Day 148: Over-crowded

Day 148 - Sunday, September 2nd 2018: Kinsale to Cork 25 km / Total 3059 km, 19°C, rainy

Originally, I thought of going to Cork in two days, not in one day. But, as the rain was expected on that day, I didn't want to spend the night in my tent especially if my shoes couldn't be dry the morning after. And with broken glasses, it was better to join Cork as quickly as possible.

The beginning of the walk was alright for the first two hours, little countryside road, forest and fields. Then I joined the main road, very busy for a Sunday. But, I guess it's the main road from Cork to the coast. A couple stopped their car and the woman walked to me to offer me a lift "because that road is so dangerous". Not more than any other Irish road. And a few kilometres later, a taxi turned back to me, and the man offered me to drive me wherever I wanted, even to Cork. As I said no, he said "but it's raining !" Pffff, it was just soft rain, and I told him that on my first day of walk I had snow. Surprised he asked "where was it?" In Dublin. More surprised "but when?" In March! Then he understood I'd keep walking. 

At the end of that big road, I found a bus stop with a roof, and a bench on which you can't sit (I don't see the point of that kind of bench ...), so I chose that shelter to sit on my bag and have a break. While I was eating a scone, a man stopped his car. I didn't pay attention to him, focused on my food. When he left, he honked me and made an obscene gesture. Congratulations man, after more than five months in Ireland, you're the first idiot I meet. I'll assume that you were probably not Irish just to keep the good image I have of these people.

In the afternoon, I walked the little road behind the airport, with fields and cows on the other side. And as I arrived from the height side, I had a global view of Cork city. It's been a long time since I saw such a big city, especially when I crossed a bridge over a six lines road! At first sight, I didn't really appreciate being in a big city again. A lot of people, being careful with weird men, and I can't leave my stuff unattended, etc. Ok, let's try to re-urbanise slowly: Starbucks! After a chai tea latte, I was ready to cross the city and reached my overcrowded hostel. The very small 8 beds dorm had no windows and I felt like in jail. And guess what? There was no laundry on Sunday. Tired! I felt tired just to smell so bad!