BUNAW

Friday 9.14 ~ Canalough to Bunaw, 45 km

WOW! Another sunny day!

It's meditation at 9 am at this retreat. The meditation room looks directly over the water so it isn't necessary to close your eyes.

The view helps me get over my ADD anxiety of actually sitting still for 40 minutes first thing in the morning, when I'm usually raring to go. My bodily aches and pains finally stop being a distraction and a peaceful feeling settles in along with extreme gratitude.

It turns out to be a really good experience.

Post meditation I am raring to go! I've hit it off with Monica, a cool young person from Olympia, Washington who works for REI - one of the best employers who sells the best stuff! I learn that REI stands for "Recycled Employees Income", and I check out Monica’s very durable versatile backpack. We talk equipment and hope we'll run into each other again.

As soon as I leave the hostel, it starts to drizzle so it's on with the rain gear. The storm passes by the next mountain and the sun is out again. My ride is full of steep ups and downs with amazing views over the steep cliffs along the coast. All this exertion requires a stop at the Copper Museum Cafe which serves a delicious gluten free chocolate cake with coffee.

Next up… another steep climb where I get off and push the bike. Once over the top, I have a glorious ride down accompanied by views overlooking the water. On the next uphill, there are sheep in the road running ahead like escapees. I don't want to encourage or herd them along so I go slow and walk until a car comes along and distracts them and then I sneak past the sheep - I wouldn't want the farmer to think I'm trying to make off with his sheep!

It's getting late in the afternoon and I'm ready for some vegetable soup and to warm up. I stop at the Village Restaurant in Androom, next to the harbor. The owner recommends a B&B that is over a pub, just after the left turn past Dereen Gardens. I'm relieved that the owner suggested a nice easy-going coastal road - no runaway sheep!

Along this coastal stretch there is an area with big pine trees on both sides of the road and lots of rhododendrons and ferns. I can smell the pine and it feels so inviting. I spot a sign for a stone circle and leaving my bike on the side of the road, I head into the woods. It is so magical! There is a stream with rushing water and moss everywhere! This is the woods I've been looking for! I don't go to the stone circle because it's out of the woods and way up the hill… I just want to stay and savor the moss, the water and the coolness of the trees.

After soaking up the magic, I emerge from the woods and as I step onto the road a red car passes in front of me. I happen to look in the windows and at the same instant Monica looks out and sees me! We are so excited! Monica is hitch hiking through Ireland and she met Gavin, who is vacationing in his car, at the hostel. I tell them about the woods, and that I'm staying at the B&B above the pub in Bunaw, and we agree to meet up later.

It's a lovely ride through the woods lined road and I find the pub with the B&B nestled in a harbor. It has such a great vibe! I shower and change and when I go downstairs Monica and Gavin are there. It is so nice out… we sit outside at a picnic table by the pier and Monica introduces me to Bulmer's - a dry apple cider.

We enjoy the wind-free warm evening and eat fresh local mussels and drink Bulmer's while discussing religion.

Another topic of talk is Gavin's huge party-size tent that the landlady has graciously allowed Gavin to pitch, along with Monica's teeny tent, in the hallow by the pub.

Life is good! Very good!