ROF= Ring of Fire Odyssey
MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus
Eire= Ireland journey
Saturday April 27, 2019
Croagh Patrick, Murrisk, Ireland. Form up... gear up, cowboy up.
There's never been such a thing as a "Bucket List" on this life journey. There are always interesting things in every place along the road if you will just look past the chamber of commerce & tourists brochures. Getting near the end of this Ireland journey, near the end of this life journey; no, I'm not sick. I still have the heart of a 21 year old US Marine platoon Sgt but this frame has been rode hard for a lifetime.
To drive into north Ireland, NOT Northern Ireland of Londonderry and Belfast... that will have to be another journey, and come to the town of Murrisk. The commanding, towering peak is Croagh Patrick; Mt Patrick. The mountain St Patrick climbed, spent 40 days on- meditating- praying-, then came down and drove the pagans out of Ireland.
Legend says he drove the snakes out of Ireland, snakes meaning pagans, and made Ireland Christian forever/ since.
Stayed in an air B&B in Murrisk, a mile away from the base start.
I'm up for this. Not to discourage anyone considering this but this hump is not for the faint of heart. The trail up, is not a trail. The whole way up is on loose, shifting rock. From marble size to basketball size, jagged, wobbly, unstable, ... every step has to strategically be decided on and foot placed for stability. This is NOT a leisurely ditty-bop up the mountain. Bring your "A" game. This was as challenging and exhausting as anything called on since the Marine Corps.
So, once in a lifetime I get to Ireland and for 2 weeks have walked on historical ground where Irish have fought and spilled their blood in revolution, within their own churches & religions, through famines, through raid by the Vikings, by invasions by the Norse, revolted against English rule... and won. So I cannot go past this without climbing Croagh Patrick.
Staged and ready at airBnB at the base of Croagh patrick. Murrisk, Ireland
You never drink twice from the same stream.
Just because you wander doesn't mean you're lost.
Uncle Hargus: Last of the Independents
Have Bear,
Will Travel
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