Parasols and Cocktail Parties

I decided to switch out some of my hiking gear for the remainder of the trip. Most notably was my rainjacket and hiking outfit. I switched to an umbrella instead of a rain jacket. I also switched to a hiking dress instead of pants/t-shirt combo.

My new hiking attire.

It works for me, and the umbrella provides shade as well as rain protection.  Indeed, my umbrella is my new best hiking partner, so much so that I have given her a name: Poulnabrone Bumbershoot. Where you may ask did I come up with such an unusual name? Well, as I was hiking along enjoying the shade from my umbrella, I thought about how convenient it was to have portable shade.

My shade goes wherever I go!

This got me thinking about portable tombs. What you may ask is a portable tomb? Well, in reality:  nothing. 

However when visiting Poulnabrone Dolmen in Ireland, which is a "portal tomb," some other tourists read the sign out loud as "portable tomb." Now is you are standing there reading the sign, this is what you see before you:

Not very portable, though it would provide lovely shade underneath.  Also, what exactly one would do with a portable tomb is rather unclear. This was what was running through my head as I hiked along enjoying the shade from my umbrella. And so her name became Poulnabrone, the portable shade. And she needed a last name, so bumbershoot was the logical surname of choice given her occupation (favorite usage of the word occurring in Aristocats).

Poulnabrone became elevated from a mere umbrella to a lofty parasol by a police sergeant from Long Island, out for the weekend on the trail, who exclaimed "You have a parasol!" when I went hiking by. He later commented to me that I arrived at the shelter (after a rather steep climb) looking ready for a cocktail party. I don't know about you, but I don't usually go to cocktail parties (at all) with my sweaty hair plastered to my head, wearing a dress with hot chocolate spilled down the front and caterpillar guts on the butt (I accidentally sat on one and it has proven difficult to wash out of the awkward location on my behind.).

Such have been some of my adventures so far. Two days ago I was met by my fabulous friends Prairie Dog and Dragonfly, whom I fittingly am spending the 4th of July with after spending it with them last year on the trail. Yesterday Prairie Dog took me into the city, as in NYC, which was fun and very different from the trail.

On the Staten Island ferry.

In Times Square.

Today is my first real zero day (yesterday doesn't count since we walked about 6 miles around town!) and I timed it just right so that I am in town rather than hiking in the rain!

Happy 4th to all!

~Little Bird