Category Archives: Hiking

Stories about simple dayhikes that I’ve been on

Oct14

A new year’s hike in Bray

Posted on by
Standard

Thursday, 02-Jan-2025

On New Year’s Eve, we made plans to go hiking.

Because clearly, making plans to go hiking is best accomplished while slightly tipsy on good wine and great cheer.

Frankly… I can’t disagree with that, as sarcastic as it may sound. I mean, how many of my adventures during my time with the Northeastern Outdoors club were planned out during a house party? More than I can probably remember, I’d be confident in guessing.

The day came, we met up at the train station (slightly bleary eyed, but awake none-the-less), and Andrea, two friends, a dog, and myself headed South toward the seaside town of Bray. Our goal for the day was an easy seaside hike – Bray Head, a small peninsula / hill jutting out into the Irish Sea. I’d brought snacks, jackets, my camera and my drone… and I was exceptionally excited to be getting out for a legitimate hike to kick the new year off… even if it was a bit of a touristy option.

Pictures show just how gorgeous the Irish coastline is.

default
default
default
default


Rolling greenery, beautiful seas, and stoic trees soaking in the intermittent sunshine. Irish cows silhouetted against the horizon. A puppy, frolicking in the mud puddle.

…

Yeah. It was a very good start to 2025. I’ve got a good feeling about this year.

Oct4

At the end of the world, for the end of the year

Posted on by
Standard

Monday, 23-Dec-2024, through Friday, 27-Dec-2024


I didn’t quite want to fly back to the United States for Christmas. Flights were long, they were expensive, and there weren’t any really good options that stood out to me.

Andrea was in Germany with her family, but we were still a bit too early in our relationship for me to join them. The invitation was there, of course, but it felt a bit intrusive for me to be a part of their Christmas celebrations this soon.

Staying in Dublin was an option, of course. But it didn’t quite feel right either… I’d been staying in town quite a bit, and I wanted the chance to see the Northern Lights, if at all possible… not something particularly likely on the Irish Island, regardless of how far North I went.

My thoughts strayed to Norway, to Finland, and to Lapland. Good options, but complex in terms of transit and connections.

Finally, a plan settled in for Iceland – a country I’ve been to, and rented a vehicle from, and knew at least vaguely well. Flights were booked, a campervan reserved, and campsites selected from the few still open in the long cold dark of Icelandic winter.

My bags were packed, my plan confirmed, and soon enough I was on my way.


I don’t mind the solitude – I really don’t.

It was calm, cold, and quiet… After the intense socialization of the MBA, the quiet and solitude was incredibly welcome – as was the cold, after the consistently mild temperatures found in Dublin proper. I took my time with walking around Thingvallir, with watching the latest Star Wars series on Disney, and with catching up on some blog posts.

I read, I relaxed, and I soaked up the glorious cold and the snowy environment.

I didn’t quite make it out to the hot springs, unfortunately, but I was able to catch a small glimpse of the Northern Lights one evenings, through a small gap in the clouds… They weren’t quite the intensity that I’d hoped for, unfortunately, and so my quest continues.


A few nights, a few hikes, lots of snow and wind… it was a glorious break.

Sep11

An adventure in Northern Ireland – Dunluce Castle, and the Giant’s Causeway

Posted on by
Standard

Saturday, 16-Nov-2024


Our two exploration goals for Saturday were Dunluce Castle, and the Giant’s Causeway – two standouts from a trip my friend had taken to Northern Ireland earlier in October. Dunluce Castle, at least, is connected to Game of Thrones (I believe it was the set for the Isle of Pyke?), while Giant’s Causeway itself is simply a beautiful spot, with some impressive examples of columnar basalt.

They’re great, they were a good goal, and they gave Andrea and I an opportunity to escape Dublin, wander around some ruins and some beautiful surroundings, and for me to get a new country in my logbook. Really, what more could I ask for?

Not much. Not much at all.


Now, to the actual spots?

There’s not much of a review for me to write, that hasn’t already been written. Instead, I’ll focus in on the feelings – They were beautiful, cold, and left us both feeling positive. Really, they were more of a backdrop to our conversations and deepening bond, and I couldn’t have asked for more beautiful scenery to enjoy together.