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Day 5: Along the road, but not straight

  • Writer: Pauline Bouras
    Pauline Bouras
  • Mar 25, 2018
  • 3 min read

Updated: Mar 22, 2021

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Day 5 - Thursday, March 22nd 2018: Balbriggan to Drogheda 23 km / Total 100 km, 11°C, rainy


My feet and shoulders are less painful, and the knee pad is really helping. As long as I take a 5 min break every hour, it's all right. In the morning it's an inland road. Not footpath again. And the best, according to Google I had to cross a military camp. Of course, it was not possible, so I decided to get around, by the beach. At the end of the path, I faced a red flag, and a sign indicated that if the red flag was there, it means they were shooting exercises. According to the noise, clearly, there was. And the soldier on the beach told me I couldn't get this way. So I had to make a "detour" and find another way. I finish the road to Laytown, listening to music because the way was quite boring, the landscape is not particularly beautiful at that time of the year.

In Laytown, I had a very good lunch at Nan's café, with a delicious hot carrot and coriander soup. I learn to take my time to eat, not in 15 min like when I was working, but a real one hour for lunch. Made me feel good for the afternoon, walking along the beach, under the soft rain. I was almost alone on the beach, with the waves sound. I could walk eyes closed, it was so good, so relaxing, no pain, no matter, just one step after one step. The more technical part is to pee. Yes, because I'm still a woman, and it's still a technical affair. I have to find a hidden place, keep my big bag on my shoulders, manage the wind and the rain cape. Anyway, in my next life, it would be easier to be a man for this.

At the end of the beach, it"s the Boyne River. A cargo tried to get in twice, and then to reach Drogheda harbour. As long as I was there it didn't succeed, currents might be too strong. The rest of the road was really boring. Only 6km left, and no walk side. It was raining and a little bit dark. I had to walk on the grass at some moments, and my shoes got wet (I'm thinking of getting another one, same as the Irish policemen who stay outdoor all day). And it was not the best time of the day. People finish work at 5 pm, so until 6 pm, everybody's on the road back home. Almost 1km before my arrival, a bus driver stopped the traffic to know if I wanted to get on his bus. That was very kind to him, but it's not the idea, I had to walk, whatever it rains or not.

I finally reached my hostel, located along a very busy road, very noisy. Apart from a German girl, it seems there are only men in this hostel. I think some of them are workers, who just make a stop here because the accommodation is cheap. In my room, there was a man from Northern Ireland, who indicated to me a hostel in Newcastle. He was really proud of his region, Downpatrick county seems to be beautiful.

After my hot shower, I fall asleep very early.

 
 
 

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