Day 144: Guard dogs

Day 144 - Wednesday, August 29th 2018: Lough Hyne to Glandore 23 km / Total 2971 km, 17°C, cloudy

Wildlife can be very active at night in Irish forests. Fox family (there was a sign on the road asking to slow down because of baby foxes crossing), then some deer (recognizable by the noise of their hooves), donkeys in the distance (ok they are in a field not in the woods), and the seal came back breathing loud near the pontoon. Add the sound of the rain on my tent, and you get a very noisy night. 

I packed my stuff and put my tent on the pontoon to make it dry, while I got breakfast enjoying the sunshine. 

The road that day was mostly little paths. It could have been great if the area was not covered by little hills, which means the road was getting up and down all the time. I remember that I chose to walk the coastline because it had more chances to be a flat road. 

And the little road could have been peaceful if there were no free dogs running and barking at me. It happened twice: the dogs jumped over their garden fence! The first time, his mistress was in the garden, but apparently, she had no real authority on her dog who didn't stay in the garden and who didn't want to get back in while she was calling him. I had to threaten the dog with my walking sticks and shout at him to go home. The second time, the mistress was coming home in her car so she saw me in trouble with her dog but did nothing, she didn't even call him back. I had to face it, threatening with my walking sticks, shouting at him to go back home. 

I understand that they are guard dogs, doing their job but they should not be able to jump over the fence. They can defend their garden but they have to stay in and avoid unknown people walking the road. If someone gets bitten, the dog owner would be responsible, so they should not let their dog run after strangers freely (especially those who don't close the garden gates). I wouldn't like to be the new postman here!

Two kilometres before Union Hall, at a crossroad, I turned too soon, and only realized it after one kilometre in the wrong direction. Which means I had to walk it back. Two kilometres walked for nothing, and one extra half an hour before getting lunch. At least on that wrong road, the view was great. 

It explained why I reached Union Hall completely starving and exhausted. And I was so happy to get a fruit smoothie! Such reward after that long walk. 

Then I walked around Glandore harbour and crossed its bridge. In fact, the "Haven Coast" of the Wild Atlantic Way is made of many coves or harbours, and I'm getting from one to another, etc. That harbour was really nice, the sun was back, the sea was blue with many little white boats, and the bay was surrounded by woods.

After that very long day, I really enjoyed my quiet camping, with no children screaming around my tent. Silence. Perfect for a ten-hour sleep.