Comeragh Mountains

The Comeragh Mountains lie towards the west of County Waterford. All year long we can track the sun as it sets further north or south along the high ridges, from one solstice extreme to the other. Like our elders, we tell the season and the hour by it.

The weather comes to us from these mountains too and so every morning we check to see what's on it's way. As in the old joke, if we can see the mountains there is rain coming and if we can't see the mountains it is already raining. 

Up here now there's a bitter wind: eyes watering with warm tears, breath fogging up the viewfinder. The walk to the waterfall has us bent double against the force of it.

Over the other side beyond the summit, the road heads out west towards the Atlantic; Dungarvan, Youghal, Cork, Killarney, Dingle. 

And as we turn for home I remember that it's time to start planning a longer road trip again......

Beginning the descent #Pilgrimage~ July

Mountains of the Mani Peninsula

The mule track

Beauty underfoot with every step

Down to the land and sea near Pylos

When walking in Greece, each map we followed advised mule tracks based on whether you were more suited to climbing or descending. I would choose walking downhill anytime over walking uphill! Anticipating the view from the top of a mountain will carry you up there, but the thoughts of a Kardamilli breakfast and a dunk in the sea will help you stay focussed on the way down. 

As I reach the summit of this pilgrimage trail it has come to the turn in the path where I will begin to descend. I'm not sure why this idea is leading me so strongly, or why I can't stay a bit more in the familiar denial and enjoy the view. I just feel, in my whole being, that I am at this downwards turn on the hill.

I am often torn between aspiring to the view from the mountain top or taking the track down to the depths. The race to the top, the climbing of Mount Everest, the peak of your life's achievements this is how we tell the story of the climb.  The tale of the descent is more likely to be one of darkness, valleys and fears. And yet when you get to the top of a wobbly ladder, there is an irresistible urge to get your feet back on solid ground?

Most of my life I have been in training for the art of free falling; frequently saying goodbye, delving into vulnerabilities, observing closely the life cycles around me. My quest now for the rest of this pilgrimage year is to to ease downward, to dig deeper, to take my shoes off and feel the grass beneath my feet. 

It doesn't stop here. Life goes on. I just watched Beau Lotto's TED talk about perception and reality. So today I'm thinking about the fact that the only thing that is certain is uncertainty. (Yes that's the kind of stuff I delve into on a Sunday morning!!)

I've always loved going downhill; the reassuring pull of gravity, the lure of lying horizontal, the damp smell of the earth. So here I go again........

There are more photos of the beautiful Peleponese of Greece in the gallery here

Wildflower walking in Greece #Pilgrimage ~ May

It's proving a challenge to capture the colours, shapes, and sheer abundance of the wildflower meadows and olive groves here; the scents underfoot, the way the breeze rustles the seeding grasses, the buzzing of bees. The sheer number and variety of flowers and plants self seeding and thriving everywhere. 

At times as the sun heats the land your nose follows a familiar smell....sage, thyme, oregano.......the scent of sweet honeysuckle already in full flower. Or roses pouring out over patio walls in the narrow alleyways and lanes. Heady stuff to properly convey in pictures.......

The Mani Peninsula is famous for it's honey and everyone here seems to have hives. Bees and insects are plentiful and happy here as a result. There is little or no spraying or "weeding" the flowers and herbs cover paths and walls, roads and hillsides. There are few organised "gardens" as such, up here in the Mani Mountains in May the slopes are one continuous garden. 

Wildflowers are considered an integral part of the heritage of this place and I wish we would value and protect our hedgerows and ditches a bit more? Our abundant EU grass, manicured lawns and wire fencing are taking such a toll on our native biodiversity. 

Meanwhile these blogging breakfasts are special stolen moments to chat to with you here, until the day calls and the trekking continues.....

~ Wild, free and wearing pink high heels~

I certainly know what it means to be cold to the bone, yet today I know sun on my skin again. Summer flowers have just sprung into life, my own patch is wildly self seeding, even lavender is appearing everywhere on the gravel.

So what's the news?

While work begins to blossom again in new ways I now have one foot firmly back in the meadow. 

Ireland goes green and the wild hedgerows so threatened by recent progress (like myself) survive another year. 

Big re-vamp going on in the day job and in my own head. 

More travel on the cards before the summer is out. 

Work, home and light........ bleeding into one.

These lane walks teach about imperfection, about the simplicity of real beauty, about how all the best things grow wild and free. Glancing at the high heels lined up to wear to a wedding tomorrow I wonder how vanity suddenly won out over comfort? Flat sandals would be grand (that voice said) but when I saw the high-heeled pink ones, the teenager in me succumbed! (I have happy feet btw as I never ever squish them into "foot-binding" shoes! But once would be OK?)

So now I'm telling myself it's just like gardening. A bit of preening, weeding, watering, and a few days staring up into the sun will do wonders? And while we're at it a wee bit of toe-nail painting wouldn't go astray either!