Fourteen weeks!
Sounds like a lot of time, but it's not. I've not yet begun to train in earnest... well, except for the drinking beer part. I think I've almost mastered that. The real work begins this week, but no matter how hard I train, I won't be ready for steep climbs. The Keys are flatter than my mother's pancakes. There's no way to train for mountains and extended climbs, but I'll manage just like I did when we walked across England and then again when we walked the Dingle Way.
Here's an aerial view of the peninsula I'll be waking. Looks like a piece of cake from here, aye?
As far as arrangements go, all that's left to book is the train from Dubin to Killarney. Unfortunately, the Irish Rail website doesn't allow bookings more than three months in advance. I hope I don't forget...please remind me next month to get it done or I'll be up the proverbial creek.
My itinerary for walking the Kerry Way is set in stone, but the rest of the trip will happen however it will. I know as soon as I finish my walking adventure, it's straight to Minard Castle for a reunion. Just me and the ruins and the beach. It's just one peninsula over and I can drive there in less than thirty minutes. I can't wait to be there again...it stole my heart.
When I finally force myself away from Minard, I'll head north to Newport, Mayo. It's about a four hour drive, but it'll take me at least six, probably eight because I'm going to detour to see the Cliffs of Moher. I can't be that close and not stop. And what if there are pubs along the way?
Then there will be handfuls of old churches and ruins that will require detours. That's just of many time during the trip that I'll miss my girl. She shares my love of castles, abbeys, and ruins and she's one damn fine navigator. How am I going to read a map and drive and find pubs? I've located a someone to ride shotgun, but I'm not sure how good of a navigator he'll be....
