16. Jul 2025

Mucklagh Hut - Shillelagh

Photo 1: "Willy and the water filter"
It was for this hike yesterday and today that I knew I would need a water filter. From yesterday evening until when I left the river this morning, I filtered probably at least three liters. I drank as much as I could before I left, and filled my themos and water bottle to take with me. The thing is, I could only suck the water out of the bottle with the filter and then spit it in my themos to fill it. I then added a lemon-ginger tea bag to give it some flavor. It was the only source of water that I had until nearly the end of today's hike. Believe me, filteted mountain-water-lemon-ginger-spit-tea is a great thing to have when you are up a mountain on a warm sunny day without any other water resources!

Photos 2 - 3: Scenes from the Wicklow Way today. Not many people on the path here. I did have three young people come my way who were speaking German. They were from Austria. I stopped, we had a small God-talk, and I prayed for them.

Photo 4: The church in the small town Shillelagh, known for the traditional Irish wooden walking stick and club that has been handmade here for centuries. The special stick is called by the name of the town, the Shillelagh.

Photo 5: Shillelagh was my destination for today. I booked a bed at a small wooden blockhouse called Hunter's Lodge. The owner, Philomena, it turns out, is a follower of Jesus. I ate up all my food reserves on today's hike and was really glad to have the homemade meal that she offered to make me. Her place was an oasis after walking through the wilderness the past two days. If you ever need a place to stay in Shilelagh, be sure to go to Philomena's Hunter's Lodge.