Déjà Vu

So much for once-in-a-lifetime. You know the drill by now - the snow dumps on the Dublin Mountains, and I have an insatiable urge to hike up there and come down strapped into a snowboard. This time I had Ken & Andy for company - they didn't need any persuasion. The road from home to Kilmashogue Lane was clear, so less hiking to start off. Also less snow and easier to walk up, so we got higher - "Fairy Castle" / Two Rock was the destination - about 550m. Lots of hikers around, one lunatic on a bike, and plenty of curious looks. The views down to Wicklow were amazing - Djouce, Maulin, Kippure all shining white in the distance. Great Sugar Loaf looked like the Matterhorn.

Very cold & blowy up top. Coffee, and a nip of Jameson from Ken's hip flask was timely. We came down from here in fresh powder, so good we hiked up and did it twice more. Heavenly. Then onto a very narrow, windy part - concentration was high here, but good fun. Andy & I were troubled by a snappy poodle who'd not seen this mode of transport before. Next up, a nice long, easy forest track (piste?) to get to the bottom. Fast and fun. Plenty of comments and photos from onlookers/spectators - hopefully starting a trend.

Finally, we trespassed onto Stackstown Golf Club (Padraig Harrington's home turf) which was just begging to be ridden, a real novelty. Back up the forest and we were able to ride back literally to the car. Home for some tea and the last of the Xmas cake, yummmm. How am I supposed to work tomorrow after a day like that?

P.S. To be honest, I was getting a bit tired of the endless cold and snow in the last few days. But now as a bit of a thaw sets in, I think I'll miss it when it's gone. The snow forecast for today didn't materialise, so that might be it. Hope you're all surviving the conditions wherever you are.



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