Dave Byrnes' Adventures

Round Ireland - 2016
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Day: 086
Date: Saturday, 18 June 2016
Start: Dunleer
Finish: Skerries
Daily Kilometres: 39
Total Kilometres: 2409
Weather: Mild and mostly overcast
Accommodation: Hamilton House B&B
Nutrition: Breakfast:  Full Irish Breakfast
Lunch:  Muesli bar, Snickers Bar, chocolate and ice-cream
Dinner:  Fish & chips, ice-cream
Aches: Sore feet
Highlight: Finishing a long day
Lowlight: None really
Pictures: Here
GPS Track: Here
Journal: After another chatty breakfast with the B&B host, I started walking south from Dunleer at 9:20am on a sunny morning.  The road was busy, including the occasional cyclist and runner, but there was room to walk at the side, so it wasn't too stressful apart from the traffic noise.

I had a long day ahead of me, so I just plodded along listening to podcasts and watching the world go by.  After a couple of hours, I entered the fringes of Drogheda and spent the next hour traversing the large historic town, busy with Saturday shoppers and tourists.  I was planning to stop in at the railway station to purchase my ferry/rail ticket back to London, but couldn't see the station from my route and didn't want to add kilometres and time looking for it.

Ireland was playing Belgium in Euro 2016 at 2pm, and there were clearly a lot of people, most wearing green, heading for pubs to watch the game.  I'm sure it would have been a good atmosphere, though not perhaps later in the game which Ireland lost 3-0.

After four and a half hours, I took my first break, believing I had covered more than half of my journey to Skerries, my destination for the day.  The problem with walking so far without a break at the start of the day, is that fatigue, particularly of the feet, seems to come on very quickly after breaks in the afternoon.  Such was the case today, and with a busy road and without many scenic distractions in the fairly flat farmland, I was soon wishing the day was at an end.  I forced myself to keep walking to Balbriggen before taking another break, knowing that I would only have single digit kilometres to go after that.  Eventually I got there and rewarded myself with a Magnum ice-cream which I ate sitting on the grass in a town park.

The last hour and a half was a little more interesting as the road followed the coast of Fingal Bay and in the distance, on a narrow peninsula, I could see Skerries.  I reached my B&B at 6pm and checked in.  There's a sailing festival on in the village this weekend and I was lucky to get a room.

Following the advice of the B&B owner, I later walked down to the port (on very tired legs and feet) and bought fish and chips for dinner.  There were a lot of people out, many very dressed up, heading out for dinners or parties in the busy village.  I took my meal to a bench overlooking the peaceful Fingal Bay.  Just visible, in the far distance, I could see the silhouette of the Mountains of Mourne, and closer in, a single yacht making its way south.  Just offshore a couple of seals rounded the peninsula.  I was in a contemplative mood, pondering the last three months, life, and what's next.

It's my last day tomorrow, and if all goes to plan, a friend and clubmate from Terrigal Trotters, Ciaran, who is visiting family in Ireland, will join me for the morning's walking.  It will be nice to have some company.

ADVENTURE LIST

 

Round Ireland
(2016)

Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)

Via Alpina
(2012)

Australian Alps Walking Track
(2011)

Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)

Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)

Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)

Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)

Three Peaks Race
(2004)

Appalachian Trail
(1986)

Alpine Track
(1983)

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You can email Dave directly at dave@davebyrnes.com.au or subscribe to his Adventure Blogs here.

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