The Mourne Mountains

Pete took us to the Mourne Mountains for a hike. We started down in a natural forest which runs along the beautiful Glen river. We spent ages exploring the river and bits of the forest, it was so lovely to feel warm and enjoy the outdoors. The kids were learning how to use compasses, they were all pointing the direction we were heading and telling us which direction that was.Then you break out of the tree line and are treated with views out over the sea, and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Belfast! We stopped along the river in the sun and had a pick nick. It was really lovely.We all climbed up through the forest and came to the rolling hills basking in the warm sun. Cheryn, Corbin and Pete stayed there and Rachel, Zeek and I went on up. We were heading to the highest point in Ireland, Slieve Donard. It is 849m high. All the way up the valley to the Mourne wall, then turn left and up, up, up to the top.
I measured our hike on google earth and it said we had hiked 2.8 miles to get to the top. However, a lot of the way you were looking sharply up to see where the next section of path was. The steps were big, I was wandering what they must feel like to Rachel, some coming up to her waist.After 2 hours of climbing we made it to the top! The views were amazing! Pete was very impressed with us, he didn't think we would be able to make it to the top (having done it before he knew how hard it was.) Zeek and I had to stop and rest regularly, but Rachel just powered her way up. She didn't rest, didn't even seem tired, just carried on up and up! There were a few hikers that we passed that mentioned how amazed they were at her ability to just go. This is us at the top.While we were at the top, a guy offered to take a photo of the three of us, it was so funny, because I just have a small point and shoot camera. He took it and screwed on the base for a tripod, then he positioned the tripod at the correct distance, zoomed, adjusted, and then took one photo! He then reversed the whole process, I thought it was so funny that he had gone to all the trouble, but it is a nice photo, so I suppose it was all worth it after all.On the way back down again, we had to try and race the shadow along the valley because it was starting to get cold.My old Otter Trail knees started playing up and so the walk down was not so pleasant for me, but I had to go down, there was no other way, so down I went! And do you think Rachel was even the least bit stiff the next day? No, but Zeek and I were like two stiff boards!

What a great day out, thanks Pete for suggesting it. We all made memories.