The Lug Walk 2009
The Lug Walk 2009
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The first time I "had a go" at the Lug Walk it was the "year that never was".....
Foot and Mouth had declared the mountains "no go" areas and although the ban was eventually lifted it would come just a tad too late for the organisers - The Irish Ramblers Club - so a bunch of four of us decided to bash away on the day anyway .
Without the well-known "banana" checkpoint at Wicklow Gap it was to be here that we called it a day and tore off down the valley for a "skinful".
The next time by chance I hooked up with two gifted hillwalkers and flew down Lug like there was no tomorrow - no doubt for another "skinful".
Alas the next time this great challenge would present itself my solo attempt was totally thwarted as I got lost not once but twice. Table Track Checkpoint would be as far as my efforts would allow.
Hard and honest lessons learned and navigation skills honed, on the next Lug Walk I would take on a gentle tempo but not quite a "Sunday Stroll" pace so as to guide down a good friend who was big-time a hurtin' on a day that saw awful conditions........did we deserve a "skinful".......?
........do Irish Ministers of Finance enjoy free lunches with Irish Bankers.......?
And now this year all of a sudden the years have snuck up and so to has my "midrift buoyancy" (You guessed it - no doubt too many skinfuls!) And it will come as no surprise that this year I definitely hurt a whole lot more. Almost the whole of the first half was misty but while the sun would wait until Lug to shine - it never rained a drop so all in all conditions were very good for the challenge. This is a long walk which takes place as close to the longest day as is possible, many an hour of daylight is both required and necessary. 
But for all my woes curious things would greatly ease my pains...........
For the first time ever I managed to hook up to the track that ascends Duff Hill and the track that descends Tonlagee........happy days......!
But even more euphoric - that secret trail to the left of Barnacullian laid itself out before me like a red carpet thus avoiding the dreadful "Peat Hags" which surprisingly hadn't dried out a whole lot and as such many a walker on the day was to feel their torture.
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With fresh water taken onboard......and two "fun-size" Moro bars (talk about Heaven on Earth.....) from the lovely ladies at the Wicklow Gap Checkpoint - and sure at this point it was all downhill..........ish.
Yes even I had to admit that experience was beginning to show or to put it a more honest way.............
"Youth and Naivety is no match for Old Age and Deviousness"
................So did I go for a youthful skinful......?
................To tell the truth I fell asleep into my soup.........still and all......
Many Thanks to the Irish Ramblers for ensuring a great day was to be had by all.
Jim Holmes.
