Tuesday 7 February 2017

A Saunter At Gougane Barra.

I think we are getting old.  On Sunday morning. Number one son went repairing some livestock fencing for some body he knows and number 2 son went into town to see his pals. He didn't want to spend his sixteenth birthday with his parents.  

They didn't want a trip out with their parents to Gougane Barra Forest Park.  So it was just my wife, Fido our trusty terrier and tripe hound  and myself who drove to the sixteen miles to the forest park.  

Fido is fifteen now so we couldn't walk very far.  So we walked for twenty minutes or so in one direction and then turned around and walked back to the car.  We took photographs of some of the things we saw on the walk.  It was good to have company on a walk for a change.  My wife says she likes to walk on the flat and 'my' walks always become hikes.  The walk was on tarmac and it was a good way to spend a Sunday morning.



 Thatched WC.
 St Fin Barr's Oratory.   A picturesque place to get married.  
 There's snow on them there mountains.
 The walking routes 
 No Dogs Allowed.

 A moss covered ancient dry stone wall.
 Some of the fallen trees from when Storm Darwin visited West Cork.

 A fungi in February.  Anybody know what it is?
The lake and oratory from another angle.

19 comments:

  1. I like to walk on my own as well, because then I go at my own pace, which is slow and elegant! My husband tends to stride off ahead of me, which annoys me no end, bless him!

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  2. Your husband sounds like me Vera. I think we all walk at our own speed. Thanks for your comment and enjoy your walks.

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  3. Beautiful views. Love the loos and the church. A nice 20 minutes in an 20 minutes back with an aged dog...sounds perfect for me, and at a pace relaxed enough to take photos.
    Can see why the kids might be a tad uninterested though

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    Replies
    1. Hi LA. Yes it was great. There is an hotel Gougane Barra Hotel) there too with a cafe, gift shop and bar. The lads have been there lots of times and they say we walk too slow for them. Time waits for nobody. Fido enjoyed the walk too.

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  4. I have the same problem with my wife, Dave. She walks like Jane Austen ("I quite concur Miss Fairfax") whereas I'm more Wainwright ("Scarfell and back by dinner time").

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    1. Thanks! That really made me laugh Philip. Perhaps I should invent an imaginary walking friend? Somebody like Julia Bradbury and who talks like Wainwright? I can do a good impression of the great man. Thanks!

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    2. Dave, I actually met the great Wainwright on one of his last 'walks'. It was in Barbondale. He was going blind and was sitting by a stream having a picnic with a lady (his nagging wife long gone - hence the reason for the solitary walks) and we exchanged a few smiles and pleasantries. He passed on to the great mountains and fells that lie beyond soon after.

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    3. I once walked past him too Gwil. I was too shy to let on though. A remarkable man.

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  5. Lovely walk. Is there a big problem with dogs not on a lead? It often is where I live but there are no sheep for them to bother however it is scary when a big dog comes charging up only to have the owner say "he or she is a friendly dog" really?

    I enjoy your blog.

    SandyExpat

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sandy Expat. I would imagine there are problems with dogs worrying sheep. Dogs with no leads aren't welcome when it's lambing season. Glad you like the blog.

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  6. Replies
    1. Hi Sol. Yes its a lovely walk. You see so much more walking than when you are in a car.

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  7. Sounds like my kind of walk. Lovely views there Dave, and scenery. You live in a wonderful place for landscapes. Do you think the boys will want to go with you if you move to Portugal?

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  8. Thanks Rachel. Ireland is very beautiful and the landscape is amazing. The lads love the Algarve and we will probably buy a cheap property there for an holiday home at first. Then eventually my wife and myself hope to retire there. That's our dream any way.

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  9. I walk ahead a couple of hundred yards and then turn round and walk back, and repeat this several times. This is quite interesting to do. Seeing a walk from both ends as it were. Sometimes we both walk downhill in the same fashion and when we finish at a cafe or bookshop or museum I jog back up the hill and get the car.

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  10. Hi Gwil. Sounds like you keep yourself very fit. I walked eight miles in just over two hours today and I feel very tired. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Dave, see my reply to Philip.

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    2. ps - re Rachel's reply - When I took Mrs G to Connemara she was as happy a lamb in Spring. The most beautiful place in the world she said.

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  11. i really likes your blog and You have shared the whole concept really well. and Very beautifully soulful read! thanks for sharing.
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