Day 123: Look around

Day 123 - Tuesday, August 7th 2018: Kells to Chapeltown/Valentia Island 24 km / Total 2535 km, 16°C, rainy and sunny

Soaked. My tent was completely soaked that morning. Under the tent because the grass was already wet when I built it. Outside the tent because of the rain. And even inside the tent because of the dew and the atmosphere is just 100% humid. Even my socks were wetter in the morning than in the evening!

Despite a little headache, a dog barking since 3:00 am in the long-distance, and a heavier bag due to the wet tent, I was quite in a good shape. I had some little showers, but it lasted only five minutes, so I didn't get too wet. And I was walking a little road, very quiet and peaceful, without cars. Only me, nature and sheep. I really enjoyed getting down Cahersiveen Valley. Maybe because it was going down, or because the weather was really getting better. And I took my time to enjoy the nature, look at the animals. It seems like it's cows reproduction time right now. Ok, let's give a bit of privacy to the bull.

Fortunately, when I reached my food point (the first one I found on the road), two buses of tourists were leaving and I found myself alone in the restaurant. It was very pleasant to enjoy my shepherd pie in a quiet restaurant. 

Then I walked the last kilometres on the main road to Cahersiveen, where I learnt there was a music and arts festival during the Bank Holiday weekend. That explains the busy traffic on the road. I felt lucky to cross the town when it was over. I made a stop in a French pastry shop, where I got my first "éclair au café" in five months! Afterwards, at the supermarket, I was thinking about cheese, French cheese, like Comté for example. Finally, I bought a "Bleu d'Auvergne". I think I start to miss home food!

Getting out of Cahersiveen, the sun was back and I had a great view of the landscape around me. I took the ferry to Valentia Island. Almost five minutes crossing and I almost had to insist to ask the crew to take my payment. Knightstown where I arrived was very pretty and peaceful compared to the main island. I walked the last hour of the day, enjoying the sun, the view to the Ring of Kerry, with some music.

My hostel was in fact a pub which is also a restaurant. And the hostel is also a B&B. So it's almost everything, only the shop and post office were missing. But they had minitel, as it was written on the front of the building. The woman who did my check-in told me I could pay in the morning, and asked me when I would leave. Not before 10 am. She went to look for the key to the dorm room where I was alone. I took out all my stuff from my bag to dry it, once again. A German couple then arrived to share the room. They asked me if I had the key to the room. I told them the woman was looking for it. And I never saw that woman again!