Road closure

Several years back the road past the Ardenode hotel was closed because a bridge over a stream had collapsed - it stayed closed for well over a year I suppose whilst the council were figuring out who should pay for the repair.

Another road close by, from Ballymore past Coughlanstown to Carnalway cross, has likewise been closed for well over a year and is still closed.  Having attempted but failed to return this way a while back I decided to cycle to Ballymore to find out why. The road climbs a small ridge between a disbanded quarry and an acute bend in the river Liffey. My surmise is that the river is eating its way into this ridge and making it unstable and that is why the road is closed. I parked my bike at the barrier on the right, and walked up from there and found a small landslide marked in yellow on my map.

Doubtless the council don't want to spend the considerable expense of making this safe and so the road remains closed - stalemate.

Barriers shown in red, landslide in yellow

Barrier and bike

The landslide with river Liffy on the left

The road is just to the right

Nothing obvious - but the landslide is just to the left

Old Kilcullen and The Curragh revisited

My track (both bike and running)

Sunday afternoon - because the original plan was to go to the Valleymount Farmer's Market but then we didn't - I did my usual 5 miles or so run early morning and thus had the afternoon free. It being bike-clement (not much wind, not too cold) I dusted down my trusty steed and set off, checking out a new improved route to the Curragh. Which took me near to the Round Tower in Old Kilcullen so I made the necessary detour.  This is one of the "enchanted places" I noted in a previous post. I get to pass two more such places later on.

Total distance 33.8 miles of which about 30 miles were on bike.

Towards the Wicklow Mountains

Towards the hill Cnoc Ailinne on which is Dún Áilinne

It is not much further to the Curragh and I park my bike in the usual secluded spot and padlock it to a fence post.  After running (barefoot) a few hundred metres I get a thistle thorn in my foot and turn back to avail of Leatherman and glasses in my bike pack. But by the time I get back, sit and and inspect the damage the thorn has gone all by itself.  So I set off again and make for the first of two observation posts, which one has to climb (why else are they there?).

Strange Harfang-like earthworks from 1st observation post

The knoll (Braveheart hill) which is my next destination

Another earthwork - maybe the Irish Army practise on these

Dirt bike trail

There were several youngsters doing the course

 

View from the second observation post

Proof that I wos here!

Then the reward - enjoying a Cadburys Creme Egg sluiced down with water.  The return route had to be different of course and I took the opportunity to check out the road near Ballymore that has been closed for yonks. I figured that a man and a bike could get through whatever the problem was but I was wrong. Apparently they did not want me to proceed so I had to retrace my steps (or pedals). I'm pretty sure I could have made it on foot though - maybe I'll try some day.

Barefoot Barretstown

New route, 14.3 miles

Ali went shopping so I went running. Poulaphouca, Ballymore, past Barretstown camp, then over the hill at Glenmore and down to the N81, Baltyboys and along the lake shore. A very quick dip - it's getting colder so maybe this will be the last swim of the year - sad. Because I'm not one of these hardy types that will break the ice to take a swim. Lovely poppies, though: I have enjoyed them so much and they have lasted so long.

O little town of Blessington, from Glenmore

Poppies by the lake shore

I love this lake and these mountains

Golden Falls

Last time I ran from Poulaphouca to Ballymore Eustace via the Golden Falls lake I had no camera, so to make amends...

The complete route 20.2 km

Showing the hard incline out of Ballymore

Detail of off-road segment past the Golden Falls dam

From Poulaphouca to Ballymore Eustace is off-road and much more overgrown than the last time I did this route, with stinging nettles and thistles to avoid but hopefully no deer ticks. The two photos below are of the "roadway" I referred to in my last post, along which I ran - as you can see it is artificially raised above the field level, for what purpose I know not but it must have taken someone a lot of effort.

Embankment at 'A' looking towards 'B'

Ruin at 'B'

Embankment at 'C' looking towards 'D'

Golden Falls dam at 'D'

Same

The Golden Falls hydro scheme was commissioned in 1943 and has a 4MW capacity which is not a lot but I suppose is better than nothing.  To get to where I took the photos I had to cross a barb wire fence and accidentally trod on some barb wire that someone had helpfully left concealed in the grass. One got the feeling someone didn't want folk going this way. The puncture didn't draw blood and I have since cleaned and plastered it.  The thing is, sad to say, the world is no longer barefoot friendly. Having said that, issues of this kind are very rare if one is sensible.

Historic photo of same, I was at left-hand end of the dam

Well-worn path from dam to old woolen mill

The Liffey below the dam at 'E'

The Liffey below the dam at 'E'

Pukka footbridge over water treatment outflow at 'F'

In addition to the Poulaphouca and Golden Falls hydro schemes, The Ballymore water treatment plant also takes water from the Blessington Lake and adds all manner of chemicals to make it suitable for Dubliners to drink. Personally I am glad our water comes from a deep well and is not treated at all (well, not wittingly). So the bridge above crosses a small stream which comes from the treatment plant and contains, I suppose, all the stuff the Dubliners didn't want in their water. In spite of that the stream appeared reasonably clear.

New running route

New running route 20.34 km

I tried a new route today. Stats: 12.67 miles, pace 10:11 minutes per mile. Barefoot of course. The route: towards Poulaphouca, Broadleas, the old woollen mill at Ballymore Eustace, the old Blessington road, through the grounds of Russborough House, along Blessington Greenway and back by the lake road. The weather mild, a little rain.