Freda takes the Lead day three

     Oh boy!   Today we were hiking on the Bluestack Way.  Linda thought it would be a good idea for me to take the lead of the group as I would be doing the self guided hike in a bit.  I was game and so we meet that morning to go over the map and the directions.  As we went over the directions, I came across words that were not familiar such as "stiles".  "What is a stile? " I asked Linda.  She looked at me and said "This is brilliant!  It's so good I have you reading this with me so I can get an idea of what I need to change!"  I waited.... "So... what's a stile???"  She looked up at me from the note she was writing "Oh!  It's a ladder over a fence" she says.

Linda and Freda going over the map and directions.

     So as I was getting my vocabulary of Ireland hiking landmarks up to snuff my fellow hikers began to file in.  Linda had told them that I would be leading today and she PROMISED to not let us walk off a cliff or into a bog.  Well the second part is not completely true as it turns out the first part of the hike was COMPLETELY in a bog. Never the less the good natured ribbing started early.  Bryan (who is a retired police officer from of all places Grants Pass Oregon!), Julie his wife who is a nurse there; Andrease and Gabby from Germany and Kathy from California all had something to say.  I took it in stride as it was all done in fun.  We had to drive to  Glenties - which means the meeting of the glens and then take a cab to the start of the hike.
      The start of our hike happened to be right at a soccer pitch with flush toilets!!!! What a luxury!  As we started,  I was watching the map, reading the directions, watching the map... Linda pointed out to me that the signs were right in front of me (literally). Many of the hikes in Ireland are very clearly marked if you just looks up and in front of you.  Early lesson learned - don't over think it. Away went the map - directions in the pocket. This made me realize how much time I spend "studying the way" and if I am not careful I just might miss what is right in front of me.
     We then got to the "uphill" part that Linda had told me about earlier - it was 700 foot gain in just under a mile.  Oiy it was a challenge.  It was also all bog.  If you have never had the experience of walking in bog it's hard to describe.  I guess the closest I can come is walking through muddy squishy spongy gunk that wants to suck your feet into it every chance it gets.  It's messy, it's also a lot of up and down, in and out of ruts.  We made it to the top and the view was spectacular - Donegal Bay just south of us and mountains all around.   Today was a sunny day and on the warm side of what we had experienced thus far.

Heading up the bog Hill

     We took a break at the top  and Linda aka "the Biscuit pusher" was around with the biscuits insisting we have at least two. As we continued, we headed down the other side of the bog hill and passed herds of sheep.  We stopped for a lunch break at a bench next to a stream.  Linda, who is a wealthy of knowledge told us about the Hawthorn trees that we were sitting beside.

At the top on a "biscuit break"

    The trees have special significance in Irish folk lore and history.  In ancient times when there were feuding tribes and as they had no fences to speak of, a leader would pick a high spot for their ring fort and plant Hawthorn trees around it.  It was meant to keep the fort from view and also keep any wild animals out.  Later they often built tunnels under the ring forts in case of invasion to hide the children.  This is how one of the legends of the "little folk" came to be and how Fairy Trees got their start.
  After our lunch break we continued on, we had about 3 and 1/2 more hours ahead of us.  As we walked along a fence line with sheep on the right  we saw a lone lamb was on the hillside to our left.  As we walked by, the lamb  realized it's mom was on the other side and started to charge the fence trying to get back to her. Considering the fence was not open it would just bounce off.  Linda jumped into action and herded the lone lamb to a gate up the road and back to his "mum"  It was fun to watch the reunion. Mama sheep baaing and baby lamb answering.  Even the guys were smiling.

The signs are clear if you look

     On we went... When we got to a cross roads one of our travelers was having a hard time. Kathy had developed blisters and could not walk any further.  Linda had us go on ahead.  When she caught up to us later... alone.... we asked what happened. She told us Kathy decided to wait and Linda promised to go fetch her when we were done.  She said "I also told her there was a good chance she would get picked up by a farmer."  Not 15 minutes later Linda's phone rang and sure enough Kathy had been picked up by a farmer! We found out later, that the farmer had taken Kathy to see his farm, his heard of 200 sheep, his sheep dogs, his ancestral home and drove her around town.  Linda asked when the wedding was!

End of the hike  - Slante'

     As we neared the end of our walk (and I didn't loose anyone - Kathy didn't count, she wasn't lost!) The promise of a rest and restroom loomed ahead.  Linda had told Kathy to meet us at the Hotel pub.  I was the first to arrive,  I later found out all my fellow walkers thought I was anxious for my Guinness, when in truth I really wanted a flush toilet!!!  As we sat - Our guide once again uttered the words we all looked forward to hearing "Job well done!  You should be proud of yourselves!!" And we were! Slainte'