We spy a strange sight!

Saturday 13^th 

Jane 10 Paul 14 Sam 14 Annie 10 Total 24 (+2) Total 823

A strange sight seen today – some blue sky –hurray!! I can’t tell you how nice it is to walk in dry conditions after the past few days. Even better if you can have a little sunshine as we did today. We did also have a little rain but it passed and was not a problem. The way to get it to stop raining is to stop, take off the high vis vest and backpack, unpack the raincoat, put backpack and vest back on  and then you can guarantee it will stop raining!

Walked from Carrick to Portnoo in pairs. Annie and I luckily did the first part of the walk, walking along the Guinness River –very nice. The boys got the more scenic but much more taxing walk through The  Glengesh Pass. 

We drove through it and the scenery was wonderful. We then met up and had a picnic at the Assarencagh Waterfall.

Finally walked through Ardara onto Portnoo. We are staying nearby at The Lake Hotel, many thanks to Frank the owner for his fantastic generosity. It is a real country house hotel with a fabulous reading room looking out onto the lake. We had  a great meal with a good entertainment and are  about to watch MOTD –first one of the season!

Jane

RAIN RAIN RAIN

Friday 12^th 

Jane 9 Paul 16 Annie 2.5 Total 21.5 (+3) Walking total 799

We let the kids have a lie in and we started to walk towards Malin Beg. The rain was really heavy and it was so windy.

Paul walking into a cloud

I shall be writing to The Trade Descriptions Office!!

 Annie joined us later and she and me walked the end part to Malin Beg. We seemed to be walking for ages but only managed 2.5 miles. The wind was against us and the rain felt like needles in our face. At one point Annie said she wished she had brought her ski jacket with her! We were soaked to the core.

It's raining!!!!!!!!

It's windy!!!!!

It's beautiful!!!!

 Paul somehow kept going but we girls went back to change and warm up. I then walked into Kilcar later in the afternoon and Paul picked me up from there. They were having a heritage craft fayre so that was interesting.

I had a little doze when I got back after my shower. It was one of the most difficult days walking yet. Ankles really sore and feet ache. We are all feeling it a bit at the moment.

After dinner we drove to The Slieve League and got 10 minutes of clear weather. As you can see from the photos the clouds were obscuring the top of the cliffs. The views were magnificent. There is debate which cliffs are the more stunning – Moher or the Slieve League. The latter has it for me and very few tourists so you have the view to yourself practically.

RIVERS OF GUINNESS

Thursday 11^th  

Jane13 Paul 16 Sam 6.5 Annie 10 Total 26 (+0.5)

Thanks to Tony and Eileen for your fantastic hospitality and generosity. We will return, hopefully with some sunshine next time to enjoy your fabulous views. Walked in pairs alternating driving the car from Donegal town along the coast heading for Carrick. Decided to buy a picnic. The choice in this little Mace store in the middle of nowhere was rather limited but we all enjoyed the cheese, ham and crisp sandwiches.

post picnic pose

what a planker!!!

Sam decided to stop walking because his blister is so painful. Now the gruesome details – his blister that covered most of his little toe has burst and there is another blister under the first one.  Annie and I had  a good second leg walk. 

in Killibegs

Fortunately the weather was much better. It was raining but it was very fine and quite refreshing since a lot of our walk was uphill.

Staying for the next two nights at The Slieve League Lodge. This has a kitchen and washing machine and tumble drier – yes!!!! It’s amazing how this can get someone excited!

In the late afternoon Paul and I decided to walk towards Tellin along the River Owenee. This is an amazing colour – Guinness like (it is that colour because of the peat but I could be wrong). Many fishermen along the banks.

Cooked dinner in the kitchen and went for a drive to see The Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Unfortunately couldn’t see them because of the weather but we were there and did get a sense of their grandeur.

Had a drink in the bar hoping for some entertainment but were disappointed. No internet so Sam and Annie not happy.

GOODBYE SLIGO

Wednesday 10^th 

Jane 12 Sam 12 Total 24 (-1 behind schedule)

Thank you Carmel at The Strandhill Lodge for giving us back the money for the night’s accommodation – very generous and we had a great stay. The Strandhill area is really nice. 

Paul and Annie fundraising again in Sligo.

 I walked around the Strandhill peninsular and Sam walked around the southern part of Lake Gill. The weather was truly awful, with heavy rain near enough the whole time. At one point a van passed and it was as if someone had thrown a bucket of water in my face. It seeped down the front of my jacket, most unpleasant! However I did laugh to myself, it must have been a funny sight. When I got to Sligo I took over from Annie and did some collecting until the rain got too much. Sam had  a Sligo haircut. Drove to Donegal town where we were staying at the stunning Ardlenagh View bed and breakfast. The drive was in the most torrential rain and by the time we reached Tony and Eileen’s lovely home we were tired, cold  and still very damp! We were greeted by a pot of tea and a roaring peat fire- perfect!

Went into Donegal town for a meal and got completely drenched again, the rain is not going to stop! Our kids are becoming great mimics of the Irish accent and sayings. Haven’t laughed so much as I have over the past few weeks with them entertaining us!

The Sligo haircut with attitude!

The wall of  fame

Going well in Sligo

Sunday 7th

Annie 11.5 Jane 13.5 Paul 12.5 Sam 6 Total 26

We walked in pairs from Ballina along the River Moy to the north coast of Sligo. The river had lots of fly fishermen and is apparently Jackie Charlton's favourite place to fish.

Sam and I walked the first leg very fast, but he had to stop afterwards since his blisters were hurting too much. They are rather awful, on both his little toes underneath and the blisters are as big as his toes. We also had  a first aid stop for Annie since her ankle was getting very swollen and needed some strapping.

Anyway the miles got done and we spent the night at the Diamond Coast Hotel. The Maldron group kindly gave us two rooms at 25% of the normal rate. A very large luxurious place. We even caught the end part of The Community shield - of course won by Man U!

The evening was glorious from a weather point of view and we ate at the excellent Ait Eile in 

Enniscrone, probably the best meal for a whle. The view of the beach at sunset was great.

Monday 8th

Paul 15 Annie 10 Total 15

The usual drama of packing the car

Sam and I dropped Paul and Annie 15 miles outside Sligo and they walked in. I did a radio interview en route to Sligo with Ocean FM. We spent the day collecting in O'Connell Street and raised over E360. It was the first day collecting I really enjoyed. It was busy and lots of good conversatons with people. Thank you to the slightly merry man who came out of the pub (at 11.30am) and told me I have lovely Irish green eyes and gave me E20!!  Paul and Annie also got money while walking including E30 from a group halfway through a 3 day party!

We stayed at Iona bed and breakfast just outside Sligo. Thank you Rose for your wonderful hospitality and your most generous gesture of letting us stay for free. We really felt at home. We ate at The Venue at Strandhill who kindly reduced our bill by 50% which was very kind.

The Strandhill peninsular is lovely and a real surprise. It is a great place for surfing (shame didn't pack the wet suit) and is dominated by the magestic Knocknarea mountain.

Tuesday 9th

Jane and Paul 4 total 8

Walking total 727.5 on schedule

Paul and I got up early and were in Sligo almost before the shops were open. Rose said the "kids" could have a lie in. Her husband drove them into Sligo at lunchtime and they took over the collecting while Paul and I walked around nearby Lough Gill. Great scenery and weather perfect today.

Staying at a surf hostel/ bed breakfast tonight right by the coast. Back to walking 25 miles tomorrow. Had a really successful day collecting, over E520 - thanks Sligo!

Jane

Last days in Mayo

Friday 5th - Sam 25 miles in just over 6 hours - what a star!
Sam walked his marathon along the north Mayo coast and was rather blase about it. Gained a few blisters but otherwise looked as if he had just taken a gentle walk! The first part of his walk was very pleasant by the coast with some great cliffs.






Start of a marathon day



Seen my friend?





The rest of us were collecting in Ballina. Unfortunately Annie did not feel too well, initially she thought it was my driving making her feel sick. She spent most of the day sleeping in the car whilst Paul and I collected. I kept checking on her to check she wasn't overheating -Paul did remind me she wasn't a dog! I took her to the b and b were staying at nearby in the afternoon and I returned to don the vest and rattle the bucket again. I must say collecting can be very tiring and sole destroying. You can have periods when everyone ignores you and then you can be overwhelmed by people's generosity. Paul took the opportunity to buy some new Sim cards since Just Mobile are no longer trading.
Had a very filling meal at a local pub and headed home early. All of us except Sam have nasty colds and are feeling a bit sorry for ourselves. Made the old joints ache a bit as well! Paul in particular has a very irritating cough (mainly for us!).



Purely medicinal


Saturday 6th
Total 1 mile -our day off
Had a full day off and decided to go for a gentle walk along Enniscrone beach. We were lucky to get a hour or two of reasonable weather before the rain came. Beach very nice with plenty of people in swimming and wind surfing (they are a hardy lot here in Mayo!). The long sandy beach was similar to the beaches in North Norfolk where Maisie absolutely loves to go and we felt jealous of everyone with a dog.

On the way to the beach we passed a hotel which I realised was where we were booked in next. I for some reason thought it was in Sligo town so consquently have spent quite a while trying to rearrange accommodation over the next few days.  Annie and I did get some shopping in before we returned home. I realised I haven't been shopping for 5 weeks. She persuaded me to buy some jeans and a blouse, she says the latter makes me look younger. Well we'll see or I'll want my money back!
Paul and I also took sometime to clear out the car which will need fumigating on our return home. Now it's got plenty of sand from the beach to add to the mess!
This evening had  a really great meal in a hotel bar in Ballina -The Dock bar. Enormous portions so I'm glad it's back to the walking tomorrow otherwise what with the full Irish fry up this mornng I'll never get those new jeans on again.
Thanks to everyone that has left comments on the blog or emailed or text us. It gives us a great lift that everyone is behind us and we aren't on our own! I talk to my mum and she gives us all the news. She is counting down the days and following us on the map with the whole of Queenswood House.
Tomorrow we walk from Co Mayo into Co Sligo. I do hope the weather improves for us.

View from our lounge this evening

Jane

The scenery would have been nice!!

Paul 15 Jane 10 Annie 6 Sam 0 Total 25

Sam had decided to take  a rest day today... and well earnt. He wants to do a marathon walk tomorrow - literally.

We walked from Bellmutt around Lake Carowmore. I am sure the scenery and views were lovely, it's a shame the rain rather obscured our view! We got really wet and the only thing worse than being wet is being wet and hot. Annie and I walked together, but after 6 miles she decided to stop because her ankle was hurting. It  has been rather swollen at the end of each day's walk and it was  sensible to take a break and go back to the hotel. Paul also had to return since he needed dry socks. Being the experienced walker I keep a spare set of socks with me (must be my Girl Guide training). I hope no-one was looking as I tried to get my waterproof trousers on, bearing in mind I was sitting in the drivers seat and already rather wet. The fit of waterproof trousers is not a good one and despite loosing a few pounds were a  real struggle to get on - not  a pretty picture!

Anyway completed today's schedule. Passed through lots of bogs where peat was being cut and dried. Scenery in the area generall isolated and bleak, although after the stunning vistas in Connemara anything would be bleak. Actually the scenery reminds me very much of Newfoundland where I spent two months as a medical student.

We have slightly changed the schedule to allow a complete day off from walking and fundraising on Saturday. Tomorrow the walking is all down to Sam and the rest of us are collecting in Ballina.
Paul and Annie have been here nearly a  week. Both coping well. Not surprisingly Annie having problems with her ankles but she is very brave. (You will remember she broke an ankle not that long ago and years ago broke the other one and required surgery after). Paul having a few aches and pains but walking very fast as usual. I seem to be completely well when I'm walking but seize up after and feel really stiff. So getting out of the car after a long walk is accompanied by some moans and groans. My knees ache when I'm in bed but otherwise seem fine.

Jane