Ireland day 0142. Thursday 17 February 2022- Moon

Today’s summary	Val went on a run first thing then we walked round the coast to Portmarnock and back and got caught in heavy rain on way back. Full Moon walk at Bray Head in evening
Today’s weather	Mostly cloudy but with very heavy showers. Very light breeze. About 7C

Today’s overview location (the red cross in a circle shows where Val and I are at the moment)		Close-up location (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Bray full moon walk

Commentary

(Today’s blog is short – it’s been a busy day and we have only just returned to the flat after this evening’s activities. It’s after midnight now and I am running out of steam!).

A bit like yesterday, the focal point for our day today was to be the evening. So we had a full day to fill gainfully before setting out for the night.

It was another rainy day, although by lunchtime it was brightening up a lot and there was even a glimpse of sun. So we took advantage (or so we thought) of the fine interval to go on a short walk down the coast straight from the flat – always a favourite on a bright and breezy day like today. I should point out that by this stage Val had already been on a six km run so would probably have been quite happy not to have been dragged out yet again by a husband with itchy feet. The walk itself was of course straightforward and easy but just as we reached the most distant point, near Portmarnock, the heavens opened and we got absolutely drenched. We didn’t even have our LEAP cards with us so we couldn’t jump on a bus.

The walk back seemed to take for ever so as soon as we finally made it to the flat, the central heating was cranked up to max, and wet clothes were draped on radiators in an urgent attempt to get them dry.

The reason for the haste was that at 4pm we were due to head out again. This time, we were going right down across Dublin, and back to Bray – the scene of last weekend’s adventures. But this time the aim was to do a section of the cliff path in moonlight – for tonight was a full moon and apparently the sight of the moon rising over the Irish Sea is a sight to behold. Moonrise tonight was about 7pm so when we made it to Bray we had time for a quick cup of coffee in the rather nice coffee shop on the beach, before heading out towards the headland at about the same time as the moon was due to poke its head above the horizon.

In some ways our luck was out tonight, but in others it was very much in. The disappointment was that the moon didn’t put in an appearance – the thick cloud smothering out all but the faintest glow from the night sky. But nevertheless the walk was sublime – nobody about, perfect peace and quiet and just the sound of the waves crashing on the shore below. Altogether a perfect night to remember.

We made it to to the end of the walk with about half an hour until the next DART to Malahide but conveniently (oh how fortunate!) there was a lovely pub right next door to the station where we could avail ourselves of a swift Guinness to make the journey home seem just that bit more bearable. And when we emerged from the pub we realised just how lucky we had been. For the heavens had opened yet again, and yet more rain was pouring down – almost soaking us even as we covered the few metres from the pub doorway to the railway station.

So now we are back and the blog is written. Time for a cup of tea, I think, before retiring for a well-earned few hours in bed!

Back tomorrow (or – strictly speaking given the hour – later today).

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) – the rather regal sounding name for this plant which was introduced by the Romans to the British Isles. Every part of the plant is edible (it’s a bit like celery) and it is widely distributed in ireland, especially near teh coast. This is the first one I’ve seen in flower this year.	*Val down on Lithostrotion* beach. Just half an hour later it was absolutely throwing it down with icy cold rain.**

A large colony of ringed plovers clinging to one of the rocky outcrops in the tide. They are relatively common coastal birds in Ireland and the UK and usually over-winter here. Though some go as far afield as continental Europe, and Greenland, for the summer	Hurrying back in the pouring rain. It seemed to take for ever, and we were soaked to the skin by the time we eventually made it to the flat.

Looking back on the lights of Bray – beautifully serene in the night-time. No people, no wind – just sound of the waves on the shore. Sublime	Distant lights of Greystones beckoning. The full moon – if it wasn’t shrouded in cloud – would be right in the middle of the photo.

Leaving Bray station looking south to Bray Head, just as evening was falling