Duiker & Mount Nyonyane, Mlilwane

August 9 to 11, 2025

The trackless Sahara from the plane 

Dusk over the Congo

Waning gibbous moonrise over the Congo basin

Mt Nyonyane: Our destination 

Trail goes on a ladder over the fence 

On the trail

Steeper trail approaching the summit

Summit views

South through the reserve

North to Sheba's breasts

West into the reserve

East across the Ezulwini Valley

Late winter blooms

Back over the fence

Waterbok

Red Duiker in the garden

Wicklow Mountain National Park

July 3 & 4, 2025

Plan A for Ireland was to climb Slieve Donard, the tallest peak in the North;  cloud cover too low. Plan B was to kayak at Ballyvaughan in Galway Bay; too windy. We opted for Plan C: hiking in Wicklow Mountain National Park, south of Dublin. Public transit was not an option, so we took a car to the White Hill/Djouce (1) trail head. 

The trail rises steeply to a lookout over Lough Tay, then follows a ridge north. Repurposed railway ties (sleepers) from Irish rail make an interesting boardwalk protecting the peat. Looped metal brackets provide traction when it rains. On the ridge, white bags had both trail repair materials and wool shorn from the sheep grazing on the hills 

The trail steepens again as the Djouce summit approached. The rocky, windy summit offers views deep into the Wicklow Mountains and far out to the Irish Sea. We were glad to have lugged middle layers and wind breakers (hitherto unused in the European heatwave) around Europe. We shared the summit with a group of four Irish soldiers. There were more hikers heading up as we descended on the same trail. About 4.5 miles and 1,000 foot vertical gain.

We had booked a sunset paddle to see the seals at Dalkey, south of Dublin. The guide and kayaks were a no-show, so we walked, then drove, along the sea through the toney suburbs south of Dublin before heading back to County Wicklow.

The next morning (July 4) we poked about Malahide Castle and Garden north of Dublin before catching our afternoon flight home.

(1) Pronounced something like house, with a hard J at the beginning 

Lough Tay

Repurposed rail sleepers protecting the peat on the trail.

Views on the trail

A raven of some sort in the summit wind at Djouce.

We must be in Ireland. Rubbish at the summit provides evidence of someone having a cuppa

Descending

Windswept flowers

Bullock Harbour, kayak tour guide was a no show 

Entrance to Dublin Harbor

Dalkey Island, where we would have paddled 

At Malahide Castle

Shades of yellow in the Castle Gardens

Ready for the Fingal Music Festival at the weekend

The Glockenspiel in Munich

July 2, 2025

A hot morning in Füssen. I tried to order breakfast in German, to the amusement of the counter person. After a gentle stroll through the small city centre, we returned to the station, where the same counter woman said "Welcome back," and pointed at various signs so she could test my German pronunciation. I'm sure I failed, but she smiled.

Most trains leaving Füssen require a connection to Munich. Given the transfer follies of two days ago, we opted for one of the few direct trains to Munich. After a sausage and sauerkraut lunch, we poked into a few churches until 5:00 when the Glockenspiel in the Rathaus tower goes. The upper display features fairgoers walking past the king and queen, followed by two jousting knights as the bells play. The lower display follows, with jesters dancing. Off to the airport for a late flight to Dublin.

Metal diorama of Füssen was hot in the sun

Back to Munich on the direct train

Old city gate

St. Michael's Church 

Picture of the church in late 1944

Toy museum

The Glockenspiel

Late flight to Dublin