1st Hike: The Burren

Definitely not quite what I expected it to be: more intense, more beautiful, more difficult, more breathtaking and phenomenal than I could have predicted.

The bus left at 9:30 with a group of hikers and climbers. I, along with five others-- Mandy, Chelsea (different from yesterday's Chelsea), Anne (a new friend from Germany), Pat (a 50 or so yr old man) and Andrew (the leader, 4th yr engineering student from Ireland)-- opted for the shorter walk, and am I ever glad I didn't try more!

We were dropped off at the base of a hill in The Burren, in County Clare and known for its desolate, rocky, stony landscape. We started off just walking up a hill of a road but soon it turned into a bit of actual climbing! I didn't look up for a good bit, you just have to watch your step. There are rocks, cut out from, Pat said, acid rain from ages unknown to man. The rocks have all of these crags that you don't want to drop anything down b/c they go quite deep. It sort of reminded me of a glacier, but stony. You know, how glaciers have all of those cuts in them and you just walk across them avoiding the cracks, it was like that but way less intense and obviously not ice.

I'd expected more of a "here's a trail, let's follow it, there may be inclines but no biggie." Instead I got, let's traverse these rocks at an incline, following rock walls, most likely famine walls, up the hill. The hills were somewhat like steps. You climb, zig zaggins up, and then you reach this plateau. At the flat breaks, not only did we get a breather, but out came the cameras! Looking around, we felt like we were in Middle Earth (no joke). Behind us was the sea, and Galway off in the distance. Down below were perfectly cut out squares of property and little houses. Immediately behind us was the bit we just climbed up (when I say climb I mean took big steps up versus just a stride and occasionally held onto something to help push me up, nothing dangerous Mom, I promise). The scenery was breathtaking. Each time we climbed another hill part we couldn't believe that the same area could get prettier and prettier.

The company was great! Pat and Andrew were this wealth of knowledge on history, pop culture and everything in between. Anne is as nice as can be and of course Mandy and Chelsea rock my face off. And... I finally remembered to get Stanley out, everyone was quite fond of Mr Flat Stanley. We took a lunch break or two and breaks in between for camera shots and breathers. It was just right. I was disgustingly sweaty but never too overtaxed and we couldn't have asked for better weather: clear and sunny skies!

We probably got there around 11 or so and made our way back down by 4. The walk down was actually harder: my feet were a bit sore and different muscles all together. We passed by some furry cows on the way down that didn't bother us at all. The walk down was a bit muddy, but come to find out the Burren is most likely the only dry walk, the others go through some marshy/boggy areas. That makes me think this was probably a good one to start with!

Once the others made it back we stopped at a pub and chilled for a while. Pat is awesome and bought us girls hot chocolate: perfect because we were chilly and fatigued and it was a delicious pick me up. Once we made it back the sprinkling began, but I've walked home in the rain before so no worries. I had to do hw when I got back but I got to talk to Rachel on Skype so I basically got to end the day in a lovely way.

Definitely one of my favorite days so far.