Witness Something Truly Majestic

            In the movie The Bucket List, one of the biggest items on the list is to “Witness Something Truly Majestic” For the entire movie Jack Nicholson’s character keeps trying to cross it off because he believes so many things are truly majestic. In the end ‘Witnessing Something Truly Majestic” isn't crossed off until the two men are in coffee cans on top of a mountain.

            To witness something truly majestic is a great feat in life, and I hoped I would accomplish it on my journey in Europe. After this weekend I feel as if I have honestly witnessed something truly majestic.

            Last week after my first class, two of my roommates asked our teacher where a good place to go camping would be. The teacher directed us to the small town of Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountain National Reservation. Two of the guys from our class who also happen to be our next door neighbors overheard and wanted to come. We decided that weekend we were going to do it, before it got too cold in the season.

At the Visitors Center

            After a couple bumps in the planning and figuring out bus schedules, finding a tent, and obtaining enough blankets, we decided to leave on Saturday morning for the 11:30 bus. We stopped at a spar (7-11) on the way to the bus to grab some food, really not the best camping food, but food none the less. Then six of us Colin, Ted, Will, Ellen, Anna and I hopped on the bus and made our way to Glendalough. After about an hour bus ride we were there and had no idea what was in store.
After buying a map we figured out where we thought the best place to camp would be. We made our way towards Upper Lake along the paved road, and then stopped at Miner’s City. So many old torn and worn down graves but beautiful stone work were to be found, it was just really interesting.

Monastic City

Monastic City

One of the Graves

A Monk's Tower

        










       











 We continued on, passed Lower Lake and before we knew it, we were at Upper Lake.

Lower Lake

The Paved/Gravel Trail

Upper Lake

The Gang at the Lake

Park at Upper Lake

I was surprised to see so many families and people just lounging around like it was Central Park. I guess if I lived nearby I would probably also just come here to do homework, read a book, or just sit and relax with family or friends. As we made our way to the south side of the lake it was blocked off,

so we went around to the North side and followed another paved road, enjoying the view of the lake the whole way.

North Side of Upper Lake

I wasn't sure of where we would end up, and I know most of us were concerned about where we were going to pitch the tent. Will kept saying he wanted to follow the waterfall, the whole way up between the two mountains, through the valley. I was worried about going off the trail at all, especially between two mountains.

Reaching the End of the Lake

            As we came to the end of the lake, and out of the trees my breath was taken away with how gorgeous a sight lie before me. The mountains were so green, and yet had so many rocks, and then the water was just rolling in the wind. I could not stop taking pictures. The only word going through my head was majestic, this was truly majestic. We kept going on the trail and it got more and more rocky. There were a couple of ruined buildings, and the wind was picking up, but we kept going.

As I said, Breathtaking

One of the ruins at the base of the Mountain

           About halfway up the mountain the three boys wanted to cut over to the waterfall to check it out. They ended up following that up to the top while the three of us girls followed the zigzagging path which paralleled the water.

Ellen Resting Halfway Up

On the way up we all kept hearing the screams of the mountain climbers- the tough ones though who were literally going up the sheer sides of the cliffs with helmets, and ropes. They weren't scary screams like someone dying, more like screams of success, but it was still startling to hear.

Mountain Climbers

After getting to the top of the pass, where the bridge lies to take you up to the cliff trail we veered off into the grass to find a good place to set up our tent. We kept an eye on the ground avoiding the marshy grass and random holes and creek openings. I was in the back because I kept stopping to take pictures, and really take in the magnitude of the mountains. I looked ahead of me at one point and Will and Ted were out of view and I could only see Colin and Ellen’s heads above a rock. I was very confused. As I got closer and followed Anna down a little path I entered the perfect camping site. The creek or what we called our babbling brook was widened, but we were in between a large grouping of rocks to block some of the wind, and there was a large grassy area that was all patted down. Plenty of room for our tent, and room for us all to sit down and relax, without being seen from the trail, but still a great view.

             We took a break and ate some food, and sat around just talking. Colin summed it up the best saying “This is exactly what I wanted my study abroad experience to be like, and I was so worried it wouldn't. I thought everyone would just want to go to the pub every night, and not want to travel or even just go camping for the weekend. I am so glad though I am not the only one, and I am so happy we did this.”

View from the tent, plus my feet!
Thanks again for the shoes mom

After filling our bellies after a great hike, we decided to head up the valley a little more to see what else we could see. Just taking in the views, goofing off, stepping in the mud, and truly feeling so separated from everything was an incredible feeling. We were in the middle of this huge valley and I couldn't take in enough of it.

Our Little Tent In the Valley

Ellen, Anna, Colin, Ted, and Will (who never likes to make a serious face)

Anna walking back to the site

Caught him smiling!

Just being silly!

Colin enjoying the view

Heading back

Feral Goat

       
     Coming up the mountain we had seen a bunch of feral goats, and sheep, but in our campsite we started to see huge herds of deer. After a while they seemed very confused, and we realized we had probably taken their spot for the night. After the sun went down one deer stood on top of the mountain silhouetted looking down on us, it was breathtaking.

Ted entertaining us

          We all just sat around getting to know each other, until after the sun went down Ellen constantly asking us all questions, favorite band, favorite song, favorite memory, anything with a favorite option Ellen wanted to know the answer.

               The clouds were covering the sky for a while but then suddenly as if just for us, the clouds just cracked right opened and we saw so many stars. Laying back in this valley, looking at the stars, and listening to the babbling brook was a moment no one can take away from me. It was all too perfect. I saw a shooting star and three satellites, Venus, the Dipper’s and the North Star.

               Being all so tired, and not having a fire, we decided it was bed time. It was early, early like 10:30, but we wanted to get an early start in the morning. The six of us piled into the four person tent, and none of us really got the best sleep. The wind was loud, there weren't enough blankets, the brook was very loud, the ground was hard, and there really wasn’t enough space. We all woke up at 7am, got up moved around, rearranged the blankets, and then everyone was warm and cozy and we all slept again until 9am. It was wonderful.

We Left Our Mark

             When I woke up in the morning, I felt like Snow White. Waking up to the sound of the brook and looking out over the field I could see the goats, sheep and deer, it was wonderful. We packed up the site, and made our way back down to the trail.

             

At the trail we decided we had enough time to continue the up the second mountain instead of going down the way we came. The sun was behind a light film of clouds, and there was hardly any wind, it was so serene walking up the side of this mountain.

Hearing the goats, and sheep echoing around us, and only passing a few other early morning hikers, I felt like I couldn't catch my breath, it was all too gorgeous.

The path behind me

I got nervous passing the danger sign but I knew I had to keep going because the view would be worth it, and by golly it was. So many shades of green, the rolling water, and rolling hills. I had to stop and just take it all in.

The group going to the edge...too scary for me!

Pictures just don't do it justice!

The Boys

The path ahead of me, and the stunning view

Upper Lake, Lower Lake, and the Rolling Hills

Just taking in the View

It was impossible not to stop and take in the view!!!

They really don't like taking photos!

Coming halfway down the mountain we decided to take the wooded trail down to the river path, and before we knew it we were back down at Upper Lake. Part of me wished we had stayed up on top of the mountain trail longer but we figured we had probably seen the best views we could, so we followed the deer. Instead of completely following the road back around lower lake we took the boardwalk around the north side, and saw even more deer. I was also able to catch a last view at the mountains.

Boardwalk

         

                We ended up waiting back at the visitor’s center and only had to wait about ten minutes for the bus. We were then given the upsetting news that the bus back to Dublin wasn't until 5:30pm and it wasn't even one yet. The bus driver was really nice though and took us to the neighboring town Roundwood, and told us he would pick us up here at 5:30 so we wouldn't have to wait in Glendalough. We took one hour in The Coach House Pub which was perfect because they had two huge leather couches we could relax in, have some pints, and eat a little food. We then moved on, stopped at a farmer’s market, and then decided to try to find somewhere outside to relax and rest. It was such a nice day we didn't want to waste it inside. We started towards the cemetery seeing many friendly Irish Dogs, one who I swear had my old dog Molly’s spirit. We got to the cemetery but across from it was a huge field that looked out over the hills. It was labeled as a shooting field, but seemed too short to us, so we figured it was someone’s sheep field. Anyway it was a nice two to three hours of relaxing, sleeping and telling more stories.

                Before we knew it, it was five o’clock and we headed back to the Roundwood House Inn to wait for the bus. Back on the bus in no time, and then we were back in Dublin, and then soon enough back at our apartment. It was an amazing trip, I feel like I know the guys so much better now, and I feel as if I am going to be making some really lasting experiences on this trip. Just my first of many weekend trips and it was amazing; I cannot wait for the rest!

Carefully, Thomas lifts A FROZEN CHOCK FULL O' NUTS can from its resting place in the hole beneath the stone. He smiles as if greeting an old friend. He brushes off some frost, then sets the can on the snow.Thomas reaches into his backpack and removes a SECOND CHOCK FULL O' NUTS CAN wrapped in plastic. Atop the can he lays the nearly completed Bucket List. All of the items have been crossed off, save for one: 'WITNESS SOMETHING TRULY MAJESTIC." He crosses it off with Edward's red pen, places the worn list on top of the cans, then replaces the rock over the cans. 

Thomas witnessed something truly majestic, he finally crossed off the last item on the Bucket List. As I got on the bus and left Glendalough I knew I had witnessed something truly majestic and if that were on my bucket list, I could have easily crossed it off.