August 12, 2007
Things to do outside Dublin when you're drenched…
Dear God - is there no end to the rain. Yesterday, I trudged across Connemara as a participant in the 11th Galway Walking Club marathon. Mostly, it rained, turning paths along the Connemara Way into streams almost overnight. It also pushed existing streams to winter levels and beyond.
What a difference a week makes - the picture on top was taken at the pilgrimage last week - the shot above was taken yesterday. Below is the same location in February.
Now, it wasn't like the rain was a surprise - the forecast for the weekend was depressingly accurate, including the prediction that the rain would clear in the evening [just after the last of the bedraggled hikers had made it back to the community centre]. The prospect of a good soaking didn't deter any participants - much the same numbers turned up as last year (circa 160). Not as many finished this year, though.
Heavy rain began, for me, around the 18 mile mark - it had already been drizzling for an hour before then. Normally, the walk along the Western Way between the Maamturks and the Twelve Bens is a wonderful journey with breath-taking views on every side. This year, the mountains were obscured by cloud. By the time I got to Maméan in the Maamturks , I was totally drenched. A week earlier, the path had been dry - now, water ran ankle deep. To add to my woes, my knee seized up and I couldn't finished - I hobbled on to about mile 24, cold wet and miserable before getting a lift back to the community centre, where, thankfully, hot soup awaited. Next year, I think I'll help make the sandwiches.
The Cruinniú na mBád (meeting of the boats) comes to an end this evening in Kinvarra . After very heavy rain this morning, the afteroon has been bright and sunny, so hopefully they will get a good turn-out. In the harbour here in Galway , the French training ship Bemel is just leaving as I write - it arrived on Friday.
pilgrimage, mamean, connemara, ireland, galway, irishblogs, photoblogs, photography, galwayblogs, monasette, north atlantic skyline, nature,john smyth, Canon, 5D, august, 2007