Day 11: Skellig Islands

Day 11: From Caherciveen to Portmagee

Date	Aug 24, 2022 (Wednesday)
Today's Distance:	9 miles / 15 km
Route and Stats	Route Video
Total Ireland:	67 miles.
Total All Caminos:	1687 miles
Lodging:	Sunset B&B @ $ 90
Total Lodging:	$ 725
Total Buses / Trains:	$ 245
Food:	$ 40
Total Food:	$ 256

Meaningful Moment

Skellig Islands Sea Cruise

It was nice being on the ocean in the swells and troughs. According to the captain, these were six to nine foot waves. Lots of sea salt sprayed in the face. And of course, the Skellig islands were beautiful. Wish I could have done the landing excursion cruise. But I couldn't make the timing work what with hiking.

Random Thought of the Day

Lots to talk about today.

Have repeatedly tried to get a hold of the Skellig Lodge and Hostel in Balliskellig. They don't answer the phone or answer emails. They are perfectly situated for my next stop. Otherwise I have to go too short a distance or too far a distance.

Update: gave up trying. Needed to firm up something. So instead of a 9 Mile hike tomorrow to Ballinskellig, which is what I preferred, I now have a 15 mi hike to Waterville. I had planned to take two days to get there, but I just got to know where I'm sleeping when I get up in the morning.

Went ahead and booked a room in Caherdaniel, which is the next step after Waterville, for Friday night. Starting to realize that in not too many days, I will be on the final final stretch of the Kerry Way.

On the Road / Notable memories

Up at 7:00 a.m. this morning for an early start. Need to get to Portmagee by 12:30 because I want to take the sea excursion around the Skellig Islands.

Hoping the feet hold out today.

I would have liked to do the landing excursion but I would have had to be here by 10:00 and I just did not feel like getting up at 5:00 a.m., after all I am on vacation.

***

Been walking the Wild Atlantic Way since I got to Kells. The Wild Atlantic Way is a trail system in Ireland that follows the coastline of the entire west side of the country. Obviously I'm only on a small part of it. 

I first started hiking on the Wild Atlantic Way in 2018 on my first trip to the Dingle peninsula to do the Kerry Camino.

***

Walked into Portmagee for dinner. It's 9:10 p.m. and the kitchens (plural) all closed at 9:00 p.m.

Really had not eaten well today. 

Two slices of pizza in the morning for kind of a breakfast .

Salad and french fries for lunch around 2:00 p.m.

Saved the ciabatta sandwich for tomorrow .

Had a coffee and Danish around 5:00 p.m.

So by 8:30 p.m. I was really starving. 

When I planned to walk 8 mi tomorrow, I wasn't really concerned .

When my plans changed to a 15 Mile hike tomorrow, I realized I had not eaten well at all.

So when ...

the hostess at the Bridge Bar says she can not get me a sandwich, but if I'm interested in a big bowl of chowder, seafood chowder, she can do that. ... I'm hungry and I'm interested. I asked her to include a glass of Guinness also. :-)

***

One final story for the night. I left the Bridge Bar about 10:00 p.m. as I was walking up the one lane country road back to the Atlantic Sunset B&B, it was stunningly and completely dark. No street lights, no house lights.

I heard this car coming up from behind, and I was wearing a yellow jacket for visibility, but I also pulled out my smartphone and turned it on and then turned it towards the driver.

She pulls up alongside and asked if I was all right and what was I doing out here. I explained that I was returning to my bed and breakfast, and she said "Well it's so dark that it's dangerous. Did I want to lift?"

Hell yes, I wanted off that road.

***

	Part of today's hike was a small trip on the Reenard Point - Knights Town ferry.
	View of Portmagee Channel and River Ferta mouth from the ferry launch at Reenard Point.
	Valentia Island, looking towards the Portmagee Channel
	In the Atlantic Ocean with the cliffs of Kerry behind us
	Portmagee Channel
	Little Skellig island
	Portmagee Channel
	From inside the bridge of our boat
	Greater Skellig Island ( where Star wars: The Force Awakens was filmed )
	Skellig Island and the Atlantic Ocean
	Portmagee Marina
	Sense the name of the bed and breakfast at which I am staying is the Atlantic sunset, ...
	I thought I'd include some pictures of an Atlantic sunset over Valentia Island.
	This is the view outside my bed and breakfast.
	The seafood chowder has already disappeared; I'm working on the brown bread; the Guinness will disappear shortly after that.
	The Bridge Bar, Port McGee, county Kerry, Ireland