> [ Edited: 10/9/2025 this is a repost of a series i wrote in 2022, migrating it to the new nostr website ]

May 24, 2022

My dad and I shared a love for walking. Even as young as 4, I remember walking hand in hand around the corner to fetch a newspaper. That may in fact be one of my earliest memories. As I became an adult, we continued to walk around my childhood neighborhood, talking about life and our ambitions. On one walk he shared a book he had just read called “The Irish Way” about an 80 year old gentleman that walked the length of Ireland, from Donegal to Cork: we also shared a love of Ireland.

> my dad and bill on what i assume is easter sunday

He had dreamt of walking the entire Irish coastline, over the course of a year abroad. But unfortunately, he never conquered that bucket list item. During his last years, our neighborhood walks got shorter as his breathing grew harder. He would often look at me as we paused a moment to catch his breath, “I guess I’m getting old.” We didn’t realize his sarcoidosis caused pulmonary fibrosis, which hardened his lungs slowly over the years making breathing more of a chore than involuntary function.

Even when he was just out of the hospital with an oxygen tank by his side, he would look at me wide-eyed and excitedly ask how many miles I just ran. Or ask about upcoming races, wanting to know all about the course and what difficulties I foresaw. I could see the joy in his eyes as he was walking/running/moving vicariously through me. He longed to have his lung capacity back, to be able to do one of his favorite things: take a long walk. Well, two of his favorite things: take a long long walk while SINGING.

> The Ireland Coast to Coast Hike (~387 miles)

In his memory, in celebration of movement, and in respect to my lungs, I am hiking and wild-camping Ireland Coast to Coast, which extends 387 miles from Dublin across the southern countryside to Dursey Island, County Cork over a roughly 20 day period starting May 26th. I will refrain from singing the entire hike through the still wilderness, but I can’t promise I won’t belt out a few songs from the *Papa Flounders playlist *— just too many gems on there.

I’m very excited, but I am also more nervous than I think I’ve ever been. I have never been this alone for this long. I have never camped by myself, nor ever traveled to a different country by myself. It’s actually quite terrifying if I stop to think about it too long, but I know that I am stubbornly going to feel great when I first set sight on the Atlantic Ocean on the horizon after 20 days with only my thoughts. I can do this… and if I can’t, well, I’m sure I can find a nearby pub.

> almost ready? (…i think)

During this walkabout, I hope to connect with nature, with my Irish roots, with myself. I will remember and honor my dad and brother Bill as I scatter some of their ashes along my trek. As my mom said to me shortly before leaving, “With you you’ll have Dad’s love and patience, Billy’s fearlessness and courage and strength, and my love.” I also think I’ll have my buddy Pat Mulhern’s gift of the Irish gab. Pat sadly passed away on the same day, a year later, that Bill did, in May 2021. He often brought up the idea of our softball team (The Specific Jawns) traveling together in Ireland, but that never got past post-game bar discussions. I miss the times I’d get happily lost in Pat’s (long-winded) explanations of Irish history. I’m sure I’ll meet many characters that remind me of these loved ones on my route.

[**EDIT 2025: **this gofundme has been closed!]

Lastly, I am also hiking to raise money for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation as they seek a cure and advance palliative treatments. I’ll keep the fundraiser open through November. Why? For my first time ever, I am also running the Philadelphia Marathon! That’s 26.2 miles of pure running bliss (hah!). This hike therefore is a precursor to what probably will be even more grueling and constant movement, which starts shortly after I return (right, Coach Lauren? I pray I don’t get injured in Ireland lest I face her wrath).

Please consider donating, if able. If you can’t, totally cool. But do me a favor either way, and **take a 5 mile walk through your neighborhood **down roads you haven’t been down and think of my dad, my brother, someone you lost and loved… and your own life goals. As my dad always said, “You never really know a place until you’ve walked it.” Follow along as I travel on this (old-school!) blog. I won’t be posting to social media because I am trying to stay off it for a full year (or forever). I think it rots brains, and I just want to see how I feel without it. (So far, so great). I don’t mind if you share, and I gladly accept notes of encouragement! And with that… I’m off. Sláinte!

> #### “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” -John Muir

> me and pops

#travel #ireland2022