20150810
Lough Ree
Some pictures taking whilst camping by the shore of Lough Ree. Click on the images to view. I ran (barefoot) each morning before my fellow campers surfaced, not interesting enough to expand on though.
20150804
Locomotion
Locomotion: noun - movement or the ability to move from one place to another.
When young, my bed was a ship on which I lived and went places. Now, when driving and on my own, I can figure I could live and travel in this car, it would be my castle. My bicycle is an extension of myself, my locomotion - self contained, self propelled, self sufficient. I have the same feeling, only more strongly, when running barefoot. That I can run and run for miles, just me without aid, is a great feeling.
The occasion was Ali's mum's 90th birthday party so I was based in Willand again, and afterwards in Torquay for a couple of days. During which I did three tracked runs.
The first route was my prophesied run to Culmstock. It rained steadily the whole time and, although I love running in rain, I was not able to appreciate the river valley as much as I had hoped. The run was about 11.5 miles and my average speed, according to my GPS, was 6.05 mph.
The second route followed the river south through Cullompton. Once again it rained steadily the whole time. I had been asked to buy milk "on my way back" and, on entering the shop totally drenched, the cashier remarked that she had not realised it was that wet! Total distance 10.8 miles, average speed 5.78 mph.
The last route started from the Travel Lodge in Torquay. I found a beautiful valley near Cockington.
I found myself running across the front lawn of Cockington Court and was not sure whether I was trespassing. Part of the estate took me under this bridge.
At the furthest point I looked back to Torquay, and forward to Paignton.
You can see from the track that I made it down to the sea - this beach was secluded enough for a quick swim naked (it was early morning). And then back along the coast road to the hotel. Total distance 7.7 miles, average speed just 4.37 mph this low figure being due to getting momentarily "lost" in some undergrowth which got progressively denser and more brambly until I was forced to retrace my (barefoot) steps. There is a limit to the amount of brambles that one can entertain when barefoot.
When young, my bed was a ship on which I lived and went places. Now, when driving and on my own, I can figure I could live and travel in this car, it would be my castle. My bicycle is an extension of myself, my locomotion - self contained, self propelled, self sufficient. I have the same feeling, only more strongly, when running barefoot. That I can run and run for miles, just me without aid, is a great feeling.
The occasion was Ali's mum's 90th birthday party so I was based in Willand again, and afterwards in Torquay for a couple of days. During which I did three tracked runs.
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| 150724 Culm valley run |
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| 150726 Cullompton run |
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| 150728 Torquay run |
The last route started from the Travel Lodge in Torquay. I found a beautiful valley near Cockington.
I found myself running across the front lawn of Cockington Court and was not sure whether I was trespassing. Part of the estate took me under this bridge.
At the furthest point I looked back to Torquay, and forward to Paignton.
You can see from the track that I made it down to the sea - this beach was secluded enough for a quick swim naked (it was early morning). And then back along the coast road to the hotel. Total distance 7.7 miles, average speed just 4.37 mph this low figure being due to getting momentarily "lost" in some undergrowth which got progressively denser and more brambly until I was forced to retrace my (barefoot) steps. There is a limit to the amount of brambles that one can entertain when barefoot.
20150720
Gold
They say money doesn't satisfy - I wouldn't know... And that the love of money is the root of evil. But this evening the western sky was full of gold, freely available, but I wonder how many appreciated it? I regret that my photos but poorly convey the majesty I bathed in for the few minutes it persisted..
20150719
Hard of hearing
I may have mentioned that I have suffered tinnitus for many years now. This constant background noise sets a lower limit to what external sound levels I can hear. In addition loud noise tends to distort in my ears. So for me the so called cocktail effect works in reverse - the more people speaking at once the less likely I am to be able to make out anything, so that I tend to retire, give up, at corporate mealtimes.
After church today we had a special lunch in honour of a student who has just graduated. I had been cooking vast quantities of chips in the kitchen so when I finally made it into the dining area the meal was already in full progress and there was a lot of talking going on. The noise level hit me rather like the heat can when entering a sauna. It was uncomfortable. So I went upstairs to get some ear plugs. A few minutes after returning those sitting nearby noticed and I was conscious of laughter at my expense. Not nasty - after all we are Christians - but laughter none the less.
Why is is reasonably socially acceptable to be lame, or blind, but having a hearing deficiency or going about without shoes on is not? Could I claim discrimination?
After church today we had a special lunch in honour of a student who has just graduated. I had been cooking vast quantities of chips in the kitchen so when I finally made it into the dining area the meal was already in full progress and there was a lot of talking going on. The noise level hit me rather like the heat can when entering a sauna. It was uncomfortable. So I went upstairs to get some ear plugs. A few minutes after returning those sitting nearby noticed and I was conscious of laughter at my expense. Not nasty - after all we are Christians - but laughter none the less.
Why is is reasonably socially acceptable to be lame, or blind, but having a hearing deficiency or going about without shoes on is not? Could I claim discrimination?
20150718
Clean out of creme eggs
Not long ago I had two creme eggs in my top drawer. One got eaten last weekend on Church mountain. And today I cycled to the Curragh, parked the bike and ran over 9 miles, re-fuelled on egg No. 2 and water, then cycled back (cycle round trip 24.5 miles, average speed 12.6mph).
Running statistics: 9.05 miles (14.5km), average speed 6.23mph (10km/hr). The route took me right around the Curragh Camp (Irish army headquarters) then back alongside the M7 motorway.
Apart from a few thistles the grazed grass is heavenly to run barefoot on. It was good-feel running for all but the last mile or so when my legs began to tire. Here are a few photos I took today of or from the same look-out post I found in my last Curragh run.
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| The look-out post |
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| Strange ditches surrounding the look-out |
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| More ditches - Under Me? |
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| That's my head beside the post |
20150717
Irish railways
In a previous post I claimed to be a mild siderodromomaniac and so it is with considerable shame that I confess that I have only recently realised that the Irish track gauge is 5' 3" (1600mm) and not the standard gauge 4' 8.5" of the UK. You'd think...
Wikipedia has a nice animated map illustrating the progressive axing of railways in Ireland, similar to what happened in the UK under Beeching. Or here for a good history. Here is the best map I could find of the rail network before the axing. Click on the image to enlarge it or view the original.
So what? I hear you say. I find the past of interest when I discover remnants: reminders of days gone by. For example my post about the bridge over the Liffey that carried the Naas to Tullow line. Or when I hear glad tidings about plans to create more Irish greenways some of which use the course of disused railways. Here's one that is already open which I would like to explore.
I sometimes look for remnants when running or by comparing on-line satellite imagery with old maps - see this post. Ordnance Survey Ireland (osi) has a handy on-line map viewer that can superimpose modern aerial imagery with historic maps dating back to 1830's and 1900's.
And, whilst not wanting to grow older any faster than my present escalating rate, I look forward to using my promised free pass on all Irish public transport.
20150712
Church Mountain
It was a year ago I last climbed Church Mountain. This time I took much the same route by bike, but I found a different path for the final climb on foot (bare of course), starting at a gate just past the summit of the pass.
The gate led to a well worn path that was relatively easy under barefoot and led all the way to the top. Sometimes grassy underfoot, or boggy peat with rocks in a few places.
Home is somewhere near those lakes in the distance...
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| The gate |
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| The path follows a fence |
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| Looking back |
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| The church ruins from the triangulation pillar |
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| View of our lakes from the top |
Home is somewhere near those lakes in the distance...
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| The view descending to Donard |
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| Honeysuckle on the way home |
10km
Mostly I run without GPS (because it would be yet another thing to carry), but on Friday I ran, barefoot of course, along roads in Naas for almost exactly one hour and managed an average of 10.21 km/hr according to my GPS. The GPS didn't kick in for the first few minutes, but I reckon the total distance was about 10km.
I passed a car waiting for traffic lights and the passenger, a middle aged woman, hung her head out of the window to ask "was I alright?", as if to enquire whether or not I knew I hadn't got shoes on. I should have parried back: did she realise she was not wearing gloves?...
I passed a car waiting for traffic lights and the passenger, a middle aged woman, hung her head out of the window to ask "was I alright?", as if to enquire whether or not I knew I hadn't got shoes on. I should have parried back: did she realise she was not wearing gloves?...
20150704
Narrow gauge steam in the garden
What if...? What if money were no object? And I had time? And the others who live here were in accord?
For many years I have toyed with the idea of a narrow gauge garden railway. We have strips of woodland which are not well used for other purposes and the route is almost ready made:
It would start at the wood pile...
...around the perimeter of the property and then entering the wooded area on the south side...
... beside the "bog garden" with its little summer house...
... and finally ending at the front of the house and not too far from the wood pile where it started. The route is about 0.9 km in length, involves no steep gradients and would require minimal clearing. The gauge would be no more than 15", enough to take a few passengers. Of course we would open it to the public on occasions. What better way to spend a summer's Sunday afternoon than driving a steam locomotive back and forth?
For many years I have toyed with the idea of a narrow gauge garden railway. We have strips of woodland which are not well used for other purposes and the route is almost ready made:
It would start at the wood pile...
... and then meander along the path in the wooded border on the north side of the property...
...past the front gates and then between the trees that line the field alongside the road...
...around the perimeter of the property and then entering the wooded area on the south side...
...behind the chalet...
... beside the "bog garden" with its little summer house...
... and finally ending at the front of the house and not too far from the wood pile where it started. The route is about 0.9 km in length, involves no steep gradients and would require minimal clearing. The gauge would be no more than 15", enough to take a few passengers. Of course we would open it to the public on occasions. What better way to spend a summer's Sunday afternoon than driving a steam locomotive back and forth?
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