Ventry Beach to Slea Head: First Self Guided Hike

     I started today with an amazing breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon!  The food on this trip has been unbelievable.  If I was not walking 8-12 miles a day I would most defiantly be putting on a few pounds! The B and B hosts were terrific, very accommodating and made sure the cab came to get me on time.  I had a ride to the start of the hike at Ventry Beach.  Sean the cab driver was most helpful and gave me some good advice and landmarks to watch out for.

     Got to the beach and off I went.  I am beginning to think that if something makes me nervous or a tad uneasy - it's best I do it rather than avoid it. Not talking about the reptilian response you get when you should turn and run the other way - more the "I don't want to do this because I never have,  and I don't know what the outcome is going to be" responses. I suppose its all about taking risks and living rather than just surviving.  Anyway, that's how I was feeling when I started this walk. So one foot in front of the other...

Ventry Beach

     I had my map, and my directions.  But keeping in mind the lessons I learned earlier in the week, after looking at them for a moment and seeing the first couple of steps I put them both away and looked up and ahead.  The paths were marked fairly clearly.  The first bit I walked on the  beach - what a treat!  It was a beautiful morning, sunshine and warm breeze.  The views were spectacular with the mist lifting off the mountains.  I stopped every now and again to pick up a shell or a rock. What I was finding about being alone is that the only company I had was myself - which can be a bit noisy at times.  As I continued I looked for the two rivers to cross and they had interesting  bridges.

Views from the "bridge"

The "bridge"

     As I plotted along, another difference I noticed was I didn't have an idea of pace.  Having other around I never really thought of it.  The walk took me through some farms with both sheep and cows.  I then entered a road and had to walk for a bit - small two lane road that was somewhat busy with many blind turns.  Walking on the right facing traffic took some getting used to.  At one point I stopped to check the map and I just listened, the road was along the beach and I could hear the ocean but could not see it.  I looked across the road and noticed a worn spot on the embankment.  Checking for cars I trotted across and took a few steps up and looked over....

Sometimes you need to look in the hidden places...

to see the beauty around you.

A hidden gem... Had I not stopped to listen and taken a risk to see what was there I would have missed it. 

     I walked on for a bit and found my next turn off.  Up a hill I went (honestly I'm over hills for a bit).  I know they they are part of life - but metaphorically and literally - can I have a bit of a break :-)

  Found myself using my new skills with breathing and they really do help. Not over thinking also goes a long way.

     When I got to the top I had been walking for about an hour and a half.  I found a flat rock and took a water and biscuit break (I blame Linda, I am now addicted to these dang things.)  Ate my TWO biscuits ("because have you ever seen a bird with just one wing?") drank some water and on I went.  The walk winded up into the hills further away from the coast.  It quieted down, the road noise gone and the ocean white noise soft in the  background.  There were plenty of sheep around and they would just move off as I approached I found myself thinking they must be very used to strangers.  Up and down I went over the hills.  At one point I was to cross a fence over a stile.  The directions then were unclear as to what was next. They said there were no markers and that I had to turn left go west and go back over the fence but it did not make sense.  There were markers and there was no where  to go over a fence.  I stood there for a moment and found myself getting sucked back into "but the directions say...." disregarding what was right in front of me.  I actually laughed out loud, put the directions BACK in my pack and made a mental note to tell Linda the changes on the trail.  Followed the markers and found my way. 

   I walked for quite a way passing beautiful overlooks and lots more sheep.  The path started to head down and there was a river to cross via rocks... no bridge.  Used my poles to check the rocks in the water and they were slippery took the dry route instead just took a little maneuvering.

I was way ahead of schedule (by a couple of hours).  I got to the part or the trail that lead up to the top and then it would be all down hill.  How many times must I say... I'm done with hills. I had stopped,  grumbling to myself (actually I think I was using stronger language and I'm sure there was at least one F bomb in there) and was feeling discouraged.  I took a water break before I continued and out of no where this small bird comes and sits on the fence not 4 feet from me.  It's twitching it's little tail and chirping at me, I though I must be by it's nest.  I look at it, it looks back and then flies about 5 feet ahead  and does the same routine.  I'm thinking - does it want me to follow it?  So on goes the pack, and I walk up to where it is.  I stop it flies another 5 feet in front me of chirping and twitching . I walk... it flies, this continues till we get to the top of the hill.  It then looks at me, stops chirping and flies away.  I'm thinking "what just happened?" In my mind I think, that was my mom encouraging me, knowing I'm getting tired and knowing I just needed a little push. When she was alive she had a way of doing it that didn't seem obvious. I look up and this is what I saw:

Look in front of you

 I send a prayer up to my mom thanking her for the help,  I smiled and walked on, all down hill from here.  

     When I get down and over yet another stile I was on a road that lead to a parking lot.  I took off my pack, got out my water and my two last biscuits (I've been well trained) and sat watching the ocean.  There were a few cars in the parking lot but it was pretty quiet.  Then a huge bus pulls up and off loads several dozen tourists.  Out of no where the cars in the parking lot turn into cookie and fruit sellers (out of their trunks) and someone starts playing an instrument.  I looked around and shook my head.  Such a difference from up north in Donegal,  I don't believe we saw anyone on any of our hikes, except for Errigal.  So many people, it was weird.  I got up and headed down the road to the meeting place for the cab.  It was a home where the owner was selling home baked goods and tea and coffee to travelers.  I used the rest room and got a pot of tea and a scone and went to sit outside. I had about two hours to kill and there was not cell service,  oh well I was forced to sit in the sunshine and drink my tea - hard life.  There was a picnic bench available so I sat. Just watching the waves crash on the rocks. Eventually others came and sat and we chatted.  I meet several different folks from all over.  Patricia and John sat for the longest and we had a great conversation.  I found out about their two sons, her dad who is 90, and the fact that even though they live about 60 miles away this spot was their favorite in the world.  They even had a summer home here so they could be here more often.  And it is a lovely spot.

Life does not get any better than this....