Today we leave Mick and Maura and continue south along the Way. But first, breakfast.
Scrambled with two rashers (slices of bacon)
Irish brown bread with marmalade and fruit for lunch.
Kody coming down with her suitcase.
Marge, our colorful language driver.
12 miles
ascent 1,601' / descent 1,850'
This section starts at Iron Bridge and follows a forest road through a gap between Ballygobban and Shielstown Hills. Although it initially feels like another day of conifer forests, this quickly lifts when the trail emerges from the trees to a wide vista of most of south Wicklow. Descending past the tiny hamlet of Moyne, the trail then follows quiet roads and old boreens around Ballycumber Hill before descending to the Derry River. The village of Tinahely is only a short walk along the busy main road.
Back to the iron bridge heading the opposite direction today.
A common chaffinch bidding us farewell
Apple tree
Lesser celandine or pilewort, with dark green heart shaped leaves
The little yellow man on the sign said to turn in here but it doesn’t look like a trail. Jo Anne, have you noticed the bumble bee colored gates?
It’s not much of a trail here, but there is one.
It’s not long before it widens out.
This rhododendron has completely enveloped this huge tree.
Close up of the beautiful blooms on it.
Love this grassy path. So much easier on the feet.
Coltsfoot
Mossy logs
European daisy, its tiny (1/2”)
Ok Jo Anne, you’re going to get lots of scenery pics.
Not to bring up bad memories for you Jo Anne but cherry laurels are blooming and very fragrant.
We loved watching the lambs running around and then crying for their mama’s
Some of them couldn’t be more than a day or two old.
Aren’t they cute?
A property for sale it’s quite large with barn and stone building and only €200,000.
Imagine transforming this charming little abandoned house into a cozy guest cottage or a peaceful retreat just for you!
Cotoneaster
Lovely little house
More tulips
Wood fern
An opening in the hedge leading to a gate across the trail. I suspect it may be to move sheep from one field to another.
Laburnum
Aren’t they pretty?
Very large pinecone
Another abandoned property
And more sheep
And cows
I told Kody, I don’t know how many times you can say, wow!
Squeezing through the gorse
Not sure where you had lunch but this was our spot
Not bad huh?
Cow parsley
Looks like the tree tunnel above but it’s another one.
This is the photo of the place we’re staying the next two nights and what we were looking for when we got to Tinahely.
This is what we found. A slight remodel. We’re staying at the charming Madeline's Guesthouse, a beloved establishment that carries the legacy of its founder, Madeline Menton. Her name is intertwined with the history of this quaint village. Since its takeover in 2022, the guesthouse has been beautifully modernized, offering a self-service experience that allows us to feel right at home. We received codes to access both the building and our spacious room, which gives us plenty of space for our belongings—quite the upgrade from our recent, cozy accommodations! However, we loved our previous host and hostess.
We’ve also got breakfast coupons for a delightful café down the street, though it doesn’t open until 9 AM. With a long 16-mile journey ahead of us tomorrow, it would be ideal to hit the trail a bit earlier. But sometimes, the best adventures come with a little patience!
After getting settled in the room we walked over to O’Conner’s pub for an early dinner.
I had the beef burger (that’s an onion ring on top of the meat)
Kody had the veggie burger that mistakenly had bacon on it 🤷♀️
They fixed it up and gave her a discount for the trouble.
Today's Stats:
Miles - 12.4
Steps - 30,875
Ascent - 2,231’
Time - 4 hrs 55 min
I was going to write about something else tonight but Kody and I were talking about peace yesterday, and living peacefully with others, so I decided to jot down some thoughts.
Spring is such a beautiful time of the year. The world begins to awaken from its frigid slumber, bursting forth with buds and blossoms. Birdsong echoes throughout the tree tops. Grass grows green and gentle breezes infuse sweet spring fragrances through the air. The whole world seems happy and peaceful again, especially as we walk quietly through the mountains, woods and valleys.
Peace. What a beautiful thought. But, even in the beautiful spring of the year, the world can be a nerve-wracking place. Shootings, tragedies, work stress, war, disease, suffering, sorrow, injustice, sex trafficking, airplane crashes, terrorists, politics, anxiety, crime, depression, – let’s face it – this world can be a pretty miserable, unpredictable, and even terrifying place sometimes.
But just because the world is topsy-turvy, does not mean we have to be. We are not of this world. The peace that anchors our soul keeps us grounded when the stormy winds of life are howling.
When you consider all the chaos in the world, peace appears to be missing at first glance. But look closely. There are individuals all around, in the midst of severe storms who have “peace that surpasses understanding.” (Phil 4:7) Regardless of the circumstances that may be raging in their lives, they are grounded by a steadfast peace of the heart.
They are not troubled by anxiety and panic when life becomes uncertain. They remain calm throughout life’s ups and downs. You probably know some people like this. What is their secret?
Their secret is planted deep within their hearts. It is the peace granted by God to all believers—in spite of circumstances going on in the world. And it is peace that cannot be understood by people of the world. Isn’t that a wonderful promise?
Also, God commands believers to live at peace with all humans as well. That is an easier task when our hearts are full of peace to begin with. As we conversed over breakfast with Louise and Colene, it was clear that we live in different worlds, with very different ideas, yet we were able to connect with them, and I hope exhibit the light within us.
Believers truly experience these words when they sing the beloved hymn:
“When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say..It is well, it is well with my soul.” If you would like to hear the song in the most amazing rendition I’ve ever heard, here it is.
