perfect walking conditions!

This past week,for the most part has been one of those weeks when we in the northwest steal the fine weather from the rest of the country,  after all,  this is the first stopping point for the rain drawn up from the Atlantic for most of the year! Conditions for walking combined with the extra-long evening sunshine due to our westerly location have been perfect. As we are getting ever closer to our departure to Spain we are checking the fine detail about where we hope to stop each day and what essentials we really need to take in our bags.



The map shows our route for the first day of walking-approximately 15 miles. As you can see there are many small villages and hamlets along the route which makes this walking route very different to many other long distance walks such as the Appalachian way in the USA. From Sarria to Santiago particularly you are never too far from towns or places to stop for refreshments. Many of the other pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela are less well travelled and might be suited to more experienced walkers or those prefering a more solitary experience.

We have checked the bus connections from the airport to our starting point in Sarria. I know this sounds strange but I am so hoping that our flight arrives on time so that we may make the direct connection to Lugo and onwards to Sarria without going in to Santiago de Compostela first. We would really like our first sight of Santiago to be on the Sunday morning as we arrive on foot.

I have added Galicia into the weather watch on the computer and can hardly believe the amount of rain they they are getting.

Galicia has many other things in common with Ireland including some celtic traditions. For those of you who are interested in fiddle music, there are a great many different styles of playing found around Scotland , Ireland, Canada, Brittany, Norway and the Scottish islands etc.
This year again Derry is host to the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in June

www.nafco2012.com
The Wrigley sisters from Orkney and Eugene O'Donnell are amongst my favourite players along with Fiona Pears from New Zealand.

Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley from Orkney










I am still finding shells along my training routes in the strangest of places. The approach to the new Peace bridge in Derry from the Ebrington side is paved with beautiful dark grey stonework which has fossilised shells embedded in it.
The other place shells can be seen is in the Strand road, along the pavement in the area between Clarendon Street and Sackville street. All sorts of sea shells, seaweeds and sea creatures made of shiny metal are mounted within the paving stones.
I also did my usual beach  walk on sunday 6 miles! and of course my riverside walk in to town where the reflections on the waters of the Foyle were delightful.

snakes, thunderstorms and octopus/pi?

Lurking in the background  are a couple of other little issues--------?

With  being from Ireland, snakes don't normally feature highly on my worry list due to the fact that St Patrick has it all sorted over here. I was hoping to wear 3/4 length trousers for walking in Galicia and was wondering, do I need to even think about snakes when I am in Spain? or midges ,wasps, ticks and other nasties for that matter?

Issue number 2- I know it rains a lot in Galicia. Now, it's not really the rain that bothers me but I never used to be particularly scared of thunder and lightning until I had a bad experience in the Netherlands a few years ago.

As I have mentioned before, St Columba spent much of his time in the NW of Ireland. One of the legends I have heard credited to him is that no-one from Derry would be killed by lightning. A few years ago whilst travelling by car from Zaandam to the Hague we had to drive through the most spectacular thunder storm I had ever seen. My 3 younger children then aged 17,14,10 were with us in the car and were terrified, especially when a fork of lightning touched down on the opposite side of the carriageway, only feet away. Truthfully, I was terrified too! but had to try and hide my fear from the children while the husband kept on driving. The best I could come up with was the story of St. Columba and his protective legend and the fact that the safest place to be in a thunderstorm is ----in a car! Quick as a flash  the oldest boy came back with - "but mum, does St Columba know we are on holiday and not in Derry?" at which point the 2 younger ones started crying again. Never been keen on thunderstorms at all since then.



choice of eating this guy or something sweet-? bring on the cake!

 Issue number 3 is totally irrational. I love the coast, the beach, the sea. I couldn't begin to imagine living far away from the ocean, however, I am absolutely terrified of all sea creatures, and as for seafood, I am definitely in the 'see food and eat it' group, that is anything except actual "sea" food. I have read so much about the fantastic seafood dishes of Galicia especially Octopus (pulpo Gallega). I have never been able to work out why I have this totally disproportionate fear that leaves me unable to even touch fish etc. I would love to try and conquer this fear while walking the "Way" but not too hopeful.


I am forever telling others when they are worried  about things that-

 "whatever is meant for you, will not go past you"
 I am a  great believer in God's plan for each of us.

I think I need to take my own advice and words of wisdom on these fears and stop worrying about things I have no control over. Anyway the excitement and anticipation about our walk are outweighing the worries especially since I received my Brierly's guide to the Camino this morning in the post. T

Wayinmay

I have been reading all about Trudys preparation & now feel I better get a move on down her in Tipperary to keep up with her...I have started my preparation walking the roads around my local town of Nenagh during my lunch hour.   It is nothing to compare with the beauty of Derry on the shores of the river Foyle or the sights of Donegal....such beauty Trudy you are so lucky to be surounded by sea....anyway I have started Easter Sunday down in Spanish Point in Co Clare we got up early & walked for 2 hours along the coast line beautiful scenary we call it our little bit of heaven.  I have moved onto the Silvemines hills which are in view from our back garden.  Myself & Liam plus our 2 dogs took to the hills last sat eve & that was some adventure as our sons 6 month old puppy Rodge is a tear away springer spaniel ...& not used to a lead ..loves to take off & will chase anything that moves .....well between him & the hills I got in a good evenings preparation for the Camino Way in May..
I was back to Nenagh Mon & today walking the bypass & aound the town.   Nenagh is a good town with lots to offer & loads to see with a Castle & close connection to Lough Derg the biggest lake on the River Shannon.  Dromineer is only 6 miles from Nenagh is an ideal stop off point to view the lake & enjoy lake ammenities.  My Grand parents were both born there & when they moved to Dublin they retained a summer house on the shores of Dromineer Bay where we spent every weekend & school holidays swimming & boating there.  My brother Donal Gleeson RIP loved the water & as a member of Lough Derg Yacht Club spent every spare moment of his time sailing & teaching children how to sail on the lake.  He had just found his vocation in life & was passing on the skills & respect he had for the lake to many children when he was taken suddenly from us.   His wife, sons & daughter are carrying on his great love for sailing by holding his annual sailing weekend ( WOLF ) on the Oct Bank holiday weekend each year in Terryglass.
I must keep walking ..hope to get in a few more rounds of Nenagh ...watch out for me on the bypass.....going to Killarney Friday to see Gift Grub with my friend Deirdre so will try & get a walk in around the lakes of Killarney ...another beautiful spot in Ireland.

another week closer!

 

This week the shells are playing a supportive role as I walk.

Peace bridge

 Training this week has mainly been based in my home city of Derry/Londonderry the Legenderry city on the banks of the Foyle. Soon to be UK City of Culture 2013. Derry is my adopted home having lived there for 47 years. It is a city steeped in history with a stunning location on the river Foyle. The city walls built early in 17th century are amongst the finest in Europe.  St Columba founded a monastic settlement in the 6th century but there is archaelogical evidence of settlement predating St Columba. The most recent addition to the walking routes in an around the city is the new Peace bridge linking the cityside to the waterside.




Still searching and following!



http://www.cityofculture2013.com/

If you are visiting Ireland make sure to include the city of Derry and its surrounding areas on your itinerary, you will not be disappointed.

 

Now as it gets closer to our big walk I am having worries about being able to walk 15/18 miles on consecutive days so I have walked at least 5 miles each day this week and a bit more on some days and included hills on my routes. I have concluded at the end of this week that some bits of me appear older than other bits most notably the right knee and the left hip!

I have also concluded that walking is one of life's pleasures in that it allows time for thinking while you become immersed in the beauty of the world around you. Walking also reminds me of the words of wisdom of some of my friends.

 I am sure Grainne will not mind me sharing one of her many wise sayings:

Happiness is an inside job!

and one from my friend Jacqueline RIP

Never cross your bridge till your bridge comes in to view

Perhaps I am worrying too much about my fitness level?









Atlantic sunset!

Easter-6 weeks to go!

Already our visit to Cyprus is like a distant memory, not least because of being plunged back in to winter here in the North West corner of Ireland!

Thoughts of walking have far superceded actual walking and my entire training has consisted of a trip to the delightful Magherabeg swimming pool overlooking  Sheephaven Bay in Donegal with my Grandchildren.

At one stage I considered a walk around the Atlantic Drive, 7 miles around the Rosguill peninsula but settled for a short walk along Downings Pier instead which ended up with a visit to McNutts coffee shop overlooking the bay. The bitingly cold wind would have "cleaned corn!". I know it will be wet in Galicia but at least we are  hoping for warm rain!?



Tramore beach - Downings

  Rosguill in North Donegal has many connections with St Columba and an ancient stone cross embedded in the roadside wall near to An Sibin Ceoil (the singing pub) is reputedly one of the places he stopped to water his horse.

On days when the sky is blue and the sun is shining, this part of Ireland, in my opinion, is as close as you can come to having heaven on earth. Walking along this golden sandy beach listening to the waves is great way of reflecting and thinking, very therapeutic and relaxing.


At the furthest point along this beach you are overlooking Ards Friary, well worth a visit for its simple but calming church, beautifiul grounds and many walking routes.
Ards, although appearing extremely close  is  not accessible from this point but by way of the village of Creeslough along the county road.

The Rosguill youth hostel also shares an interesting link with the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool.

The Youth hostel at Tra na Rossan was originally designed as a hunting lodge by Edwin Lutyens, a famous british architect credited with the design of many magnificient buildings in Ireland, Britain and India.

This hostel is the most northerly youth hostel in all Ireland! It is located at the northern edge of the Rosguill Peninsula in an Irish speaking (Gaeltacht) area. As far as I am aware this is the only one of Lutyens designs you can sleep in! It is reached via the spur road off the Atlantic Drive-signposted Melmore Head.

 

Tra na Rossan bay



Lutyens was commissioned in 1929 to design a new Roman Catholic Cathedral in Liverpool. He planned a vast building of brick and granite, topped with towers and a 510-foot dome. Work started in 1933, but was halted during the second world war. After the war, the project ended due to a shortage of funding, with only the crypt completed.  The present Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral was built over land adjacent to the crypt and was consecrated in 1967. The cathedral  was hosting a fascinating exhibition about the Turin shroud last year when I was in Liverpool. It is a magnificient very modern style building and well worth a visit if you are anywhere near to the city.

http://www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk/

 





 Youth Hostel
Tra na Rossan


 Tomorrow I will walk no matter what the weather decides to throw at me. Trudy

7 weeks to go!

So while Grainne has been enjoying her beautiful first baby grand daughter Ciara, my walking practice has fallen by the wayside and the speed has been reduced to a  mere "dander" as they say in Derry!

It's not to say however that I still haven't been following shells, once again they appeared to remind me of our forthcoming walk in Spain following the Way of St James. I decided to venture for a few days to the beautiful mediterranean island of Cyprus, with my cousins.

We were out for a dander after our lovely meal and browsing the local shops in Paphos.  I like to collect fridge magnets- I know, strange things to collect! Especially  as my fridges are at grandchildren level and therefore are totally unsuitable for placing magnets on. My collection has now almost completely covered the side of the mini dishwasher which enjoys a raised position in my kitchen out of the reach of little hands. So in the photo you can see the latest addition to my collection A little map of Cyprus within a scallop shell.

rapidly running out of space!

 
Later in the holiday we visited some of the ancient ruins at Kourion close to Limassol and once again amongst the ruins we found the shells.

Cyprus has something for everyone, warm sunshine, beautiful coastal vistas, interesting history,great scenery, scary mountain roads, beautiful monasteries, ski slopes, great food and lovely warm friendly and helpful people.



2 of the amazing mosaics in the monastery at Kykkos in the Troodos mountains

Now we are back home and serious walking practice will recommence this week and will be accompanied by some even more serious calorie intake reduction following our trip.
Trudy

Gráinne

Hi Grainne here I am busy getting ready for the walk with Trudy & Linda. It has been my intension to do this walk ever since my friend Fr Michael Spain told me about it. He did the whole walk 500 miles in April 2010. He started out with his brother Tony who not long after daylight on day two had to retreat due to the return of an old knee ligament injury. Michael continued on to finish the pilgrimage. He came to one of our local ICA meetings & told us all about his adventures & gave us a copy of the piece he wrote about all the people & things that happened to him along the way it was a fascinating story & one which stuck in my mind.
I am doing this walk as a thank for all the good things that have been given to me in my life. I have been blessed with a wonderful Husband & four fantastic children & I have become a gran Ma. My first Gran child was born on Tuesday 20th March at 23.20 to my daughter Marie & husband Conor they called her Ciara Áine & she is beautiful. I am so lucky. I hope I can complete the stage of the walk that we hope to do. I am walking everyday in preparation.