And on the 7th day we rested.....

We have survived our second week of walking, 6 days in all and really looking forward to not having to put on the boots today, we are in Portumna for 2 nights and then a shorter walking week. We have managed reasonable weather with a few really wet days so if no rain it is a good day. One day we actually got sunburnt, not sure how we managed this.

The walk so far has taken us on a variety of roads, boggy paddocks with grass and yellow buttercups past our knees, mowed walkways and some sections of the Hymany Way along the Shannon River, which badly needs a mow. These sections were covered in sheep poo so it was really a messy walk. Managed to have a heap of sheep with us along this walk as they would not get off the path and would not let us pass - such dumb critters

The first section from Leitrim to French Park has NO signage at all so we walked in circles many times and with the directions from local farmers these walks sometimes became even longer - one day we managed 38klms much longer than we had planned. We were about 120klms into the walk before we saw the O’Sullivan signs. We leant very early in the walk not to take directions from a local farmer.

We stayed with a local walker, Philip James, in French Park and he seems to have taken us under his wing and worked out all our maps for the remainder of the walk and also gave us a crash course in map reading. He came down to Aughrim to take our bags for the 32klms that we were walking and also walked sections with us. Him and his wife are walking with us again next weekend so this means no backpacks which makes the day much easier. Something to look forward to.

Another walker, Sean and his wife, Cait came down from Cavan and walked with us for 3 days, we had a lovely few days, never too sure if Sean was telling us the truth or spinning a yarn. Still don’t believe his stories about Fairy Trees/bushes.

We picked up a Collie dog who decided to adopt us for about 10 klms, we never encouraged him but he had a great time as it was pouring rain, he frolicked in the long grass, rushed in and out of paddocks and mud and keep us in sight the whole way, managed to avoid trucks and cars and crossed some main roads. Things came to a halt when he slipped and hurt his leg on a wet cattle grid and lay there looking at us with big soppy eyes as if we owned him. Thanks heavens a farmer came to our aid as we could not have left him lying there. He picked him and put him in his car and took him back to the area where we managed to acquire him.

The paddocks are full of baby lambs, calves, horses and donkeys as well as strange designed peat heaps and plenty of freshly cut hay, great for hay fever.

We have been given quite a few donations along the way from people you would not expect to get them from as well as some free nights because we are walking for Cancer. We now have over $9600. Really pleased and surprised.

Most of the accommodation has been great except for one B & B  and if we weren’t so dam tired and wet that day and on foot we would have kept going but had to make the best of a really bad situation.

We have just spent a very good day walking around the town of Portumna, went to the Famine Workhouse and discovered our GG Grandmother and her sister was also in a workhouse some distance north before they came out to Australia on the Famine/coffin boats so will need to do some more research when I come home. Also spent time at the Portumna Castle, a lovely place and a most interesting kitchen garden.

 We will be in Tipperary in 4 days for our next rest days. See you in a few days.