Ireland day 1268. Wednesday 19 March 2025- Hoka Test

Today’s summary	Val and I walked down along the coast to Sutton to test out my new Hoka shoes (they were good). Had snack lunch at Portmarnock then caught the bus back from Sutton station. On return to the flat, I did my Spanish homework and Val made a lentil curry. More Vancouver films and “Mad Men” in the evening
Today’s weather	Bright, dry sunny and cool again. Light easterly breeze. Appx 10c

Today’s overview location (The blue mark shows the location of our route)		Close-up location (The blue line shows where we walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Coast walk to Sutton to test Hoka shoes

Commentary

Today I was excited to try out the new Hoka shoes I’d bought yesterday. I wanted to see if they would transform me into a runner of Mo Farah calibre. But before I could head out and see if I would fly, there was the usual morning routine of tea, breakfast and laundry to be polished off.

Anyway eventually we were all done and with it being another dry sunny day we decided that an easy walk together down the coast would be a suitable test of my new fleet-of-foot gear. By the way, Ireland has been enjoying an unusually protracted period of good weather lately – it hasn’t really rained since we got back from Fuerteventura three weeks ago. So we’re determined to make the most of it while it lasts – which it surely won’t. (The Mediterranean has, by contrast, been soaking wet – I don’t begrudge them the rain though, as much of that area really needed it – but perhaps just not all at once).

As we headed down the coast in the direction of Sutton, I dropped into the library to return a book and Val paid a visit to the post box. Then we were properly on our way, following the coast path down to Portmarnock and enjoying the rare delight of Irish sun on our faces. Once at the beach, we dropped into the Spar shop to get coffees, then sat in the bathing shelter to dine extravagantly on flat whites and chocolate biscuits. It’s called carb loading. Then we resumed our journey, following the coast all the way past the golf course and through Baldoyle.

We were soon at Sutton and there was just time for refreshments at Sam’s station café before the 102 rolled up to take us back to Malahide. Then once we were back in the flat, I got on with some more Spanish homework (that’s it for now, at least until next Tuesday) and Val made a lentil curry. Then the rest of the evening was spent with some more carb loading – this time curry-based – and another Vancouver film, leavened with a couple of episodes of “Mad Men”.

But what about the Hokas? Well – all I can say is they didn’t transform me into Mo Farah but they were extremely comfortable. Especially when walking on paved surfaces, they did feel noticeably more springy than my normal trainers. So – yes – I’d say they were a real success. Now I just want to see how long they will survive the harsh treatment that I always seem mete out to my footwear!

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


On the coast path to Portmarnock, looking south to Ireland’s Eye and Howth	Time for lunch! Well at least the orange was healthy

Whelk egg cases, on the Velvet Strand	Driftwood. A classic calendar shot!

Another classic calendar shot, on the approach to Sutton at high tide	Journey’s end. Thank goodness for Sam and the 102

This alarming looking Highland bull is I think a new addition to the bovine herd alongside the Baldoyle greenway. The fence separating me from him seemed alarmingly flimsy