Day 97: Back in the wild

Day 97 - Wednesday, July 11th 2018: Galway to Kilcolgan (somewhere around in the West) 22 km / Total 2004 km, 22°C, sunny

So let's start the second part of my trip. But first, let's escape from the city. It took me an hour to get out of the urban area and before I could see a field again. 

It was good to take a rest, even if for my last night in the hostel, people came back in the room at night, which woke me up. And it was too hot in the room. Despite the bag was heavier with new gas bottle, food and water, I didn't feel it and the walk was alright.

I saw a railway and a train on the road. I think the last time I saw such thing was in Northern Ireland, three months ago!

I made a stop in Oranmore for lunch. When the lady asked me where I was from, she congratulated me because I was French. Well thank you but it's not my fault if France is qualified for the final of the World Cup. And some men asked me if I think we'll win. I wasn't even expecting the team to get so far so ...

A thing I like in the pub, is that sometimes you can read the newspapers for free. So on that day, the most important event was the royal visit of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan in Dublin. The royal family has a funny sense of diplomacy: they sent the ginger one to Ireland! The other major news is of course the weather. Despite the heatwave is over, the Irish government is now talking about drought. Yes drought, in Ireland. It's definitely not the weather I was expecting in this country. Apparently, it should need weeks of rain to get back to normal. Well it's not that I don't want Ireland to get green again, but can it wait for the end of my trip?

In the afternoon, just after Kilcolgan, where the footpath stops, I walked my 2000th kilometre. I wanted to write it on the ground but there was nothing except little rocks, so it was just little rocks. 

For the night, I wanted to put my tent at the end of a path, close to the sea. But there was a barrier on the road, so finally I had to chose a field. Apparently, it was last inhabited by horses. They already flatted the grass for me! 

It was good to be back in the wild again, with no noise but the birds and a breeze in the tree above my head. I appreciated to sleep on the ground again, to be in contact with the earth. And I had a very good sleep in my comfy sleeping bag, with fresh air. I think a fox (I guess it was that because I only heard or not saw it) came around my tent at night, but I chased it away with just a "ssssshhh". No one is going to disturb my sleep!