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.

Curragh shopping

Ali wanted to go to Newbridge so we went together and she shopped whilst ran. This seemed to me a good arrangement, and this time I explored the furthermost reaches of the Curragh, towards Rathangan. The route relies on the farm bridge over the N7 motorway.

Total distance 10.4 miles, average speed moving 6.2 mph. No mountains, lakes or rivers but there was a large muddy puddle, but puddles are no problem when barefoot.

I saw some folk busy looking hard for something in the grass. And it wasn't the sheep droppings which are so plentiful on the Curragh. I spoke to one man and he explained he was collecting mushrooms and he hastened to add that it wasn't the sort I was (apparently) thinking about. He showed me his tub - they were tiny - mostly stalk and with a cap less than a cm in diameter. He said they were wonderful with scrambled eggs. I thought more of the sheep dropping with which they had spent their lives so far.

I didn't think to photograph them. Strictly one is not allowed to photograph anything on the Curragh for fear that it might get into enemy hands and be the downfall of the Republic (the Curragh is one of the Irish Army's training grounds). I admit that I did take a couple of pictures though I was careful not to include anything that could possibly be thought to be sensitive, unless a spider's web...

Train bound for Kildare town

The muddy puddle - a foot deep in places!

Signal at danger

Another train, and racecourse fencing

Beautiful cloud effects

Spider's lace

The inevitable plus a few sheep

Railway signals and the Curragh

My route, map courtesy Bing Maps

Ali wanted to go to Newbridge for a hair do, so I hitched a lift and took the opportunity for a Curragh run on this the hottest day so far this year.  Actually I would have liked it better a bit cooler.

So I crossed that mysterious bridge over the M7 to the Other Side, found a railway line, and came back via the racecourse.

Stats 9.7 miles, average speed moving 6.2 mph, barefoot of course. I find it strange to not have seen anyone else running barefoot here - the Curragh with is grass cropped short by sheep is quite ideal.

Note the colour-light signals. More about these in a post that will be coming Soon.

Starting point

I may have said that I like railways

Curragh plain, ideal barefoot running location

More of same

Another odd earthwork (the Curragh is full of them)

Colour-light signal all clear - they use LED's

Signal at red

That's part of me, my toe dinged on a rock, and my shadow

Curragh race course

The horse that our neighbour M made out of horse shoes

the horseshoes are welded together

Beautiful iron sculpture at the M7 intersection

Some sort of rally - they were all honking their horns

The red balloon

After digging potatoes in the morning, yesterday afternoon I run beside and swam briefly in the lake - probably the last time this year unless we get an "Indian summer" - and then today I biked to the Curragh and ran 9 miles (barefoot and shirtless), average speed 6.4 mph. Two youths in a sports car stopped to ask directions to the motorway but in reality to ask if I was hot - it was a beautiful sunny afternoon so of course I get hot when running. My track includes part of the bike journey home.

My track

Mountains of home from the lookout post

The Braveheart hill

Curragh golf course

Pink sheep

Curragh race-course

Home to pizza and chips, thanks Ali! And then, since I mentioned it in this morning's meeting, I watched the beautiful fantasy "The Red Balloon".

More running in the rain

It rained all day. Having determined to take the afternoon off, and having a fresh supply of Creme Eggs, I cycled to the Curragh again. Round trip 25.6 miles average speed 12mph. Having got there (a feat in itself in the rain) I enjoyed running barefoot on the wet, sheep-cropped grass. Strange - I saw no other pedestrians.

This is my track whilst running. A mere 6.37 miles, average speed 5.7mph. Starting at lower right my path went clockwise - at the furthest extent to the left (west) is the hill on which a battle is waged in Brave Heart.

New platform for viewing the Liffey at Ballymore Eustace

I took the following pictures around the top-most part of my track - they bring back happy memories of numerous sorties with a trailer carrying my son's various scrambling inventions...

Monument at Donnelly's Hollow

Curragh grave-yard

Here be where JM rode his machines!

and here

And finally back to my bike for a well-earned Creme Egg and drink of water. At this point leg cramp was setting in - on which account I had to stop several times on the return journey.

My trusty bike awaits me

Home again. Fried sliced new potatoes and cod served with peas and crusty bread, followed by brownie with ice-cream and pouring cream. And a can of cider. Thanks Ali!