Today’s route required a taxi to reach the trail's start. I had to bring my luggage, and once I arrived at Marlay Park, a luggage-transfer truck picked it up and took it to tonight’s hotel. On the way, my driver was listening to a talk show on the radio. To get a driver's license in Ireland, you have to take Driver's Ed, be at least 17 years old, and for the first six months you can't have any passengers. Then, you can only have one passenger until you turn 24. As a young driver, you can not be out in a car past 11:30. That sure takes care of the curfew problem. They have special license plates for young drivers that must be on the car anytime a driver is under 24. I remember hearing “nothing good happens after midnight.” So this might be pretty smart.
In 1764, David La Touche, a French Huguenot and the first governor of the newly established Bank of Ireland, bought the land and built a fine Georgian Mansion here, naming it Marlay House after his wife, Elizabeth Marlay. Robert Ketton Love purchased the house for £8,325 in 1927. Love was once Ireland’s largest tomato producer and a racehorse breeder. He lived here until 1972, when he donated it to Dublin County Council. The 300-acre recreational park has also become one of Ireland's most important outdoor music venues and is the official start of the Wicklow Way.
Marlay Park is a beautiful start to the first leg of the Wicklow Way, Ireland’s oldest long-distance walking trail,
Throughout the park, I could hear the soothing sound of bubbling creeks and waterfalls.
Art?
I had to cross two mountains today. The first one was pretty steep. This is looking back at Dublin.
I think I had every type of trail possible today.
Ttail Markers
Looking ahead at the trail at the top.
There was a flat rocky part across the top. My legs are never long enough to just step rock to rock. I will say I had my sticks out for most of the day. It had rained, which made the rocks slick. It only rained twice, for short periods. Now it is pouring down, but I am safe and sound in my hotel.
The Glencullen Forest was so fresh-smelling with deep evergreen trees.
The vistas were just gorgeous.
Queen of the rock. Sadly, there were no other sheep around. Poor lonely girl.
A doe is on the gravel road, and a buck is on the right. Just as I was getting close, a red fox darted into the woods.
This was the toughest part of the trail, coming down on those big wet rocks. It made foot placement a real challenge.
And it didn’t get any easier.
I stopped in Enniskerry for a Coke Zero. Enniskerry is a quaint little town with a few boutiques and little restaurants. My hotel was about 1/2 mile UP a mountain. Of course it was. There is always an uphill at the end. It was a lovely walk with high stone walls on either side of the road. I could occasionally see a sliver of a mansion through ornate gates.
I am staying at Summerhill House Hotel, a historic property that was once a 100-room Palladian house and the ancestral seat of the Viscounts Langford and the Barons Langford. Built in 1731, it is now a luxury hotel.
I had an incredible meal. Grilled Sea Bass with Sautéed Mediterranean Vegetable Medley: Vine tomato,
Fresh Salsa Verde. I don’t usually eat fish skin, but this was crisp, and I ate it, skin and all. It was topped with herbs and capers. What is not to like about capers? It came with a vegetable medley of sautéed red bell peppers, onions, squash, tomatoes, and celery that was just as good as the fish. I was really hungry, but I don’t think that had anything to do with it. The meal was just that good.
So when I got here, I was so tired I was ready to fall over.
On about my fourth wind, but headed to bed very soon.
Good Night and God Bless!
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