Dave Byrnes' Adventures

Round Ireland - 2016
Overview     Planned Schedule     Map     Diary     Pictures
Day: 004
Date: Monday, 28 March 2016
Start: Drumgoff
Finish: Tinahely
Daily Kilometres: 29
Total Kilometres: 110
Weather: Cool, dry and breezy with a mix of sun and cloud all day.
Accommodation: Madeline's B&B
Nutrition: Breakfast:  Full Irish Breakfast
Lunch:  Muesli Bars and Chocolate
Dinner:  Cottage pie, steamed vegetables, and apple and rhubarb crumble with custard.
Aches: Nothing new
Highlight: Outstanding views all day.
Lowlight: Being picky, I found some of the short sharp hills and stiles in the last 7km hard work, but the scenery more than compensated.
Pictures: Here
GPS Track: Here
Journal: A good night's sleep was interrupted by the 2:30am return of some of my fellow residents, but otherwise I enjoyed my stay at the Coolalinga B&B including a huge breakfast, with food still being offered as I walked out the door soon after 9:00am.

The early part of the trail turned into a road walk detour because of logging around the normal route, but I wasn't complaining as there was zero traffic on the narrow country lane that gradually climbed towards Drumgoff Gap with the forest to the right and sweeping rural views to the left.  After a few kilometres, the detour ended and I trekked through the forest on some difficult trail for a while before being detoured back to the road again (I should have just stayed on the road).

Near the Gap I rounded a corner to surprise a mother answering a call of nature just off the road, much to the amusement of her husband and daughter getting ready for a hike (who may have seen me coming, I think).

The day was pretty much divided into two halves with the morning primarily spent passing through forests, mountains and alpine-like moorland, and the afternoon primarily spent meandering along various narrow lanes and "boreens" (old rural roads never upgraded to handle motor vehicles) through working farms.  The very green rolling pastureland was criss-crossed by old stone fences and hedgerows, and dotted with white farm houses and the occasional tumbledown farm ruin.  The many sheep, some with lambs, and every so often some cattle, horses or donkeys completed the bucolic scene.

I saw few people all day, even though it was a public holiday.  Generally, I just say "G'day" to those I encounter unless they seem to want a chat as did a serious hiker going the other way who was very envious of my trip, and later a farmer who wanted to know all about me even as his tractor blocked a narrow lane with a car waiting patiently behind (maybe they knew what he was like!).  The few car drivers I encountered on the lanes generally gave me a wave (returned) and sometimes flashed their lights.  Everybody has been exceedingly friendly so far.

I had a small crisis of conscience as I neared, Tinahely, my destination for the day.  Is it my goal to walk every metre of the Wicklow Way?  The small village lay in a valley about 2km off the Wicklow Way and the most sensible route there had me leaving the Wicklow Way as I approached the valley, and then tomorrow, rejoining the Wicklow Way at a different point, meaning I miss walking about 4km of the official Wicklow Way.  I decided that I wasn't that pedantic, and where it made sense, I would take shortcuts given my overall time constraint of three months for the hike.

I reached Tinahely soon after 5pm, found my very central (and somewhat over-priced) B&B without difficulty.  After a shower, and a quick visit to a small grocery for a few supplies, I adjourned to the local pub for an excellent dinner interspersed by conversation with the friendly publican on a quiet night. 

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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