Day 04 Castlegregory to Brandon

From Castlegregory to Brandon

Today's Distance:	9 miles / 14 km
MapMyHike	Relive
Total This Camino:	52 miles.
Total All Caminos:	1187 miles
Hostel/Albergue:	Beenoskee b & b @ 60 eu

Notable memories

Well I really need a rest day, so I took one. What do you do on a rest day? Well, you go for a 9 mile hike so I walked back to Brandon this morning, enjoying the time along the beach. 

Once in Brandon I stopped in Murphy's pub and had myself a glass of Guinness and just enjoyed a beautiful afternoon along the bay. The ocean lies just a little further out and is plainly visible. There was a strong breeze and it was quite relaxing to just sit on the Pier wall.

I had chance to chat with a couple of characters who were out in the bay fishing. We talked about the strong breeze and how it made it difficult for them. I kidded them that I was getting ready to call emergency services.

I also talked with a couple from Georgia who is spending a month touring Ireland.

From here I will hike to Camp and spend the night. Once in Camp I have the option to take the bus back to Tralee. Many people do this. I will see what I do. I am thinking to finish by reversing the hike and going from Camp back to Tralee on foot as a sort of memory from last year.  I would like to do the Slieve Mish mountains bypass once more. 

If that looks problematic for any reason, I can just take the bus back from Camp to Tralee. One big looming problem is the weather. There's an 80% chance of rain tomorrow. There's a 50% chance of showers on Sunday.

Regardless, once back in Tralee, I have completed the Dingle way. And it will be on to Spain.

This area is surrounded by mountains and coast.

Mount Brandon

St. Brendan's church in Cloghane

Brandon Pier

It's a rest day. I'm entitled to a Guinness.

Lots of bling. Medical alert bracelet, special friend's bracelet, my Camino bracelet.

Day 03: From Feohanagh to Brandon

From Feohanagh to Brandon

Today's Distance:	14.7 miles / 24 km
MapMyHike	Relive
Total This Camino:	43 miles.
Total All Caminos:	1178 miles
Hostel/Albergue:	Beenoskee b&b @ 103 eu
Transportation:	Taxi @ 20 eu

Today's video

Notable memories

Adding one more day in Ireland. I need some down time and some slow time. I'm just not going to be able to complete the Dingle Way according to the guide schedule.

As I mentioned in my video, Mount Brandon was just one long slog. However I made it.

In Brandon (after the mountain) I was having two orange juices and water at the local bar when four Brits walked up. They said they had also done Brandon, but they looked so clean. And they looked so happy. LOL, I wanted to kill them.

Mary and Michael, the proprietors at the bed and breakfast, are some really decent folks. Mary washed my muddy clothes, and then later they took me to the local supermarket to get some shopping done.

Just did not feel like restaurant food tonight so at the supermarket I bought yogurts and fruits and power bars and cheeses and meats. So I've gotten plenty to snack on for the hike tomorrow and the day after. That also covers supprr at night, so I can just stay at the bed and breakfast and munch here.

A big lesson I learned today was that one does not have to do things the way that others expect.

In the cab ride from Brandon to the bed and breakfast, I asked the taxi driver to pick me up tomorrow and take me back to Brandon. He said he couldn't because he had an appointment in the morning.

But then he said that I should walk from the bed and breakfast back to Brandon, and he would pick me up in the evening.

I thought that's backwards. But as I thought more about it, who says I have to walk the Dingle Way in a particular direction. And then I thought, who says I have to do anything and a particular way? So that became my lesson today. I can change things to do things the way I want to do them. And it's okay.

Spent part of the afternoon and evening talking with a real nice German couple.

Tomorrow will be a rest day. I'll hike in a relaxed way from the bed and breakfast to Brandon without my backpack, return to the b&b and spend another night, and then take off to finish the Dingle Way on Sunday. It's one day later than I planned, but hey, improvise, adapt, adopt.

Ready to rock and roll for the day. Little did I realize what lie ahead.

Brandon Creek, but not where I was supposed to be.

Brandon Creek, when I got back on the trail where I was supposed to be.

This cute little guy came out to greet me.

Approaching Mount Brandon

It was a gorgeous view from the mountain.

Day 02: From Dunquin to Feohanagh

 From Dunquin to Feohanagh

Today's Distance:	13 miles / 22 km
MapMyHike	Relive
Total This Camino:	28 miles.
Total All Caminos:	1163 miles
Hostel/Albergue:	Old Pier b&b @ 90 eu
Transport	Taxi: 30 eu

Video: Dunquin to Feohanagh

Notable memories

Purpose out here

One of the things today that I thought about while I was walking is that I'm kind of just going through the motions. I realise that it's only day 2, but in past caminos, I had some driving purpose. This time it seems I'm just hiking.

I suppose that perfectly fine. It just seems different to be walking ... and only walking. On other caminos, I was exorcising some ghost or dealing with some issue, but here there doesn't seem to be anything to chase away. Perhaps I've found someone who helps make life worth enjoying. If that is what is underlying my feelings out here, then that is a big change in my life.

Let's see what I'm feeling when I return to Spain and the camino de Santiago.

People I've run across

Maybe it's a European Union thing, but a not insignificant number of the people that are working here in Ireland, are not Irish. For example, the hostel assistant was Dutch. My cab driver tonight is English. My server at dinner is French.

Tonight's dinner

Given that tomorrow is a 15 mi hike with a 1,800 to 2,000 ft climb, I'm loading up on carbs tonight. Shrimp scampi, deep fried, with french fries and a salad. I figure I'm burning hell of a lot of calories tomorrow.

Lodging

Finally found a hostel. Sent off a reservation request, and got a response back. Full up.
So after dinner, spent my time trying to find a place to sleep. I could have done the taxi back to Dingle thing again, but I'm just not up for it, especially since the overall costs don't justify the hassle.
Found another bed and breakfast at $100 for tomorrow night. Although I'm enjoying the Dingle Way, it is sure expensive once you get to the far side of the peninsula.

Today's photos

Starting the day walking between the mountains and the shoreline.

Lots of beautiful beach scenery along the coves and bays of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way.

The sun is setting as I finish supper. Had a really good dinner of shrimp scampi, chips and a salad here. Just as good was the Coke with lemon, because I was so thirsty. Lol

Day 01: From Dingle to Dunquin

From Dingle to Dunquin

Today's Distance:	15 miles / 24 km
MapMyHike	Relive
Total This Camino:	15 miles.
Total All Caminos:	1150 miles
Hostel/Albergue:	The Grapevine, Dingle @ 25 eu
Transport	Taxi: 25 eu

Today was of those days that I knew was going to happen sooner or later. I had a lot of trouble making a booking, and when I got to Dunquin, I had no place to sleep. So it became obvious that Plan B was in effect. I called the taxi and paid for a ride back to my start point at Dingle.

The highlight of the day was my taxi ride back to Dingle at the end of today's hike. Tony was an amazing taxi driver.
We shared a lot of good stories.

One of the things he told me was how to drink Guinness. The bartender will pour the Guinness halfway and walk away. It's to let the Guinness  settle. Then he comes back to top it off and gives you the beer. You're supposed to wait until it settles some more before taking the first sip.
Tony said, now that I know how to have a Guinness, I should have one tonight. Sound advice.

We chatted about the weather here. I started by exclaiming how cloudy and grey it was in the morning, but the sun was out in full force in the afternoon. We got on to the subject of the four seasons, and he asked about snow birds. I mentioned that I love winter. Tony had a saying for people on the peninsula: if your in a short sleeve shirt and shorts, you shouldn't complain that you are cold. Ha ha!

Tomorrow morning I have a taxi coming to pick me up and it will take me to where I finished today. From that point I'll be covering new territory.

Camino 2019 Day 01 Dingle to Dunquin video

Notable memories

Starting out from Dingle on the Dingle way.

Dingle harbour. When I was here last year it was fog covered.

Parts of the trail today went through working ranches.

Where Ventry Bay meets the Atlantic ocean

The last third of today's hike 480 foot climb up Mount Eagle, before descending back to Sea level.

Looking out to the Atlantic ocean

One Week To Go

Getting  Anxious

Every camino starts differently. This one is producing very little in the way of nervousness ... dare I say, it is becoming routine. The only new aspect is the plan to hike in the Alps of Switzerland. The climbs look brutal, especially towards the end, but I do not fear the challenge. I merely wonder how difficult it will ultimately be.

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Travel Itinerary

Leave Rochester Sunday afteroon for a short flight to JFK. After a 2 hour layover, I board the Aer Lingus flight to Dublin. It's pretty simple. Once I'm in Dublin, I just have to arrange for transport (2 busses) from Dublin to Dingle, and then it's time to hike the Dingle Way.

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CheckLists

 1. Check expiration date on credit/debit cards. Done. New cards received.
 2. Notify banks of travel dates so cards aren't locked. Done.
 3. Flu shot. Done.
 4. Credentials arrived. Done

 5. Check passport for expiration date. Done.

 6. Verify any visa requirements. Done. All countries in Schengen Zone.

 7. Health Care / Travel Insurance. Done.

 8. Plane ticket / TSA Precheck. Done.

 9. Test out all your electronics. Done
10. Car insurance expiration date. Done.
11. Mail hold. Rental office will hold. Done.

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Notable memories

Two hours of kayaking on the Genesee River. Made it from center at Genesee Valley Park to the entrance to Little Black Creek park in Chili. Went under one bridge, but the second had too little clearance and was too long for me to not invoke a bit of claustrophobia.

Completed my Coast Guard Auxiliary Search and Rescue Boatcrew Qualification Exam. It was a glorious morning to be out on the water, running thru all the tasks required of a search and rescue boat crewman.

4 Days and Counting: Pretty much all is ready.
Last night Deb and I went to Fringe Fest for two shows. It was relaxing to let the mind wander. One show was cute. One show was awful. LOL. We both laughed about it afterwards.

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Training

	09/07 Kayaking on the Genesee River. Went out for two hours, but half way thru, I felt a twitch in the lower back. I guess I overdid the paddling.
	09/10 Coast Guard Auxiliary Boatcrew Qualification Exam. I know it's not Camino training, but everyone needs a break every once in a while.
	09/12 Joined the Genesee Valley Hiking Club for a 4 mile easy hike along Allen Creek in Penfield. Truth be told, I'm burned out on training. I want to get started.
	09/13 Went out with some hiking buddies for an approximate 5-mile hike in White Brook Nature Park and part of the Perinton Loop circuit. Kind of my final tune up hike. Because Saturday is a rest day.

Checklists Prior to Leaving

Preparation Checklist

 1. Check expiration date on credit/debit cards.
 2. Check passport for expiration date.

 3. Verify any visa requirements. (Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland)
     Currently, US citizens can travel to Europe for up to 90 days without any sort of travel authorization. Starting with 2021, US citizens visiting parts of Europe will need authorization from the European Union. The European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, will require "pre-travel screening for security and migration risks of travellers benefiting from visa-free access to the Schengen area."

      I plan to hike in Switzerland (requires entry to France and exit in Italy), Spain and Portugal. These countries are in the Schengen Area. Note that Great Britain and Ireland are NOT in the Schengen Area.

 4. Health Care: Medicare does not provide coverage outside of the U.S. Purchase travel insurance the provides for, at least, major medical, transportation while injured/sick and return of remains to U.S.

 5. Plane ticket. 

     Consider getting a TSA Global Entry Card to expedite processing on your return to the U.S. Can also be used for TSA Precheck within the U.S.

     Consider getting the TSA approved Mobile Passport app for your smart phone.

 6. Test out all your electronics, e.g. chargers, tablets, cables/cords. Bring equipment designed for your electronics. Have your power adapters available. Adapters differ among the U.S. Great Britain/Ireland and Spain/Portugal.  See pictures below.

Household Checklist

1. Mail

2. Pets

3. Plants

4. Auto

5. Bills

Basic HTML Table

		Comments
Spanish/Portuguese Power adapter
Great Britain/Ireland Power adapter

Thoughts on Destinations

Since I've started hiking the Camino de Santiago in 2014, I slowly broadened my interests in other trails.

In 2018, I flew from Santiago to Ireland for the Kerry Camino, and then to Portugal for the Camino Portugues (Central). If there was any takeaway from those experiences, it's that the world can be a camino.

So what's for 2019. Well, I'm still interested in Europe (altho' I can see that changing). I also have some unfinished business. 

Ireland: The Kerry Camino is a 3-day portion of the 7-day Dingle Peninsula Way. I have this yearning to return and complete the Dingle Way. Ireland was beautiful and the people amazing. I need to learn more.

Portugal: Hesitant in 2018, because I don't speak Portuguese, I headed to Porto regardless. I needn't have worried. This is a beautiful country with marvelous moments waiting to be discovered. I learned that people hike from Santiago to Fatimah. I've met people who've hiked the coastal route of the Camino Portugues. These options sound magical and are calling me.

Switzerland: Several months ago, I reached out to someone with whom I hiked for four or five days on the Via de La Plata in 2016. Jos and I made tentative arrangements for 2019 to spend about 10 days here. The Via Francigena passes thru Switzerland with five flat days for the first half and then five days crossing the Swiss Alps. Who could pass that up?

Spain: So much to do, so much to see. But I am called back to the mother country of Santiago de Campostela. There is the Camino Ingles, and a new extension that runs along the northern coast of Galicia from where the Norte end to where the Ingles begins. Sounds breathtaking.