GOOD MORNING ALL!
Today promised to be a long, arduous day, and it delivered, and then some. My Trek turned out to be 21.1 miles with just over 3,000 feet of vertical ascent. Whew! That is why you are getting this a day late.
The scenery was really beautiful.
I saw plenty of wildlife, but this was my favorite snap.
This is the first time I have seen such a sign. It made me laugh.
Lots of different types of trails, and more up and up and up.
My first big climb of the day took me over Powerscourt Waterfall, which is Ireland's highest waterfall
Plenty of streams and babbling brooks gave the walk a sense of serenity. That is when I wasn’t gasping for air as I climbed from mountain to mountain. The Glencree River is a tributary of the Dargle River. The river and its banks are a natural haven for wildlife. Birds such as the Dipper and fish such as Brown trout and salmon thrive in the high-quality waters. Daubenton's bats feed close to the water's surface by night
The walk through Lacklan Wood (not Woods) was a welcome break from the bright sunlight.
By the time I got here, I had already climbed plenty. You can see the trail across going up - steeply.
And more up. And the up just keep coming. Every time I turned a corner, it was just more up.
And sure enough, I went over that nearest mountain.
Up!
Up
But the scenery was worth all the climb. These are the days that make me remember why I love to hike. Nothing compares to the exertion of reaching a mountaintop, feeling the cool breeze, and needing to turn 360 degrees to take in the full view of the surrounding area. It is magical!
I like the down better than the up.
When I got to the end of the trail today, I was woohooing, and then I learned that it was 2 and 1/2 more miles up the Wicklow Mountain. OMG! The definition of trudge, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is: “to trudge means to walk slowly and heavily with a lot of effort, usually because you are tired (already walked 18.5 miles), the ground is difficult, (rocky and uneven trail) or you are carrying something heavy (that dang backpack got heavier with every mile).
I didn’t get to my B&B until after 5:30. The host told me they weren't serving food that night. I must have had horror written on my face. I was starving. She quickly gave me a card and said the owner would come pick me up whenever I was ready. The Willow Heather was a terrific place.
I was seated in the Writers Room, and on every wall, there were these cabinets with first edition books by Ireland's famous writers such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Johnathan Swift and Bram Stoker. I bet at least a few of you thought Bram Stoker was Romanian.
I ordered the Irish Chicken Supreme, which was described as a Pan-roasted chicken supreme served
with sautéed wild mushrooms, smoky Irish chorizo, and spinach with a pumpkin purée, creamy wild mushrooms and pepper sauce, and a golden buttery fondant potato, served with house vegetables. I can take or leave cauliflower, but this cauliflower had a superb white cheddar cheese sauce on top. My chicken was moist and tender, and the vegetables on my plate were so flavorful. 10 on a 10 scale.
I thought 21 miles was worth a dessert. I ordered Warm Apple and Mixed Berry Crumble served with creamy custard and vanilla. It was decadent - all warm and buttery, much like the cobblers I grew up with.
If I were on death row and was ordering my final meal, this would be a top candidate.
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