Ulster Way Hike - Ring of Gullion (pt 2)

Saturday 19th

In the car we hummed and ha-ed about the weather, it being rather cold but now raining on top of that, which we hadn't expected. It was time to pull into a garage and get a coffee in our new fancy Keep Cups and have a think...

"Well fortune favours the brave" said I, "who dares wins" said Andrew and on we went; the Ring of Gullion required a good conquering beneath our boots.

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Slieve Gullion from Jonesborough

Jonesborough, is where we started again (as with pt 1) parking in the village car park. It didn't take us long to get ready and start the hike, the weather here being lovely, cold yes but blue skies poking through.

Moyry Castle

It was a lovely narrow road walk surrounded by farms and great views to get to our first point of call; the 17th century Moyry Castle (fort). What a surprise and what a situation, up on a hill with commanding views all a round for miles on end. It defended 'The Gap of the North', the main direct north-south route in Eastern Ireland. Truly, it had so many gun loops.

the best bit where I felt able to take my camera out

On again along lovely lush high sided lanes until we arrived at a battlefield; here all the trees had been cut down in a sweet bit of forest that looks so good on the map. Left behind was a mess of bog, holes and branches and brambles. We found it hard to get ourselves out the other side, thank goodness for the map app on Andrew's phone!

the border!

I was glad to get back onto the little roads, crossing over the border and back I don't know how many times. At one point Andrew used his phone map and we watched ourselves cross the line on the map - it was denoted by nothing more than a bit of hedge on one side in real life. Lovely.

* I have to keep reminding myself that I felt pretty good - all the beautiful little ruined farm steads, the views, the lush plants and now horses and donkeys! *

Awesome fungi - wood ears and ?

Making me smile now was my most favourite part of the walk - a trail round a ruined house, past a friendly horse in his paddock, down to a river with another gorgeous old house and some awesome fungi, a hibernating ladybird and lots of coconut in the air - gorse. It was heavenly.

At other end and we found ourselves in Forkhill. Here we stopped for a small pint and some crisps in The Welcome Inn (which we discovered a little late was for members only). They were very nice though and on leaving they wished us luck with our mountains, haha.

On the walk out of Forkhill we came across one of the most joyous experiences ever - 14 donkeys in the one huge field. We stood there for some time just admiring them, then had to drag ourselves away and on along the main roadway.

At a right turn onto a lane we met another donkey - more feisty and demanding attention; just gorgeous.

Then we began our slow and agonising ascent up the side of Slieve Gullion (so many false summits!). That's when it all started to metaphorically down hill - the drizzle started. Soon it was heavy and we stopped to put away the camera and put on our coats; we had climbed up into a cloud. Soon came heavier water drops and we (still climbing upwards) had to stop again and put on our water proof trousers and for me, take off my glasses - they were useless.

Miserably wet and now in some difficulty with seeing at all we slowly but surely made our way to the Slieve Gullion Forest Park - yay! Here we found coffee and toilets and a hand dyer which I used almost everywhere but my hands!!

Andrew did a map for us all - hugs Andrew x

It had been exhausting but after finishing our coffee it was only a mile to the bus stop. Back in the relative comfort to our car the heating was turned right up. We had done it (13.5 miles) and now it was time to go home and have a very warm shower.

Love and hugs
Carrie

Ulster Way Hike - Ring of Gullion (part 1)

We're onto a new section of the Ulster Way in the far side of Co. Armagh, on the border. Determined to crush the kilometres beneath our feet and conquer the Way this year!  Here's part 1 of the Ring of Gullion Way.

We arrived in Newry early and caught a bus to the beginning of our adventure and it wasn't a long walk to our first area of beauty -  Ravensdale forest. Here we climbed up through stunning mixed woodland and heard lots of birds and little waterfalls in the distance. Toby tried to pee on every tree, haha.

Taking the above photo of the mushroom, I found a phone laying in the mud and leaves. Luckily it had an app on it that helped the owner know where it was and only allowed a finder to ring the owner's chosen liaison person. I made Andrew do the ringing (photo) we arranged to give it back; it was so lucky they lived in Newry.

We walked lovely narrow paths leading up the northern slopes of Clermont Carn were the wind whipped up from the sea through the trees and made us shivery. It is a beautiful area but oh my, the fly tipping!

It was a very steep descent down to a main road, patching up tarmac with concrete isn't the best practise. This road was on the border, not that you'd notice! After a short while we had to climb up again into the countryside  but before this could be attempted I had to have an emergency Cadbury's fudge break.

Up here there were many ruined cottages, horses and cows, perfect photograph fodder. I remember loving the very old farmer gents in their equally old tractors up this way. The roadsides slowly got higher and higher in the old countryside fashion and again it suddenly got very cold.

We planned to take our lunch break at Clontygora court tomb, a Neolithic picnic if you will. This time the cold stayed with us and we had nibbles and a sup inside the actual tomb.

Slightly warmed up again we got back on the road and passed by Flagstaff viewpoint with wonderful views over the Newry canal and off into the harbour. Then came the highlight of the hike - 3 donkeys! They were gorgeous and Lordy did we take many a photo of them. They in turn wanted nose rubs and and were momentarily intrigued by Toby but then simply ignored him.

Down and down we went on small winding roads and over a railway, beside it on the left then over it again and walked for a good while on a grassy path to the right hand side. Oh, it turned into a beautiful narrow trail all the way back to the car, twisting and feeling so old.

Back at the car we met the phone owner, a postman called Brain :) We quickly got ourselves unburdened of our backpacks and drove home, via some take out coffee - just so cold!

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You should know that I find these days mentally and physically exhausting, every single time I do them. BUT I am a huge advocate for ecotheraphy and encourage everyone (not just those who also have mental health problems) to be outside as much as possible.

How does it feel? To me, I generally feel nothing but my physical aches and tiredness. It's the memories that I capture with my camera that mean something. I observe when I see through the lens and I take those moments with me into the next few days, slowly building up a picture (no pun intended) of what I did and how it should have made me feel.

Conversely, not feeling at the time is a two sided coin - I am detached from reality to keep me from exploding with anxiety; but also I am receiving the healing balm of 'the space in between' each photo. Those quiet, detached moments that we all get are when I feel no anxiety, no depression, no self harming desires, no suicidal thoughts - it's just blissful nothingness. That my friends is worth all the sore feet, the confusion and the tiredness. Plus I get the photos and the kudos :)

Looking back, catching up

Hike triumph - Newry Canal pt 2

I forgot to tell/show you that we completed the second half of the Newry Canal hike - hurrah to us! It happened way back on the 20th October and it was a much cooler and crisp day indeed, definitely more leaves on the ground and though this part of the walk wasn't quite as pretty, there were special surprises to be found. I'll simply put up two wee collages of what we found joy in.

old signs, many apples just out of reach, a donkey, more swans and cygnets

a beautiful bridge over  Moneypenny's lock, another mile marker and the lock keeper' s cottage, the lock and the neighbouring blacksmiths (still working away)

The walk started in Scarva, then we walked the 8 miles to Portadown train station (which meant my big red and sleepy mug had to face the Portadown public - eek!). The journey was grand and Toby was a very good boy indeed sitting under Andrew's legs and not barking once. Back at Scarva then, we disembarked and went to the local eatery for a lovely, well deserved dinner :)

And now because I simply forgot on Friday past....

Daily photo challenge round up (22)

 Day 27 - pop

A pop of pink in an otherwise dreary flower bed

Day 28 - contrast

In contrast to my usual view of a gingerbread man as jolly and plump this one is but a skeleton! 😄

Day 29 - black and white

Outside my fave bar in Belfast.

 Day 31 - rainbow

Beautifully arranged coloured bottles on the window sill of a sweet b&b in Northumberland.

And into NOVEMBER! With the same thanks to Fat Mum Slim for the prompts as before :)....

Day 1 - morning sky

This morning's glorious bright sky with the moon still up. Beautiful autumn light and colours.

 Day 2 - I want...

better vision please. I've been wearing glasses for 30 years now and also have incurable permanent double vision.

 Day 3 - I have...

the sleepiest little dog today. 

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I have also been to the allotment! "What?" you cry, "Really?" and I proudly answer "yes 😊".  AND I have delved into a new (old) hobby.....So there is another wee blog post to come, soon, about that too. Hurrah.

Hugs and love

Carrie

Daily photo challenge round-up (20)

You know I do do other things than just take a photograph a day, haha. I just never seem to get round to writing about it but I have all the photos and I will share - I'll share the Sloe Gin we made and the walk we took in the forest and the walk in the Mournes - good times.

For now, here are my Fat Mum Slim photo prompts for the past week...

Day 13 - natural

Can't get more natural than the circle of life...

Day 14 - baby pink

Rose petals, a felt heart, lace and beads.

(Not happy with this one but had to think of something for the prompt)

Day 15 - baby blue

The cutest softest little teddy

Day 15 - chocolate

What better to represent the colour chocolate than some chocolate 😄

Day 17 - light

The sunlight through a dandelion seed head, one of my favourite pics from a lovely weekend.

 Day 18 - dark

Beautiful autumnal sunsets make for great deep, dark shadows.

Day 19 - palette 

An untouched travel 'nude to night' make-up palette 

Thank you for visiting!
The next post will be more interesting 😀
Hugs
Carrie

Daily photo challenge round up (19)

You thought I'd forgot, eh? Well you'd be right but it's still Friday and though I am trying to watch TV, drink wine and relax it suddenly came to be that I forgot to do my round up. So as to stop all the crying and worrying that you may dear reader have gone though, I am doing it now.....

 Day 6 -purple

Verbena growing at the side of the path, self seeded from a nearby garden

Day 7 - Orange 

On hols back in the spring and we found a brilliant wee coffee shop right when the hiking was getting tiring 😄

 Day 8 - aqua (and a Toby)

After a good hour of mad zooms with his fave ball Toby and ball have a nap...

Day 9 - grey

Grey hares on a grey background; a favourite cushion in the house.

 Day 10 - White

I missed this prompt yesterday! So a pretty white boat and it's reflection.

Day 11 - black

As a puppy #itstoby was a very dark boy, almost black though now he is grey and white 🐶

Day 12 -fave colour

Haven't had just one since I was tiny but I guess the sweet dark ruby of a Malbec and the colour green and wood are the top 3 😄🍷 (may have already drunk some before photo could be taken)

With thanks as always to Fat Mum Slim 

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Best wishes for the weekend, we have much rain to come tomorrow but hope to get stuff done anyway. Plus being back on the hiking wagon....Sunday looks like a short trek day :)

Love and hugs

Carrie

Daily photo challenge round up (14)

So, SEPTEMBER, we met again and you have decided to be all stroppy and cold and rainy and dark. Well, welcome, humph!

This month I decided to choose Fat Mum Slim and her monthly photo challenges again; the prompts are once again by Jenny Love Wednesday  i did look around and found another blog which did prompts but I just like the way Fat Mum Slim is so organised and the community on Instagram is lovely, with all sorts of photography styles and levels welcome. I think i may even join the Facebook group that goes with it, some of these people are just so cool :)

Here are the months prompts:

 I have even managed to get 1 friend (and loyal reader) to play along with me this month - Rosemary from Selkie's Crochet. Hurrah - big love to you petal!

So here are my photos from this week so far...

 Day 1 - spoon
A delicate porcelain Chinese soup spoon in it's bowl.

 Day 2 - dad
Toby thinks his 'dad' is the bestest. High fives all round 😀🐶✋💓

Day 3 - rain

One of my favourite street art pieces in Belfast --- a rainy day stuck in traffic. Oh "rainy days and Mondays always get me down...."

 Day 4 - sauce
Good old HP never lets you down. Did someone say BBQ?

Day 5 - toes
Some of the cutest toes I know...🐶

Day 6 - balloon
Colin the caterpillar balloon gave his all for this prompt. There he was relaxing after a hard morning of merry making then 'POP' ☠.... outside to the bin (still smiling). RIP COLIN.

Day 7 - musical 
Say it fast = musical!
A music hall and speak-easy in Belfast.

I shall get back to writing about the allotment, hiking and all things good, promise. My mental health has been poor the past weeks and I have to be stronger and worker harder at keeping the negatives and the unnecessary out of my mind. There is a lot of stuff out there that simply doesn't deserve my energy.

Hugs and love and cuddles to my friends
Carrie xx

P.S. photos of sweetcorn and squash harvest to come - what a great year!!