Kit and Ric got off to their usual early start — before breakfast — and stopped a little beyond the half-way point. The story of the journey, of course, is between those points.
Reporters: Contact before using resources here, please.
Happy to give fresh interviews.
Readers: The Intro to this series if needed. Enjoy!
The Media
The interview I did yesterday resulted in a nice report today:
The reporter was a hoot. “You’re a legend!” she exclaimed at the end, “this is perfect.” That was due, I think, to my answer to her last question (“How do you feel about being close to leaving NI?”): “We’ll actually miss it!” I replied. “But the medicine for it will be pretty terrific: getting to see new places we never would have seen, meet new people, and warm up! Someday we’ll tell people that even though we’re from Colorado, one of the coldest winters we spent was a summer in Belfast!”
Recognition
It being a Sunday, Kit thought, brought out a lot of bicyclists, usually riding in groups. They would “wave big” and “hoot” at Kit and Ric as they went by. “I think they realized who we are from news coverage,” she said.
Kit had ended yesterday wondering “how far they’ll have to go before locals don’t know what ‘ship people’ means.”
The answer: farther. If she wasn’t quite convinced by the joyful hooting, she was with the next encounter, about which she texted to me after it was over.
LOL! Ric & I *are* famous.
We’re sitting in a wee garden enjoying a cup of coffee and a food bar taking in the sun as it comes out.
A couple walked by and the husband reported to his wife, “those are the people walking to Derry.” That was enough to get us talking.
And we have a recommendation for yet another place to stay tonight.
Ric sent me a photo of the couple. John is also a walker: for his 75th birthday (unclear when that was), he walked the entire length of Ireland.
Mary Ann is American, and went to school in Colorado: they’ve been together 51 years.
And the place they recommended for the night? Our heroes went there. Tonight’s lodging is Seamus Heaney’s old house in Magherafelt. A writer, Heaney (1939–2013) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995 for “works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past.” His house is now, obviously, an inn (the Laurel Villa Guest House).
“Wonderful innkeepers,” she says. There will apparently be more about them tomorrow. Watch for it soon!
The poor dear has to sleep in this space:
Total Mileage Today: 13.2 again. Previous subtotal: 24.2. Running Total: 37.4
Last Updated September 15, 2024
Originally Published September 15, 2024
- About the Author
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Randy is the co-founder of Residential Cruising, and is best known as the founder of the oldest entertainment feature on the Internet, This is True. He and his wife, Kit, are to live full-time on the Residential Cruising ship Villa Vie Odyssey starting September 2024, where they will be “Digital Nomads” — continuing their work while aboard the ship.
Poor Kit had to sleep *THERE*?!?!?! The *HORROR*!!! 😁🤣😜
Kit & Ric are now “famous” — COOL! I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Kit finds that “ship people” are known all the way to Derry. You’ve all had enough press coverage for that. Happy that they’re enjoying themselves & that the weather is cooperating. Love your “one of the coldest winters we spent was a summer in Belfast” line! 😁🤣😜
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At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if people in Bermuda will know who the “ship people” are by the time we get there! -rc
I suspect that, in a bit, the “ship people” will be as famous as the Gander “Come From Away”s.
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I suspect we’ll be quickly forgotten, and that’s OK. -rc
I hope you are having as much fun writing about your adventure as I am reading about. You make me feel like I, too, am on the cutting edge of a new industry.
Thanks!
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I definitely envisioned this site as a resource, not just a blog. -rc
Ah yes, the sheet/ duvet combo. Can’t get used to that. Love my layers, too.
Would love to see a stat on how far they have to go, as well as ground covered.
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I’m gonna make you do that math yourself: the whole trek is about 70 miles (noted in the intro). -rc
Frankly, Villa Vie ought to be hiring you as a publicist — you are doing a better job at it than they are!
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Communications is …not their strong suit. -rc
I am proud to be able to say that I personally know two of the “ship people.” Lucky me!
Looking so forward to hearing more of the adventures.
Yep, what an “awful” place to have to sleep.
We are loving following Kit’s Derry adventure! She is my hero! Can’t wait for the next installment. 👣
Melody and I are also astounded that none of the Hotels and apartments have top sheets…. just comforters (duvets)…. which we also agree are always too hot…!!!
Thank you for introducing me to Seamus Heaney. A hole in my knowledge collection.
Ooo… that’s such a beautiful room!
I’m curious– how many sets of clothes does Kit carry with her on such a long walk? I’m guessing laundry is not possible because they are on the go all the time, but carrying 4 days’ change of clothes would be SO heavy! I’m not a hiker so I have no clue. However if that’s too personal a question, please ignore it! 😬
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She may reply with more detail later, but I think she generally brings one change of socks & underwear, and washes the days’ pairs in the sink before bed so they’re mostly dry by morning. -rc
While the delays in departure have certainly been frustrating for you. These “walking reports” bring a smile to my face each and every time.
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It’s been fun for me too! Glad you’re enjoying them. -rc
Like Kit, I also sleep “hot.” I have actually asked for a duvet cover without the stuffing and have been accommodated in some hotels. Don’t know if a B&B would have the extra bedding available. If not, I have removed the duvet cover and only use it, putting the heavy duvet aside.
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Exactly what we do: just use the cover with the quilt pulled out. -rc
Really enjoying reading about Kit’s adventures, what are you doing to keep yourself occupied whilst she is away? Apart from telling us readers all about it?
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That takes several hours per post: going through the photos, talking with Kit, writing it up, laying it out to squeeze in lots of pics. But mostly, I’m doing the day to day work running This is True, my day job. -rc