day 1, Dursey Island – Allihies

Wind: 🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️ (6 out of 5)
Picnic: 🌯🌯(2 out of 5, wraps in a sheltered spot)
Traction on track: 🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌(6 out of 5 bananas, slippery as f..k)
Transportation: 🥾🚠
Name of followed trail: Beara way

We woke up because the tent was bending down on our heads from the wind. It was still early, but we got up anyway. No point in waiting to see the tent being destroyed by the wind. We leave our spot without breakfast, because there is no way we can get the stove working in these conditions! The weather is at least dry! We walk along the island to Dursey point, the official start of the E8. To get there, the trail takes us over the Hills on the island. The wind is really strong and makes it hard to walk straight. We decide to take the low route back!At the start, there is nothing to see that says you can hike to Istanbul from here. I guess not a lot of people do so..🤔We make breakfast in the ruin of the old lighthouse there, because this is the first place where we can be out of the wind!After our breakfast we head back to the cable car to get across to the mainland and continue our journey east. The first kilometers in the Bears way are beautiful yet boggy and slippery. And after a few road sections, the boggy and slippery part continues. Mark slides down 5 times, I once. We are grateful for our rain gear, because we stay dry when we fall. The wild coastline is amazing to watch and we’re loving the views!When we get to Allihies and ask where we can pitch our tent, we get pointed to the campsite, where Anthony (a big old man that lives in his chair) sells us a spot for the night. Out of the wind!First day is done, we are on our way!