Day 3 – Stairway to Heaven

Alarm went off at 6:30am and we felt great having had a full night of sleep.  We had loosely decided to meet up when we were all ready, but aim for 8 or 9 ish since we had a two hour drive to our first hike.  Damon and I went to breakfast and we were eventually joined by Triecia and Bobby.  We stopped at a grocery store to stock up on some lunch and snacks and aimed North to get to the famed Cuilcagh Boardwalk Hike in Northern Ireland, aka, the Stairway to Heaven.  This was my must do on the list of places to go.

We knew the trail was right over the border of Northern Ireland, and given all of the hoopla around Brexit, we assumed there would be some indication when we left Ireland for Northern Ireland.  Without GoogleMaps, we never would have known we crossed the border - no border crossing, no signs, nothing.  So much for getting that extra stamp in our passports!

The hike consisted of about a 2-mile gravel trail that led to a 1.5 mile boardwalk built on top of bogland culminating in a staircase that led the rest of the way to the top of the “mountain”.  The weather was cool and misty, but thankfully not raining.  We bundled up and headed out.  The hike was not too bad – relatively moderate incline – until we got to the staircase.  394 steps (yes, I counted them) in a brisk wind, but we were rewarded with amazing views from the top – in between the patches of fog.  The wind was so strong that if the fog rolled in, you only had to wait a few minutes for a break to get great pictures. 

The hike was generally uneventful except for the part where both Damon and Bobby, separately, managed to wipe out.  Damon by slipping off the boardwalk and into the bog, and Bobby mis-stepping into a hidden hole and wiping out.  Just saying that they give us so much grief for being clumsy and we were not the ones with bog on our butts.  Oh, and then there were sheep – shocking.  The sheep, to our surprise, are all fluorescent.  The herd we saw were painted with neon orange paint.  Not just a little spot, but some of them where covered in bright orange.  As we saw the occasional blue sheep, we assume it is an alternative and more humane way to brand flocks.  Definitely more humiliating from a sheep’s perspective, but better than branding.  Will have to see what colors the rest of the week brings.

Post hike, we started the drive to – well – we didn’t know where since we didn’t actually have a destination.  We picked a hike for tomorrow and headed in that general direction while I started hunting for a decent hotel or BnB.  We stopped a few times trying to find a coffee shop in one of the small towns we passed, but quickly realized that we are much more likely to find beer than coffee, and our best bet will consistently be the incredibly well-stocked and clean gas stations that are relatively easy to find.  We are also getting a real kick out of the road signage and town names, most of which are in both English and Gaelic.  Take the “Ballin Together Community Centre” as Bobby called it as an example.  

Oh, and we are also on a 2fer2 rainbow kick – gorgeous rainbows both days so far.  During our drive to the hotel, the sun came out in full force and we had nothing but blue skies for the whole drive.  Expecting the next two days (hopefully) to be sunny with no rain.

The roads we’ve taken thus far are definitely secondary roads – very narrow, no shoulder, and cars coming at you with very little wiggle room.  Damon is doing a pretty good job of driving on the left side and has only gone off the road twice.  We came across our first oncoming tour bus.  Let’s say that a tour bus takes up far more than it’s allocated 1 lane, and this thing is barreling at us in 1 ½ lanes and we have a stone wall on our left.  Our reactions – Triecia screamed and was worried she would be found dead with a giant “O” on her mouth.  I (in the back seat) grabbed the headrest and leaned as far to the left as I could, because obviously that would help us get around an oncoming tour bus.  Bobby, relaxed as ever with no visible reaction.  Did not ask to check his pants.  And Damon somehow managed to slide us by without damage to the car.  I expect this will not be our last game of chicken with a bus this week.

We walked into the Park Hotel Kiltimagh, Swinford Rd, Corrahoor, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo (their addresses are confusing) and we were able to get two brand newly remodeled rooms for a discounted rate as walk ins.  The hotel is very nice and we had a great dinner in the restaurant.  As it turns out, the town of Kiltimagh only has 3 restaurants and this is one of them.  Apparently there are lots of pubs and there is live music tonight, but it doesn’t start until 10pm and we are, well, exhausted.  Looks like live music will get pushed to tomorrow!