouded and wind-blasted extensive windfarm around noon.
Lowlight: Given the amount of road walking I am doing it is better to have rubber ends on my trekking poles.  Unfortunately today, for the second time, one got sucked off in a bog.  I realised almost immediately but there was zero chance of recovering it.  Now debating whether to do without, or to order some more online.
Pictures: Here
GPS Track: Here
Journal: A quick look out of the hotel window on rising confirmed that it was raining.  I have been wearing wet weather gear most of the time, anyway, because it's too much trouble to be getting out the rain gear every time rain threatens.  This works fine so long as it remains cold, but will be a problem as the spring warms up.

I left the hotel around 9:30am (breakfast is rarely available before 8:00am in the places I have been staying) looking forward to a shorter day and more off-road trekking, and I wasn't disappointed on either count.  Shortly after leaving town I was on a pine-needle covered path through an old pine forest, gaining altitude, sometimes steeply, as it climbed onto the side of Claragh Mountain.  The trail emerged onto some farm paths that contoured around the side of the mountain giving good views, but often very boggy.  The going was very slow in parts and I began to doubt that it would be an early day after all, but it was enjoyable hiking despite the drizzle and wind.

After reaching a minor road there was a trail split and my intended route, determined after close examination of my map, had no markings.  This was a bit of a worry, as judging by the map, the route was quite complicated for the day.  I continued on, checking my navigation at any intersections, and then was pleasantly surprised after a couple of kilometres when trail marking posts reappeared.  I have to say that, so far, the trail marking in Ireland has been excellent.  Long may it last.

The then trail mostly followed little-used forest roads high on a ridge, sometimes in the forest and sometimes on moorland, with occasional cross-country sections linking the forest roads together.  It was fun, battling the elements, nobody around (only saw two logging truck drivers all day), along the high ridges on occasionally challenging trail.

Around noon, the white poles of a windfarm began emerging out of the misty drizzle, often with the vanes hidden in the low-hanging cloud.  They had picked a good spot, as the wind seemed to pick up and I was being blasted in the open.  I stopped for a break in the lea of one tower and soon found myself shivering uncontrollably so donned another layer and added a beanie to my head before continuing.  The windfarm went on for a long way, but provided some interest and faster progress along the gravel access roads.

Leaving the windfarm behind my trail resumed its pattern of little-used forest roads with linking sections of rough cross-country hiking, and then as I approached Ballyvourney, began a descent through farmland.  For a kilometre or two, my route was high on the side of a very exposed mountainside and the wind was brutal.  Even with my extra layer I was freezing and my hands felt frost-bitten.  I marvelled at how the lambs in the paddock were surviving in such conditions.

Finally I reached a road and then the valley floor and was shortly in the touristy Ballyvourney.  I checked into my pub, which boasts history along with a gift shop and ice-cream parlour, and really enjoyed the strong hot shower.  I ate in the hotel, getting the roast of the day which was by far the best deal, though it was about 70% mashed potato.  After dinner I walked down towards what I hoped was a store in the late evening sunshine, but gave up after a while and returned to my room, intent on catching up on some overdue email and banking.

ADVENTURE LIST

 

Round Ireland
(2016)

Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)

Via Alpina
(2012)

Australian Alps Walking Track
(2011)

Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)

Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)

Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)

Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)

Three Peaks Race
(2004)

Appalachian Trail
(1986)

Alpine Track
(1983)

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You can email Dave directly at dave@davebyrnes.com.au or subscribe to his Adventure Blogs here.

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