Arrived

I'm here!  It was a great flight and the sun was just rising as we approached Dublin.  It was a bright orange-red that lit the clouds around it.  As we landed we went though and below the cloud bank.  No sun today.  Getting through customs was painless and the airport was still familiar from last year.  It took me a bit to figure out where to get the bus and once there realized I had about a 2 hour wait. Went in search of and found some much needed coffee!!

Map of routes!

Figured out how to get a ticket and then just sat and people watched.  I must have looked like I knew what was what because every person who came into the shelter asked me for information  :-)  There was a family from Spain that  was trying to figure out how to get to Letterkenny I happen to "have an app" for the bus timetables and so I showed them the times.  They took a picture of it.

Now I'm on the road and the sun is peeking out which make the greens so much greener.  It's hard to describe if you have never experienced it. There are just what appears to be thousands of shades of green on this Island.  Variations even in a field.  I've passed fields of sheep, horses and cows, I've spotted a Fairy Tree and all varieties of shrubs and trees that I don't yet now the names of (Although I hope to now some by the end of the trip).   A bit more traveling to do today before I get to settle in for a bit.  Final destination today is Ardara.  I meet up with the group tomorrow night and we start our walk/hikes on Sunday.  Will post more pictures once I arrive,

Stop over in New York

     For me, there is nothing in the world like family.  It truly does not matter how long I have been gone, when I go "home" it feels like I never left.   A comforting feeling indeed.
     On route to Ireland, I am making a day and a half stop in New York to see family, and to try and not have killer jet lag when I get to Dublin. My brother Jack  and his family lives in Malverne, on Long Island and this is where I stay when I come and visit.  I'm looking forward to spending some more time with them when I return from Ireland. It is great to see everyone especially my dad, who at 92 is looking and doing amazing.

Tiramisu Heaven!

     Last night we had an amazing dinner at La Parma III  My brother Jack, my dad, sister in law- Donna,  niece Laura and I indulged in some pretty amazing traditional Italian food.

     Today I went with my dad to Rockaway Beach where he shared an apartment with my mom until she passed two years ago. My dad spends most of his time with my brothers family in Malverne, but still has kept the apartment and spends time there every now and then.  For me, who lives very far away, being back in their apartment still feels raw.   The memories of summers with my Kate here are still very present in my memory.   I miss my mom terribly and being there brought that sorrow closer to the surface. Not unexpected, but still painful.
    While there, we took a walk on the boardwalk.  Hurricane Sandy made a terrible mess of Rockaway Beach, and much of the east cost back in October of 2012.  The Boardwalk was ripped up parts of it ended blocks away.  The area has been revitalizing since then.  Walking today we got a view of the new look.  Very Cool!

They have planted grasses to help with erosion

Fun new benches

View down the boardwalk

So new and shiny!

Tomorrow will do a 4 mile walk before I board a plane at 5:30 and head for Dublin... Can't wait!

PDX-Getting Jammed Up...

On my way...
Today started early, at 2:00 am.  Airport pickup at 3 and PDX by 4.  For those who know me, I have a problem...I'm chronically early.  My flight is at 6.  The ride in was flawless and I highly recommend Blue Star Shuttle to anyone needing a lift to the airport.

Packing for this trip was a challenge but I managed to get it all in a checked bag, my backpack and my Timbuk2 bag.  Including three jars of homemade organic strawberry jam for my dad.  I started jammin' last year and brought blueberry for him last summer.  This year I put the strawberry in my carry on and thought nothing of it - bad idea apparently.  A TSA agent pulled both my carry on bags and found and threw out the three jars of jam (did I mention it was organic strawberry)  and a swiss arm knife.  The knife I get.  Oversight on my part should have gone in checked.  For any of you who jam you know the blood sweat and tears that go into each of those precious jars.   I think why I am upset is that he seemed to take pleasure in throwing each...jar...in...the...trash.  I also am sad that I won't be able to give them to Poppy.

No matter... This is a bump in the road and every trip has them.  I will just have to get some jam to my dad when I get home.  Next stop... New York!

Strawberry Jam

Ireland!

In 3 days I will be heading out on quite the adventure!  Last September after getting back from Ireland with my daughter, niece and dad I decided I really wanted to go back and put my boots on the ground, and see the country a bit more up close.

Our trip was amazing and one I will always cherish - but we spent a great deal of time in the cities (Dublin, Galway, Cork etc.)  I LOVED it all, the pubs, the people, and the company. My dad was 91 at the time and he outlasted me dancing in the pubs. But my favorite part of the trip was New Grange and seeing the ancient site at Knowth.  THAT is what I wanted more of.    So with this in mind and knowing I wanted to walk or hike I started my research into companies that provide that type of experience.   That is when I found Ireland Walk Hike Bike and Linda Woods. After exchanging several e-mails I signed up for two trips, an 8-day in Donegal that was a guided walk and a 4-day in Dingle that was a self guided Hike.    After converting the distances and altitudes to American measures I started to slightly hyperventilate.   Granted it was September and I was not leaving till June.  I took a deep breath and contacted my friend Sueann who had been doing some hiking with me.  I corralled Sueann and Mitch, her significant other into the “training-for-Ireland-hiking-group” we never really had a name for it but – this sounds good! 

Mount Hood from Council Crest

Mount St. Helen view from Council Crest

A trip to Silver Falls

With their help I began to add distance and altitude to the hikes we were doing.  We are truly lucky here in Portland to have easy access to a wide range of hiking opportunities.  Forest Park, which sits in the heart of Portland, has over 500 acres of hiking trails.  In addition, we have the Tillamook Forest, the Columbia Gorge and the Coastal Range all perfect for hiking and within driving distance. 


Forest Park was our first stop.  Mitch and his amazing sense of direction took us on many adventures in the park.  I think my favorite was to Pittock Mansion and then on to the Zoo  It was a 10 mile round trip with a 1500ft altitude gain.  We went to Council Crest and had amazing views.  For Christmas Suann got me a book about Forest park with many hikes listed.  We began the fun of checking them off.  
Next we began to go outside of the Park to Hikes around Portland. Silver Falls, Angels Rest, Cape Lookout on the coast, Mount Hamilton, Saddle mountain and local hikes along the Tualatin Hills Nature trails.   So many fun adventures!

Silver Falls with Karen, Mitch and Sueann

At the top of a difficult climb the columbia behind me.

So now three days out I am excited to explore Ireland. I will try to post every day and give information about where we are, what I find most amazing and what I've learned.
So... here we go!!!
     

First 1/2 Marathon!

This past Saturday I walked my first 1/2 Marathon!!  I have had a half marathon on my "vision" list for a long time.  Originally I wanted to run it but after a fall from a horse a dozen years ago that resulted in 7 screws and a plate in my ankle the vision of running transformed into walking.

My friend Pat walked her first quarter marathon 

with me.  This was the "before" picture

         So this fall I decided to give it a go.  I signed up for the Hippie Chick half Marathon and just for fun the Crawfish Crawl 1/2 Marathon in August.  As I was in training for a hike in Ireland (more on this later), I figured having these goals would be good training. 

        Living in Oregon, you never know what you are going to get in terms of weather.  We lucked out and had a beautiful sunny spring day.  I have only done,  one official 5K before this so my experience with organized races was limited.  This race began in the Hillsboro Stadium and it was quite an event.  There was an overall positive energy that permeated the venue and it was palatable.  As the start got closer I felt the butterflies appear.  Pat, my friend who was walking the quarter marathon and I started together.   As we approached the mile mile mark - she encouraged me to go on, as my pace was a bit quicker.  As I did, with earbuds in and my "walking" playlist going it was an odd feeling of community yet isolation.  I was doing this for me - I was not competing against anyone but as people would pass or I would pass people I had to keep reminding myself that.  Around 8 miles it started to heat up - and the crowd started to thin, I was on the slow end of the crowd - which I expected this first go around.  It was at this time that the doubts started to enter just then  I looked up and there was a bald eagle circling above in the clear sky.  Wow!  It was the little push I needed to keep going.  No lies, the last two miles were tough.  But as I crossed the finish line with Pat cheering me I felt a sense of accomplishment that I could do just about anything I set my mind to!  And a little bit of muchness returns...

Why Muchness?

When I decided to write a blog I knew I wanted the word "muchness" involved.  Several years ago I was watching the Johnny Depp version of Alice in Wonderland. His character was the mad hatter.  He had asked Alice to help him fight the Jabberwocky and she had refused.  The phrase he used with Alice about her being refusing was "you were much more muchy last time she was there", it really struck me.  You see at that point in my life I WAS Alice and my life had gone down the proverbial rabbit hole.  Hearing that line was the palm to the forehead, the catalyst I needed to shake myself out of my lethargy.
Funny that. A line, a word can have such an impact on our lives.
So.. This is a travel log, if you will, of my journey OUT of wonderland back into my life where I am learning to be present. This is dedicated to us all.  We all have stories  and journeys we are on, have taken or will take (when we are ready).

Forest Park in Portland Fall of 2014

The literal beginning of my journey.