Banagher Glen

Before I went to London, I signed up for a 9.5 mile hike today with the NI Walking and Photography group. I haven't been out with them since maybe October and I was itching to get out for some fresh air. But the timing seemed very bad. I would have just left Paddy for three days, and now a fourth (I lined up a series of visits to cover him and David's home at night). Also, I haven't been running or swimming and I wasn't clear if a 56 year old woman can just up and walk 9.5 miles.

Today I did and didn't have too many complaints. My thighs were tired the last two miles, but it really wasn't too bad. As usual, a lot of nice people to chat with and a nice pub visit after. Oh, and scenery.

Three rivers come together in the Glen and there are two dams, including this one (above). There were lots of little waterfalls and streams coming down to the lake, forming some lovely abstract patterns.

I think there were 18 of us. One of them was a guy who went to Foyle two years ahead of me. And my friend Sophie.

I got a lift up with a guy called Andrew Ellis who cracked me up. Partly due to his very thick East Belfast accent and many many funny turns of phrase.

The nice thing about winter in Ireland is it doesn't turn brown and gray. I love the vibrancy of the ferny mossy shamrocky undergrowth. The think I didn't like about the hike was the whole forest was a commercial enterprise--a monoculture softwood business with clear cut sections. Yes, it creates income from a 'fallow' natural resource. But it is a dead zone--no birds or wildlife take to forests of imported species.

Above is Dungiven Castle, which I've only ever seen from the other side--just the glimpse you get from the main road through Dungiven. This back road from Banagher to the village gave me a better perspective. I love the mountain in the background. Banagher Glen is in the lovely Sperrin mountains and luckily provided a relatively flat hike, unlike the Mournes.

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