I was hoping to be able to make today’s hike one of the big days on the Trail. But when I get up at 04.00am I feel exhausted. It is the first time that I travel without my (heavy) cpap-equipment, after being diagnosed with sleep appneu a few years ago. I have been sleeping without the support of the breathing machine now for three nights, and I feel more tired than when I went to bed last night. Not a good choice to leave the 2,5kg of machinery at home.

Just before 4.30am I put on my trousers (still moist) and my shoes (still wet). Before I reach the front door of the hostel my socks are already soaken wet; I am not even outside! The sky is dry, and it is very dark around here. The signs are easy to pick up again. From Glendalough the Trail goes up a steep hill, leading to heather and open fields. Halfway up the climb I am exhausted and can hardly move on. I take a mini-break and continue in a moderate pace, not trying to push too much. My pace downhill is reasonably well, but I feel powerless. After the first hills there is an easy section where the Trail uses a local road. Also here my pace is not great; not good enough for one of them big days. The biggest climb of today is up the Djouce Mountain, where many panoramic views could be obtained, but not today. It is foggy, there are incidental rain showers and there is fierce wind blowing (tail and side). Incidentally there is also some snow on the highest section of the mountain. 

Tough conditions on Djouce Mountain

The signs are comfortable, even in these conditions, and once hiking down the hill, the weather gets better; the rain stops, the temperature goes up a bit and the Trail is shielded from the wind. After some time even the sun starts peeking through! In the lower section of the hill, on my way to Knockree, there are also people walking and enjoying being outdoors.  At least they do. I am extremely tired, my feet are soaken wet and my movements get uncoordinated. After arriving at the parking at the foot of the Crone Hill, I get rid of the rain suit. The next section follows the small river, but its banks are transformed into sort of marshlands. After arriving on foot of the Knowckree hill the weather gets absolutely lovely but I am finished. I follow the easy trail and road to the next parking, west of Enniskerry, and I call it a day. I have covered 34km so far, and I was hoping to be able to do the last 17km of the Wicklow Way also (and I was dreaming to be able to do the next 14km to the port also) but that won’t happen today; my pace is too slow to reach Marlay Park in Dublin before dark, and I don’t want to risk stumbling and injuring myself; I have done that enough in Ireland so far!

E8: on the way to the horizon to find a pot of gold?

I start walking down the hill towards the village of Enniskerry, where the nearest bus stop is located. A friendly van driver is kind enough to give me a ride. He is in good spirits; tomorrow is the national holliday in Ireland and it is also his 5th wedding anniversary. He is looking forward to a long weekend of patying. I am in a different mood, although 34km in tough conditions is a very reasonable performance. The bus takes me from Enniskerry to Dublin (I was hoping to arrive there by foot) and the next day I experience the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, and I fly back home.