Dave Byrnes

Round Ireland - 2016

Overview Planned Schedule Map Diary Pictures

Day:	011
Date:	Monday, 4 April 2016
Start:	Clonmel
Finish:	Clogheen
Daily Kilometres:	39
Total Kilometres:	337
Weather:	Cool and foggy in the morning and a mix of sunshine and rain showers in the afternoon.
Accommodation:	Two Rivers B&B
Nutrition:	Breakfast: Full Irish Breakfast Lunch: Jam tarts, muesli bar and chocolate Dinner: Doner kebab, chips, and bakewell tart
Aches:	Sore feet
Highlight:	Afternoon walk along the side of Crohan Mountain with the sun on my back and the Suir River valley spread out below.
Lowlight:	My B&B shower only produced scalding water (but the B&B is cheap and I was tired and late, so didn't complain).
Pictures:	Here
GPS Track:	Here
Journal:	The paucity of accommodation options anywhere near the Munster Way meant that today was going to be long. After a lot of research I had found a B&B in Clogheen, the next village on the trail, and booked a room last night. I mentally prepared myself for a long day and left a very foggy Clonmel just before 9:00am. On the way out I passed the removable flood barriers that last night's host had told me about. Apparently they had been in action in the last few months and saved Clonmel from flooding. Once I crossed the River Suir out of Clonmel the Munster Way took me up a very long and steep hill along a country lane. It was a real heart-starter for the morning, but my fitness is good and I just kept plodding away, rapidly gaining elevation and soon moving onto moorland which would have provided great views if it hadn't been so foggy. Nevertheless, it was pleasant hiking across the quiet, eerie and sodden moors. I finally reached a farm lane and then several minor roads that I followed for the next few hours, as the fog gradually cleared. After crossing Curraheenavoher Hill I descended into the River Nire valley passing many farms and large houses. I had a break, my first for the day, at 12:30pm sitting by the old bridge over the River Nire. As I packed up, I was surprised by a runner going past. I then set off for what I knew was going to be a long afternoon. More climbing was going to be required and I still had many kilometres to go, but I felt fine and was enjoying the day so far, with lots to look at. During the afternoon I encountered constantly varying trail, ranging from roads through to country lanes, old farm tracks, boggy moorland single track, forest roads and everything in between which kept it interesting. I climbed high on the side of Crohan Mountain and then had a dress circle view over the Suir River valley as the trail followed the contours high on the mountain. The sun came out and I began to get warm. I even stopped to take off my rain-jacket at one point so that I would have just been wearing a T-shirt for the first time on the trip. But as I stowed my rainjacket, I looked northward across the valley and spied a rain squall moving in my direction. I put the jacket back on, and sure enough, ten minutes later it was cold and raining steadily. There were a couple of other showers during the afternoon, so I am still to have my first T-shirt day. After a last section of trail through some beautiful rhododedron groves, I reached a minor road and followed it for a few kilometers into Clogheen and located my B&B just as it started raining again at 6:30pm. I was greeted by Georgina, the hostess, and her pit bull which was jumping all over me and refusing to be shut away, bursting open the doors of two different rooms where Georgine had shut him away. Those who know me well, would know how much I enjoyed this episode. Anyway, I finally made it to my room and its jerry-built shower that only provided scalding water, had a wash and then ordered a kebab from the take-away shop opposite, and bought a few snacks and drinks at the nearby store. I knew the B&B was cheap, so wasn't expecting much, and wasn't disappointed. However, it will be fine, and I'm looking forward to hitting the sack.