The Nire Valley

The Nire Valley
The Heart of the Comeragh Mountains.

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Bogged down

Fog lifts at the Gap.
What a combination. The clocks go forward an hour and the bog trot. Up at 6:30 summertime unsure if I had set the alarm correct or not, isn't amazing when you need a radio DJ to give a time check they never do, we had re set some of he clock in the house but not them all. Turns out I am up at the correct time. 7:00AM Ballymacarbry Community Center, sign in time, the crowds arrived, we had 94 walkers in all. It was a tough walk, most expected the climb up Mahon falls to be hard followed by the decent into the gap and the climb out to Knockanaffrin Peak. But it was the walk from the Nire Church to Ballymacarbry, through Knocklisheen woods, that really caught some people. A dinner or soup and roll at the end of the walk was really appreciated. Well done to all who were involved.

Saturday 26 March 2011

The White Hare.

Out walking on Knockanaffrin ridge today and I saw not one but two white hares, the attached picture shows the hare but it was taken with a phone camera so it is not David Attenborough standard. They were snow white with some small dark patches. It was a glorious day just the correct combination of warm sun and cool breeze to make the walk enjoyable, on the ridge a group of para gliders were flying of Knocksheegowna and they just seemed to hang in the air.

Tomorrow is the bog trot, here's to sore legs.

Monday 21 March 2011

The loneliness of a long distance Bogtrotter

The Comeragh Bog Trot is on Sunday 27th March, a 25km trot across the Comeraghs from Mahon Falls to Ballymacarbry. At the moment the long range weather forecast looks good, well a few showers and cooler than the weather at present. I am making arrows (Signs, not Bear Grylls) but maybe just maybe I should be looking through some Bear Grylls DVDs.

Friday 18 March 2011

The Weekend weather.

If you are going walking tomorrow, Saturday 19th, head off early, it will be cold and rain is foretasted after 14:00hrs. So you will need fleece in the morning and rain gear in the evening. March of many weathers.

Thursday 17 March 2011

Patrick was a gentleman.

Patrick your a gentleman. Its a binocular day, with weather like this the most important kit today is a pair of binoculars and a camera.  Blue skies in March are better for sightseeing than a blue skyed July, as in March the air is still cold and clear no heat haze. So here's to distant views today.