View from the bedroom.
I woke up very-very slowly so it was already 11:00 before I could do anything. I made plans to first visit Glendalough and then -if time permitted- the old jail in Wicklow (people who know me can understand the interest I have in jails).
So that was the plan. But finding the correct road appeared to be harder then I thought. I am not a bad navigator but I still am not completely used on the signposts... There are the 'level 1' roads linking the main cities. I assume they are OK, but I tend not to use them since they are 'to fast' and are not nice to drive. Then there are the regional roads (the Rxxx) types). They combine a nice view with a good quality. To bad only that in the towns they do not always bother to signpost them and you easily take a wrong turn. Then you have the 'third class' roads left. They are poorly signposted and of a poor quality. Sometimes I didn't even go faster then 30km/hr because of the holes. The only way I have experienced to use these roads is to check your map at EVERY junction.
But altough I did not take the route that I had in mind I did manage to get to Glendalough. This is a nature reserve (and a very-very touristic spot) around two lakes. As far as I could see it was also a place where a lot of Irish go. There are a number of walks, ranging from an hour to 4 hours.
Altough it is very touristic, once you start walking a trail it is no longer crowded.
I did spend a little to much time at Glendalough (I overheardsomebody explaining that glen means vally and lough means lake. Hence the name). So when I went back to my camper to go to Wicklow I was to late. The last admission at the jail was at 17:00 (accoarding to the lonely planet). I also took a wrong turn so I ended up all the way in the wrong place.
I then decided to go to the Witness festival. I decided to take the easiest route possible: The R759 From Roundwood to Kilbride. And that was not a bad choice! It is a great road in a hilly terrain. There are some parking places (most of them on the Roundwood side) and the views are perfect. If you are in the neighbourhood you MUST and I say again MUST drive this road. I had diner there and met a group of 7 dutch persons that were walking the Wicklow-way trail. If you drive this sections at sunset time it is even better. Make sure to have the sun in your back (not in your face like I had). You will get an even better view. If you have the sun in your face, you will be blinded and it will be hard to stay on the narrow road...
Some pictures I took on the road from Roundwood to Kilbride. These do not fully cover the views, please wait untill I get back home. By then I can put my high-quality pictures online.
This was the first 'No camping' sign I did see in Ireland. This was also the first place where I saw 3 tents...
It is now already sunday so I will go to bed. I am parked near a busy road in Naas. The festival was not prepared for people arriving for sunday at saturday... Tommorow I will be one of the first!
