Final Spurt

After a fabulous Irish breakfast John gave us a lift to the place where the Beara Way leads off into the wilderness skipping the part where it's just going on the road.
Again fought our way through mud and occasional showers. I'm not sure if we were just used to it by then or the ground was not as bad as on some of the stages before. Only sunk to my ankle a few times and our stuff dried in between the showers.The view of the bay and Kerry on the other side of the water was breathtaking! I'd go as far as saying that this was the best part of the Beara Way scenery-wise. Walked a bit on quiet roads passing Lauragh before the next wild part followed. Met a mother sheep who had just given birth to a lamb with the little one stumbling out of our way not quite knowing how to use its legs yet.
Climbed up and down a hill and came to a valley with two larger lakes. We had made good speed so far. At 4pm we were southeast of Tuoist. This was the place where we wanted to camp initially. Only it was so windy down here that we had two options now. Going on and hoping for a better place. That ment another stretch of wilderness for approximately 2 more hours of muddy labour. Or trying to get a lift to Kenmare at the road. We chose the latter one and started walking towards the coast.
Not five minutes later a humvee with two girls inside stopped and took us in. A french au-pair from Kenmare was giving her friend a tour of Beara. So we had to stay in the car forthe tour before we were taken to Kenmare. How convenient! So we saw a few places we've been to and a few we've not including the amazing view from Healy Pass.
As the girls dropped us off at Kenmare main street they pointed us to a certain pub where the locals usually go to to ask for a lift or a place to pitch our tents at least.
So we had a pint first and then asked the barman. Immediately the locals at the counter started discussing options for us and came up wih camping at the pier. Sounded good enough for us. Had another pint when one of the guys approached us saying that he was going to Killarney next morning and could give us a lift. Could it get any better? Yes. After another pint he said we could camp in his backyard. Cool!
So we went back home with him. Asking him where we could pitch he just beckoned us to follow and showed us his en-suite guest room. Bingo! So we spent the rest of the day talking in his kitchen about politics and economics.  As promised he took us to Killarney in the morning.
Unbelievable.  Like half a day ago we were standing in the wilderness not really knowing what to do and now we were in Killarney instead of somewhere near Tuoist un-pitching our tent. Somehow whenever we were a little unsure how to proceed almost out of nowhere something occurred and turned up  to be way better than we could've imagined.

Checked in at the Sugan Hostel a famous place for backpackers and strolled around the city just enjoying the sun. Did some shopping. Got myself gaiters and a pair of FiveFingers. Today another offday for me. Will go to the tourist office to ask how I'd get to Galway's bridge tomorrow. Will have alook at Ross Castle probably and just walk around town. There is a great second hand bookstore so I can provide mysef with something to read since I will go on alone from now. My hiking partner will leave for Dublin today or tomorrow.
It's been a great holiday so far. The scenery is fantastic if you have okay weather it's even more enjoyable. But it's the stories along the way that will linger for  a long time in our memories. I will write my thoughts on the Beara Way later on when I finished the Kerry Way.