Day 153: Heavy school bag

Day 153 - Monday, September 10th 2018: Helvick Head to Dungarvan 16 km / Total 3164 km, 17°C, cloudy

Morning wake up in the tent started to be cold. Only 10°C! At least it gets me ready a little faster. And as the ground was definitely not flat that night, I didn't stay too long in my comfy sleeping bag. Fortunately that day, I was close enough to a village, named Ringville, where I could get breakfast in the local shop. I definitely think an Irish Breakfast sandwich is a really great idea!

As I was leaving the village, I met a woman doing her morning walk I guess who said something about my heavy bag and as always now, I just answered it's my house. She asked if I camped at Helvick Head, and as I explained to her where, she asked where I was from (as everyone knows each other in the area - as she told me - they automatically know if you're a local or not, so if you're not they want to know where you come from). When I said France, she started to tell me that her daughter got married in France this summer, she told me about the place in Périgord, the food they had (duck is really different from how the Chinese cook it ... For sure!), the trip they made along the coast from Britany to the Basque country, etc. She stepped from one subject to the other, but I think I caught it all (at least it's always good training from my English). She only stopped when she met another woman walking toward us. I don't know how long was that chat, but it's really interesting how you can get easily involved in it with a perfect stranger.

Then I reached Dungarvan. I had to buy some food at the supermarket where I arrived right when a dozen of teenagers looking for sandwiches and other junk food for their lunch break. The cashier told me she doesn't see anyone anymore using a map (mine is always attached to my front bag). I don't know if it's because people don't know how to read a map anymore or if it's because of GPS. Maybe the second one is responsible for the first one. I'm probably old fashion on that point, but I always feel more confident with a map (I always had a subway map in my handbag when I was living in Paris). And at least, it never runs out of battery!

I took a long break in a coffee shop, enjoying pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. As there was a plug to charge my phone and wifi, I chose to watch Tough Soles videos on YouTube. I discovered them thanks to Jörg, the German Guy I met in Northern Ireland and who got us in touch on Twitter. They are walking all the marked trails of Ireland, and they're making great quality videos of their walk. Sometimes I can see some places where I've been as well. It's good to see some people doing the same kind of things as me. 

I left town when teenagers were leaving high school and saw them struggling with their heavy school bag. It made me think of mine. My backpack is probably twice heavier than theirs, but I don't really feel its weight, as it's designed for carrying heavy stuff, which is properly placed inside. So I wondered if it was not possible to design school bags inspired by hiking backpack?

Now in campsites, I am the only one sleeping in a tent!