|
Day: |
046 |
|
Date: |
Monday, 9 May 2016 |
|
Start: |
Ennis |
|
Finish: |
Ennistimon |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
26 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
1236 |
|
Weather: |
Mild, overcast and humid, with the
occasional few spots of rain |
|
Accommodation: |
Station House B&B |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Porridge, scrambled eggs,
toast & jam
Lunch: Muesli bars and chocolate
Dinner:
Tuna & tomato half-baguette, apple pie |
|
Aches: |
None really |
|
Highlight: |
First day of the trip when I have hiked in
T-shirt and shorts all day. |
|
Lowlight: |
The last twenty minutes walking along a
busy road. |
|
Pictures: |
Here |
|
GPS Track: |
Here |
|
Journal: |
The forecast was for a mild humid day, so I
took a risk and set out in shorts and T-shirt for the first time on
a grey overcast morning. The early kilometres were through the
outskirts of a very busy Ennis, and as it started spitting with
rain, I wondered about the wisdom of my clothing choice.
However, it did not get heavier, and neither did several other short
episodes of light rain during the morning.
It was to be
another day of road walking, but I had mapped out some back roads
that avoided the main road to Ennistimon, my destination for the
day. There was nothing spectacular about the scenery, but the
gently rolling rural countryside was picturesque and my road choices
good, with little traffic. I just strolled along taking in the
bucolic scenes.
There were again many large wealthy-looking
houses along the route, all within easy commuting distance of the
business centres of Ennis, Shannon and Limerick. Most looked
of recent vintage and and some may have been empty. It was
hard to tell. During the global financial crisis, which hit
Ireland very hard, I read that one in five houses was unoccupied as
a result of a speculative building boom. Although the economy
has recovered strongly in the last few years, due in part to the
willingness of the Irish population to accept significant income and
service cuts, I believe that many home-owners still have mortgages
larger than the value of their houses.
Time seemed to pass
quickly, and around 3:00pm I joined the main road for the last
stretch into Ennistimon. It wasn't much fun, as I constantly
had to stop walking and lean into the hedgerows to let vehicles pass
both ways on the busy road. When buses or trucks came along,
traffic jams formed, but as usual everybody was courteous and there
is a general acceptance in Ireland that walkers also have the right
to be on roads, given there are no alternatives.
I checked
into my B&B soon after 3:30pm and later ventured into the small town
of Ennistimon for a look around. After checking out the three
kebab shops in town, I opted for a fresh made roll at one of the
small supermarkets and took it back to the B&B for dinner.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I join the Burren Way, which I
will be following for the next four or five days. I'm hoping
for some good coastal scenery as well as some wilderness, not to
mention some off-road walking. |
|
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)
|
