A walk in reverse

Newmarket to Mill Street in reverse

A 70^th/30^th birthday party in the pub grounds until 3am and the 30 side of the crowd decided to stay until well after 3am so not much sleeping was accomplished. A little weary this morning but guess we are not carrying a back pack today. After a slow breakfast the owner’s son John has offered to drive us to Mill Street. He drops us outside McCarthy’s Bar where we will commence to walk today’s distance back to Newmarket, 21.5klms and probably one of our hardest walking day so far. I am sure he never realised how early we planned to walk. It is after 8 o’clock and late by our standards. Mill Street is a vibrant, larger town, more lively and colourful than Newmarket. A lot of horse floats and people wearing jodhpurs milling around the main street. Most businesses and some coffee shops are open for business but we can’t drink coffee this early in the day. A shame! It is already 9.30 so a late start as we trudge out of the town past the 15^th Century Drishane Castle where some of the Horse events for the International Show are being held. The horse show is the main reason we could not get accommodation in the town.

We walk past the cemetery but do not stop for a look and across Blackwater River. Dairy cattle are being released from the milking sheds and heading off to the fields for the day. We were told that we would be crossing this river on large stones, the only stones I can see are well under the water so we will remain on the bridge. On to the small deserted village of Deringaree, past the Post Office with the “For Sale” sign in the window.  I think this village is dying. It is raining and we need a break so stop at the Church of the Presentation of Our Lady. The front door is not open which is unusual for Ireland so we sit on the steps in the drizzling rain and change into our rain jackets. We are only half way and wishing we were already back in Newmarket, our legs are tired. I feel it may be a long day as there is not much in the scenery.  The road becomes very flat and no longer raining so out of the rain jackets as they are becoming like a sauna. We put them on, we take them off.

Our feet are hurting and our bodies aching, the walk has now changed to hills and a valley, which means another hill as we climb out the other side. The town cemetery comes into view and we are near the end of the days walk.

After a lovely shower and change of dry clothes we head to the “Relish” for a coffee and a treat of a slice of cake. I am fed up with trying to eat healthy food, I need a sugar hit. This café is so fascinating with its Christmas balls and decorations hanging in the windows and it is the middle of the year. It has an eclectic array of wine bottles, clocks and other odds and ends displayed around the walls and off the ceiling, out come the candles and tablecloths for the night meal. We both decide on a Vegetarian meal and a glass of wine, a change from the pub meals at night. We try a Mi Wadi at the pub before we turn in for the night. Mi Wadi is an Irish brand fruit juice started in the 1920s with no artificial colours and suitable for Vegetarians, available at Tesco. A cordial drink.

We have now walked over 427klms. 

There is a big difference between Mill Street and Newmarket even though both places are only a short distance apart. Both seem to have several pubs, hotels and accommodation and enough businesses to serve the needs of the people of both towns. There are several coffee shops in Mill Street so this must be the main tourist town.