Hitting The Heights
Probably the best day so far.
Started well, good hotel in Muckross (it was made clear to me that the emph-ASIS was on the second syll-ABLE) and they allowed me to have a sneaky early brekkie which then seemed to cause havoc with various (other) foreigners who had their noses pressed against the frosted pane wondering no doubt how some scruffy git qualified fur VIP status. I gave them a regal wave, which always seems to go down well in these here parts.
Joy of joys the day started not with the hard stuff but lovely lovely grass. I do love grass (man) and also mud, soft bouncy mud. Instead of Gimli ploughing through drifts of snow getting nowhere i was Legolas gliding serenely above. The grass must have been good because around Muckross Lake there were loads of trips on offer.
For once no road just proper moor/wilderness/mountain walking and it was glorious. The photos (and I took 3 times more than normal) won’t do it justice. It was actually great to have to go slow because you needed to really watch where you put your feet.
And then the real highlight: although I found out why it was called The Wilderness I was completely unprepared to (nearly) run into this deer fallow
Unlike me he was completely unperturbed and let me inch quietly forward til I was about 7 feet away
Something magical about it.
The good stayed good and the rain held off somehow. About 3:30 I paused for a compass check and Strava told me I was walking almost 1 mile per hour slower than ‘nornal’ over the previous 7 hours. That makes a difference you know. So I had this glorious view as I realised I still had 8 miles to go.
So simply a case of having to shake me bootie and firing the Delorean up to 88 mph to get there.
Despite ill-founded concerns and advice to the contrary the rustic Climbers Inn does serve food (obviating need for taxi to nearby hotel) and have WiFi (ditto). I was told that it is frequented by hikers and climbers although the dozen or so barflies don’t seem to fit that bill. Their physique and drinking habits seem to mirror, er, well, mine…
26 miles and 3000 feet which was unexpected. Glad the rain stayed off because if it had come down heavy I think I would have been pushing my limits. Long day but a great one
stroll ?on
Pauly, sounds like a long day you had there me fella. Sleep well and be up for another tomorrow, your doing well. cheers ears. andy
Cheers Mr. G, wise words that were followed … 2 days, final push !
That M8 is now a long way behind you, what a change………up.
Ah, trying to throw me a curveball with a baseball metaphor … my Royals are doing as well as Arsenal ☹️