Croagh Patrick

well, a long day of traveling. I left Galway this manana at the crack of dawn (or maybe a little after), caught a couple trains (the train system in Ireland is ok, not so great, but it is getting me where I need to go!). And after 3 + hours, I disembarked at Westport. Why Westport? Well, I got to Ireland and realized that, apart from my facination with U2 (Hello, Hello! HOLA!), Guinness, and some topical history, I know a wee little bit about the emerald isle. I sat down last night and started to put together one of my infamous lists, and wa-la! Croagh Patrick, that fabeled mountain where St. Patrick (roman: Patricus)communed with God and fought the devil. He hiked up this BAM (Big Ass Mountain) to do so. It is a pilgrimmage of sorts, with the most devout doing the hike in their bare feet! I'm not that devout (no, really, I'm not) and to top it off I am not even Catholic.

Church at the Summit

I hitched a ride out with Vincent, and older fella, who dropped me off at the bottomum, and it was off. Now, the base Croagh Patrick lies at sea level, so it is all 900+ metres to the top. The good news is the Irish, like the British, do not believe in switchback trails, which cuts down on the hiking time. The bad news is, the Irish do not believe in switchback trails, so it is straight up the bloody rock! see pics for further oohs and ahhs.

Cliffs of Moher

I walked the 8-10 k back from the bottomum when I finished, found my hostel and showered. Now, unless my biological clock deceives me, it is Guinness thirty. Tomorrow I leave to head back South to a large national park outside Kilarney for a day or two. Nothing like the hiking!

ps. touch wood, it has not rained a bit. And I am in Ireland! Weird...

loves all,

mfs

Not Quite

Of course

Parting Shot

St. Patrick

The Burren

View From the Summit