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Day: |
071 |
|
Date: |
Friday, 3 June 2016 |
|
Start: |
Dungiven |
|
Finish: |
Limavady |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
24 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
1953 |
|
Weather: |
Overcast and hazy at first, then warm and
sunny. |
|
Accommodation: |
Alexander Arms Inn |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Full Irish Breakfast
Lunch: Egg sandwich, muesli bar, Snickers Bar, chocolate,
ice-cream
Dinner: Cod, chips, peas & gravy, ice-cream |
|
Aches: |
None |
|
Highlight: |
The wildflowers along the way seem to be at
their peak, providing a rich spectrum of colours to offset the lush
green fields and hedgerows. |
|
Lowlight: |
None really. |
|
Pictures: |
Here |
|
GPS Track: |
Here |
|
Journal: |
I left the B&B in cool and overcast
conditions soon after 8:30am. My plan was to follow the Ulster
Way for the first couple of hours and then to head for the town of
Limavady, the only place I could find with accommodation near the
trail.
I'm starting to lose my faith in the marking of the
Ulster Way, and during the first couple of hours today, I only saw
one marker, despite there being plenty of turns required. The
printed copies of the maps I am carrying are monochrome and of
limited value. Yesterday and today, they have showed the trail
leaving the road, but on both occasions there was no visible trail
or signs or markers. This may change when I reach the more
travelled north coast, but in the meantime, I will not rely on
finding markers or following the official maps.
For today, I
followed the unmarked official route along a country lane out of
Dungiven that climbed steeply up onto the tabletop Benbradagh
Mountain. The views on the way up were marred somewhat by the
overcast and haze, but were still good. Soon, the sun began to
break through and before long it was another warm sunny day with
excellent views. Near the top of the mountain were some old
concrete aprons, which were apparently once the foundations of a US Naval
Communications Centre, but today I had the place to myself.
I
descended from the mountain, looking for a trail intersection marked
on the map, but saw no sign of it. I continued following the
old road gradually downhill across moorland, climbing over a couple
of locked gates along the way. My suspicions that I was on
private property were confirmed by a sign facing the other way on the
last gate which said 'Private Road'. No harm done!
I
was now off the official Ulster Way and decided to head directly,
mostly using back roads and smartphone navigation, to Limavady and
my accommodation. The route took me down onto the coastal
plain where it was warmer and lushly green, with lots of hay being
harvested. I started to feel a bit tired and depleted around
noon in the warm sun, when I stumbled across a little store in the
village of Drumsum, and bought myself a sandwich, ice-cream and cold
drink. Thereafter, I felt better and walked the last 10km
through rural backroads and then the outskirts of Limavady.
While walking through the busy town pedestrian mall, just before
reaching my B&B, an Irishman approached me and said he had seen me
in three different places during the day and wanted to know all
about my trip. I suspect quite a few drivers see me more than
once.
I checked into my B&B at 3:30pm, glad of an early day,
and relaxed in my room during the afternoon doing my blog with one
eye on the TV. Later I went out and bought some fish and chips
for dinner, having heard on the radio during the day that it is
National Fish & Chips Day! |
|
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)
|
