There are these two young women staying here, and they're tackling three sections of the Wicklow Way. We chatted with them a bit at breakfast yesterday before they kicked off their first day. Turns out, they didn't train at all, one of them was rocking a brand new pair of hiking boots, and this is their first time doing anything like this. They're actually walking the section we'll be hitting today! I’m super curious to hear how their day went.
On the left is Louise and to the right, Coleen.
When we asked how their hike went, they didn’t seem too hyped or really share much. It took them a whopping 5 and a half hours to cover what was supposed to be a 3 and a half-hour trek. Honestly, it felt like they had a secret agreement not to spill the beans about how tough it was, probably because we’re older and they didn’t want to be outdone. We totally crushed that same hike today in just 3 and a half hours, and we weren’t even rushing! I’m pretty sure we left them in the dust. I did hear them groaning this morning, when they got up since their room is right next to ours!
For breakfast, I had porridge and soda bread while Kody had the veggie full again.
7.9 miles
ascent 1,637' / descent 1,732'
You actually need to flip this around since we are starting on the right side of the photo. Notice that steep incline right at the beginning and for the first 4 miles.
Because of the lack of accommodation in this area, we are spending 3 nights in Glenmalure. Today we are transported to the beginning of our walk in Iron Bridge by Marge, and will walk back to Glenmalure. Iron Bridge is quite remote and generally requires transport unless wild camping (which we are NOT).
As we navigated the narrow, winding road, a logging truck suddenly appeared, moving toward us. Marge had to skillfully reverse down the mountain, her vibrant expressions making it clear she was less than thrilled about the situation. The truck squeezed by with barely an inch to spare, and had Marge not retracted her side mirror, it might have met a tragic fate. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of that moment because Kody and I were clinging on for dear life, holding our breath in anticipation. Sometimes, life throws unexpected challenges our way, reminding us to embrace the journey—no matter how wild it gets!
This is the iron bridge 😁. Nothing spectacular, just the start of our walk today. The river is always a joy though.
Yowza, what a climb! It was the steepest we’ve experienced so far, and started immediately.
Love the clouds but especially the blue in the sky.
Jo Anne gave me a t-shirt that says, the best views come after the hardest climb. I have to agree.
The third and final mountain hut on the Wicklow Way.
I thought we were nearing the top, but no. Keep going.
Just a bit of road walking.
Still not at the top. Heading up to the highest point on the trail today. A boardwalk straight up the mountain.
From the top of the boardwalk looking down. Nope, not there yet.
We’ve been playing leapfrog today with these men from Germany. They are actually completing two days walk in one day.
Finally! At the highest point.
I really have no words.
The feelings of solitude, wilderness and insignificance as I looked around were indescribable. To think that this is just a speck of all God’s creation and I’m a tinier speck than even that, yet He knows my every thought before I do.
We could see clearly for miles and, where the path turns right to go downhill back into the trees. I wanted to sit on the rock for a good while just to appreciate all that was before me, but the German men beat us to it. We took their photo and then they took ours and we moved on.
I noticed the zig-zag path on the other side of the valley. According to our lodging host, this was the path the donkeys used to wend their way up to get to the top plateau to fetch the turf. It looked wonderful from my vantage point, but I wouldn't like to think I had to labour up it every day, day in day out, for the span of my useful life.
We walked into Glenmalure at 1 pm, headed to the Inn and rested until our 3 pm reservation at the lodge for lunch/dinner. We both had the fish and chips today and since I’ve already posted a photo of it, I’ll spare you.
I had a hot chocolate for dessert. It was getting quite chilly outside and that sounded really good to me.
Kody had the lemon and raspberry cheesecake special. I don’t think she’d order it again.
As we walked back to the Inn, we saw Mick had some sheep in the trailer. We walked over to see what was up and he was worming them, ivermectin maybe??? 🤔 They are a year old and he was taking them up to his place in the mountains to graze.
Today's Stats:
Miles - 8.4
Steps - 21,876
Ascent - 2,106’
Time - 3 hrs 19 min
I won’t apologize for the length of this post because it has spoken to me deeply the past couple of days and I want to document my thoughts.
Jonathan Edwards has this great sermon called “The Christian Pilgrim.” He wrote:
"God is the highest good of the reasonable creature; and
the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be
satisfied.-- To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the
most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or
children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but the enjoyment
of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun.
These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops; but God is
the ocean.-- Therefore it becomes us to spend this life only as a journey
towards heaven, as it becomes us to make the seeking of our highest end and
proper good, the whole work of our lives; to which we should subordinate all
other concerns of life. Why should we labor for, or set our hearts on, any
thing else, but that which is our proper end, and true happiness?"
What an incredible message to us. This part of his sermon just really jumped out at me because of the references to nature, but I recommend reading the entire sermon. I can't tell you how many times I'm walking, surrounded and awed by God's creation, realizing that this is nothing compared to what awaits us when Jesus returns and God restores creation, eradicating sin, death, and suffering, a perfected dwelling place where God lives among his people. You might want to read that again.: God is the highest good of the reasonable creature; and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops; but God is the ocean. God is inviting us to live a different kind of life—the pilgrim life. We should be chasing after God and all that He is, instead of just going after worldly pleasures or personal satisfaction. It’s actually the only way to find true fulfillment, because, like Jesus said, if you try to hold on to your life, you’ll lose it; but if you let go for His sake, you’ll discover real life. (Matthew 16:25-26) Let me repeat it once again: the enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.
The older I get, I realize that my days of long-distance walking are numbered. I will walk as long as I can because the more active and fit I am, the better I can serve Him. There are many places I have yet to walk and would like to go, and I am sad that I have peaked and am descending the other side of my fitness in this life, but I would be depressed if I thought I had forever passed my peak. Well, here’s the thing. Not only have I not passed my peak, I have never seen my peak. My peak will not come until the resurrection, and I will never be less than at my peak. C.S. Lewis said. “Let’s think of the promise of the new earth, as the presence of the positive. Most importantly of course, being with Jesus! Most importantly worshiping Him, the King of kings and Lord of lords, our Savior, our King worthy of all worship. All the missed opportunities in this life will be replaced by billions of better opportunities forever. So when you think about the promise of heaven, think about the amazingly good news that God has in store for us, a redeemed physical world. The greatest adventures await us in the world to come.”
The Redeemer has come and righteous humanity is now going to rule the new earth under King Jesus forever! So the great news is, if we know Jesus, that’s where we are going to be.
