Ireland, UK, Greece 2014

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Sheep’s Head Way

Sep 8, 2014
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I like to hike in peace. Consequently, today, we find ourselves hiking the Sheep’s Head Way  along “a peaceful, unspoilt peninsula” in a remote southwest corner of Ireland If I Google “Sheep’s Head Way” I get 14,500 results. If I Google “Giant’s Causeway” I get 3.8 million results. We’ll give The Giant’s Causeway, the Blarney Stone,… Continue reading Sheep’s Head Way

Ireland by Numbers

Sep 22, 2014
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Today we reluctantly leave Ireland: Dwight heads back to Minneapolis, and I continue my travels for a little longer. 18: # days in Ireland It never rained, not once. 0: # days it rained 0: # days I wore a jacket And it was warm. We walked almost every day. 150: # miles walked (approximately)… Continue reading Ireland by Numbers

My Long Journey to Ireland

Sep 26, 2014
My Long Journey to Ireland
I disliked history classes at my high school in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The focus on studying for examinations did not fit my learning style. The teaching style often reflected the teacher’s lack of interest in teaching. To be fair, I did not then have the life experiences to sufficiently understand the nuances of how… Continue reading My Long Journey to Ireland

Views from a Rooftop Bar

Oct 2, 2014
Views from a Rooftop Bar
“Great view.” I kept looking at the Acropolis. Then I realized I was being spoken to. I turned around to see a man in his 70’s. I muttered something in agreement. Hearing my accent he started a “Your Country” routine about British politics. “Wrong country,” I interrupted. Once he determined my actual citizenship he started… Continue reading Views from a Rooftop Bar

Monasteries on Rocks

Oct 5, 2014
Monasteries on Rocks
“It’s a good trail.” I could tell from the young woman’s hiking boots and glowing expression it would, indeed, be a good trail. I gratefully accepted the walking stick (tree limb) her companion was ready to discard as they left the trail. I clambered over rocks and headed away from the idling tour buses. A… Continue reading Monasteries on Rocks
Jet Setting (Not)
Jet Setting (Not)

Living the jet-set highlife, at Chicago’s O’Hare waiting for a flight to Shannon. Maybe if I took off my shoes…

Fog of Jet Lag
Fog of Jet Lag

Cork, Ireland, end of noisy pub meal, the server said “turkey sex farty.” Fighting the fog of jet lag, I paid €36.40

Sheep’s Head Way, Day 1
Sheep’s Head Way, Day 1

Today, we start walking The Sheep’s Head Way.

Peat, Rock, Heather
Peat, Rock, Heather

Sheep’s Head Peninsula: walked on a ridge trail on peat, rock, and heather, with the Atlantic on each side.

Contrails Over Sheep’s Head Peninsula
Contrails Over Sheep’s Head Peninsula

Hiked to end of the isolated Sheep’s Head Peninsula, while 1,000’s of people flew silently to N. America (contrails).

Sheep’s Head Peninsula
Sheep’s Head Peninsula

Posted about our current base for hiking: Sheep’s Head Peninsula, southwest Ireland.

A Spare Pub
A Spare Pub

Panic! Our local (Eileen’s) is closed Mondays. Mercifully there was another decent pub in Kilcrohane, down the road.

Bantry
Bantry

Backpacked back to Bantry along Sheep’s Head Way: great views, great weather. The trails are good, and well-marked.

Limerick
Limerick

On a bus, transport public. We drove thru old Limerick\I wanted 2 Tweet\A poem, real neat\But needed > 118 characters.

Next Up: The Burren
Next Up: The Burren

We’re repositioned and ready to backpack parts of The Burren, starting Thursday.

Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs of Moher

Me, Cliffs of Moher, walking Liscannor to Doolin. 100’s of people at visitors’ center who came to look over the edge.

Towards Fanore
Towards Fanore

We continued walking through The Burren until we reached Fanore for the night.

The Burren
The Burren

We walked a loop on good, quiet trails across The Burren, returning to Fanore. The weather has been fine for a week.

Not Hawaii
Not Hawaii

We’re in Fanore, The Burren, but I keep thinking I’m in Hawaii: beautiful sunsets, tropical plants, dramatic scenery.

Towards Ballyvaughan

Walked a variety of trails as we headed to the edge of The Burren, and Ballyvaughan for the night.

Galway
Galway

Urban day: explored the city of Galway. Good Mediterranean dinner, reflecting local Spanish connections.

Journey to Northern Ireland
Journey to Northern Ireland

Today: a train and two buses to Newcastle (Northern Ireland) where we’ll hike The Mournes.

Mountains of Mourne
Mountains of Mourne

At the end of today’s walk: bright sunshine, mist rolling down from the Mourne Mountains onto Newcastle, County Down.

Slieve Donard
Slieve Donard

The trail progressively revealed itself through mist as we headed to the highest point in N. Ireland, Slieve Donard.

Relaxation After High Moors Hike
Relaxation After High Moors Hike

Relaxed here, back at the B&B after walking the high moors in the mist to the top of Slieve Commedagh (The Mournes).

The Mournes
The Mournes

Finally the mists have lifted, and we get to see The Mournes from our friends’ home where we are staying tonight.

Dublin’s Tourist Hotspots
Dublin’s Tourist Hotspots

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. Today we went down the checklist of Dublin’s tourist hotspots.

Feet on Furniture
Feet on Furniture

Unlike O’Hare no signs at Dublin Airport telling you to keep your feet off the furniture.

Ireland by Numbers

Posted a few statistics about our trip to Ireland.

DUB—NCL
DUB—NCL

At Dublin Airport waiting for a flight to Newcastle upon Tyne, England: my home town.

Cream Cake at Fenwick’s
Cream Cake at Fenwick’s

Honored my Mum’s memory with a cuppa and cream cake in Fenwick’s department store, Newcastle. She loved to go there.

Mario the Cockerel
Mario the Cockerel

Bringing Mario the cockerel to his new Newcastle home. An old family friend admired it, so I got it for her garden.

Northumberland Coastal Walk
Northumberland Coastal Walk

Walked with friends along Northumberland’s coast. En route: the castle across this bay, pub lunch, afternoon tea.

Destination Guildford
Destination Guildford

Today’s destination: Guildford, a base for walking in the North Downs. Right now I’m on a Newcastle to London train.

My Long Journey to Ireland
My Long Journey to Ireland

Posted about my long journey to Ireland.

One For My Grandfather
One For My Grandfather

Tower of London today: 888,246 ceramic poppies, one for each British WW1 military death; one for my grandfather.

St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral

After-dinner view before taking the train to Guildford: Thames, Southwark Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Local Beers
Local Beers

North Downs walk with a friend included a pub, brewery, and liquor store/micro-brewery. Local beer procured at each.

North Downs
North Downs

Another day of hiking the North Downs. Today we only visited one hostelry–for lunch and libation.

Mavericks Barber Shop
Mavericks Barber Shop

Entered these premises in Guildford and allowed a pleasant Hungarian lady to wield a buzzcutter.

Runnymede
Runnymede

Walked on American soil at Runnymede near where King John sealed the Magna Carta in 1215. An A380 climbed from LHR.

Aegina
Aegina

Took ferry to Aegina, an island in the Adriatic. Walked in the rain, lunch, sunshine, hydrofoil back towards Athens.

Monastiraki Square
Monastiraki Square

Standing in Monastiraki Square, backpack and cappuccino. In 22 hours: Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, waiting for a bus.

Free Slot Cars
Free Slot Cars

Hi nephews. Istanbul Airport is cool: free slot cars, no need to use pocket money. Wish I could race with you.

Flight Change
Flight Change

Glad I changed my flight, today, from this one. I’m in O’Hare, and will get home earlier than the original plan.

Final Transit
Final Transit

Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, transferring from light rail to bus. Monastiraki Square, Athens is a long way away.