Day 16: Wet, cold, fog and dry

Day 16 - Tuesday, April 3rd 2018: Portaferry to Ballywalter 18 km / Total 330 km, 5°C, rainy

Just 1 hour after leaving Heiko's house, I was wet again. The rain didn't stop at all. I could let my clothes under the shower for hours, it would be the same. And there was nowhere to stop along the coast. Even if I crossed some town, like Portavogie, there was no pub, nothing open to get some rest and dry myself. So I had to walk straight ahead to Ballywalter as I was getting cold (5°C). Of course, the rain stopped when I reached Ballyhalbert, just after the Eastern point of the island, the last town before Ballywalter! And the sun came out, trying to dry the land, which produced a kind of fog. It was a strange and amazing atmosphere, giving me the impression to be at the edge of the world.

As I walked faster than expected (I didn't really take the time to enjoy the landscape), I arrived at the beginning of the afternoon in Ballywalter. I was looking for a place to eat, and didn't notice I passed in front of the Airbnb I booked. As I was coming back, a lady was waiting for me in the street, she took me inside and showed me directly me room, explaining me they put the heater at max to help me dry my clothes. It was so kind because I needed it so much. Almost everything was wet, even my wallet. So now I put it, in a plastic bag, inside my bag. Fortunately everything got dry, and I had a great hot shower to get me warm. Finally, I got dinner from the Asian take away next door. Sometimes it's good to eat something different, and hot chicken curry was very welcomed, watching the news on BBC TV. And what they were talking about? The SNCF (trains) strike in Paris! That's at least something I absolutely don't miss from home.

In the morning, Evelyn, who manages this Airbnb, cooked me a delicious Irish breakfast. Regarding to the weather and the distance I have to walk, I needed good food : cereals, toats, full Irish Breakfast with sausages, everything, and a nice cup of tea of course. Clean, dry, and feed, the best for a new walking day.