Another (and perhaps the last) trip to St Vincents hospital where Ali was signed off following her successful second hip operation. I parked by the sea and ran across the strand to the South Bull Wall only to have to turn around before completing it because the appointment took less time than we ad expected. It looks like I was swimming but the tide was out and the strand is very flat.
my track 6.5 miles
Here are some photos to mark the occasion, and try not to be too bored to scroll down to the must see Youtube link at the end...
The original power station chimneys, now disused
The new power station also has twin chimneys
The red and white striped chimneys of the original power station dominate the Dublin skyline and feature in my blog post about my last run in this area. Following that run I did a bit of Googling and came up with the following Youtube video which blew my mind, also made me feel queasy just watching him get up over the edge onto the chimney's lid and then walk around the edge. Both chimneys are over 200m tall. Whilst the guy, whose name is Oliver, has been heavily criticised by the powers that be (whose lax security permitted such a prank) for such foolish behaviour I regret I have to give him full credit.
Ali was having another hip consultation at St Vincent's Hospital so, whilst waiting, I explored Dublin Bay again, not much running though because my big toe still hurts. But it's getting better I am telling myself. The weather was "changeable" which means it rained and I got wet. The sea is very messy here, feels like wading in sewage but hopefully it's not. But there is a sign telling you not to swim because the water quality is "poor". So I didn't. I wouldn't have anyway.
My last post shows this wall viewed from the train
Having already done my customary 4 mile run in the morning, Ali had an appointment at St Vincents and whilst waiting for her I explored the South Bull Wall, at 4km it is one of the longest in Europe according to Wikipedia. I then found out Ali would be even longer than anticipated so I extended my run to include the Grand Canal basin. It may look as if I was running on water - in fact the tide was out and the bay is almost level so the sea proper is way, way in the distance.
My track, 12 miles in all
Irishtown power station
Sealink ferry departing
Poolbeg lighthouse
Derek, I believe
Wall art and the lighthouse
Stunning - I don't know who they are though
Complete with fog horns
Howth, from the end of the wall
and in the opposite direction, Dún Laoghaire
Looking back towards Dublin
A cargo ship departing
Another...
The Grand Canal exits through this lock into the Liffey
