To Be Continued....

'Tis back to the Motherland I'm wanting to go. I left the Emerald Isle six months ago and I've thought of it almost every day since, at least in passing. It really grabbed my heart and I am compelled to go back to continue my story.

I've decided to walk the Kerry Way. It's about 135 miles of semi-marked trail through Ireland's most spectacular mountain landscapes. It passes the foot of Carrauntoohil, the country's highest peak. I'll wander around dramatic peaks and glens, desolate moors, windswept passes, and mountain lakes. The biggest difference between this adventure and previous walking journeys is that one will be solo.
I'm doing it alone.

You're wondering why Lauren isn't going with me, right? Well,I'm pleased to tell you that our amazing girl has been selected to represent the State of FL at a Youth Summit in Washington DC, which is sponsored by the Smithsonian, The National Zoo, and George Mason University. It's an amazing opportunity for her and I'm beyond proud that she was selected to attend. What an honor! Then there's the ugly truth that she just doesn't want to do another walk. She's more than happy to join me Ireland...after the walk. Distance walking is just not her thing and if someone isn't stoked about walking 135 miles, you shouldn't try to convince them otherwise.

Successfully circuiting the Kerry Way will be a huge personal accomplishment. When we walked across England and around Ireland's Dingle Way (it's okay to laugh when you read the word "Dingle"), it was almost always Lauren who navigated us back on track when we got lost. I learned to just hand her the reigns and wait for her to figure it out. She always did. This time...I'll have no one else to rely on. It will be a monumental challenge and one that I'm eager to meet.

There's much to be done, but I'm already daydreaming about being there.

Lauren and I are mostly quiet walkers, except for when we break into a rowdy rendition of "The Bare Necessities", but I'm never really completely lost in my thoughts because I'm watching to make sure she doesn't slip/fall or I'm asking her if she needs food/water. I can't turn off my Momma Bear switch. While walking alone, I wonder how differently I'll experience the landscape, the scents, and the sounds. I like to imagine that I'll feel the presence of my ancestors around me as I climb mountain passes and trudge across lonely moorland. No, I haven't been drinking. That's just the way my mind works.

I hope you'll accompany me on this next big adventure. As always, I'll blog daily (when possible) and keep you apprised of the planning process until liftoff - which should be late June 2015. Rather than start a new blog, I'll journal about The Kerry Way right here. Although it was my original dream to walk across Ireland, I'll guess I'll just have to take it one chunk at a time. I plan to chronicle each of those journeys on this blog. Someday, I'll have walked through every one of Ireland's beautiful countys and found countless Lavelle's.

Imagine all the pints!