One thing I forgot to write about yesterday was that I lost both the rubber tips on my polls. I lost the first one going across the rocks getting to The Black Fort and the other onecoming back across the rocks.   There were so many crevices and they must’ve gotten stuck in one of those.   Well. It is only rubber tips and not my foot.  I actually have a second set with me but decided not to put them on for today. I seem to be doing just fine without them.

We thought it might rain today but it turned out to be a beautiful semi-sunny day.

The first half of the day was actually on a back road. Although it’s difficult to walk on pavement for a long time,  I thoroughly enjoyed the foliage on each side of the road including some of the trees that were amazing.

 

You can see how the roads were like rolling hills.

 

 

We crossed the Owenriff River and the bridge reminded me of Spain.

 

I loved the houses with the thatched roofs.

 

Although their front yard was really overcrowded, I loved it.  Showing the legs of the man as he falls into the well was just cute.

Below is another thatched roof houses.

I loved the red gate at the entry.

And another.  Can you tell how much I love them.

We walked much of the way along the Lough Corrib, the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland.  It covers 176 square km.  it is reputed to have 365 islands, but a more accurate estimate suggests that there are over 1,200.

Eventually we were also looking at the Connemara Mountain.

What a beautiful place to have your home.

On of of these hills is called the Hill of Doon.  I think it is the barren one. Although we have asked several local people, we still have not found out the story of its name.

We we found a great place to eat our snacks.

Eventually we were off the road and into the bog.

 

We have become pretty adept at finding our way through this.

Then we came upon a wooden Boardwalk.

Luckily the boards were dry so we didn’t have to head the warning about how slippery they could be.

We also passed by a beautiful little waterfall  and sat on the bench pondering it for a while.

I was trying to get a photo of the butterfly, but this photo will show you on of the nails which bent over but sticking up from the boards.  Every dot in the previous photo of the boards is one of those nails. They were there to keep people from slipping.

The nails were  hard on our feet.  At first we were thrilled not to be slushing through to bog.  Btu they went on, and on, and on, and on. We walked over 4 km on them before we reached another bridge over a stream.,

 

We were pretty exhausted by the time we finished walking across those boards. We thought they would never end.

Marion, our B&B hostess, picked us up.  She also prepared a delicious, filling dinner.

So today’s hike was 21 km (13.12 miles).  I believe that is our last over 12 mile hike.  We have 11 more hikes to do. Tomorrow’s walk is under 10 miles long, but I understand we climb over 1300 ft. in a very short distance