Wet Mountain

When I tell people I live in the far west of Ireland, out on the Dingle Peninsula, their first response is usually ?You?re so lucky, that sounds lovely.? Then, when I?ve explained a bit more about it, and showed them where Cloghane is on a map, they change their tune slightly, and ask, ?Doesn?t it get a bit boring?? To which my answer is invariably a variation on ?no, not in the slightest.? Ok, it?s not exactly Tralee, let alone Dublin , but when I?m sitting outside the pub on a warm summer evening, looking out over the little bay with a pint of Guinness in my hand, I know I wouldn?t want to live anywhere else.When I was a kid my parents owned one of the three pubs in the village, and when they retired, the year after I left university, I came back home to run it myself. At first, my da moaned that I was wasting my life, coming back here instead of making a career in the big city, but underneath I could tell he was glad I was keeping the family business going. I just kept on where they?d left off, with the same local staff, attracting the same regulars all year round, and letting rooms to visitors during the summer.One of the reasons people come to Cloghane is for the walking. It?s a perfect base for climbing Brandon Mountain , which at 3123 feet is the second highest peak in Ireland. If it was in Scotland it?d be a ?Munro?, and people who?ve bagged all the Scottish ones often come to Ireland to mop up the four 3000-foot peaks that we?ve got. And they often stay in my pub, which makes me enough money to keep me going over the winter when things are much quieter.As it is, we have busy weeks and quiet ones, and this was definitely a quiet one. The advantage is that it gave me a bit of time to myself. On the day I?m telling you about, I?d promised myself a walk up Brandon , assuming the weather was fine. Situated as it is right on the coast, Brandon ?s known as a ?wet mountain?, which means that it?s often topped with clouds blowing in off the sea, and of course this rather spoils the view from the top. But when it?s clear, it?s the most beautiful view you?ll get anywhere, and well worth the few hours hike it takes to get there.The weather forecast had been promising, though, and although when I got up the sky was still slightly overcast, experience had taught me that there was a fair chance it would clear up perfectly by lunchtime. So I left the pub in the more than capable hands of Ardal, my head barman, and set off. I just stuffed a light waterproof into my back-pack, along with a bottle of water and some sandwiches, and reckoned I was ok for the day.Although I knew the route well, I still took a map and compass just to be on the safe side. I know a lot of people these days rely on modern GPS devices to get around in the hills, but I prefer to reply on the old methods. Besides, the story goes that last year some guy was found stone dead at the bottom of a 200-foot cliff without a map, but with a broken GPS nearby, and all the locals reckon he wandered off the cliff in the mist because the GPS told him there was a path. Seems a bit far-fetched to me, but you never know.I confess I cheated slightly at the start, and drove in my car up to the farm halfway up the valley near Faha, which saved me a tedious hour?s trudge along the road up to where the path branches off into the fields. Farmer Hackett was always happy for me to leave the car in his yard, which was even better. He was fiddling about under the bonnet of his Land Rover when I pulled in, and we exchanged a few words.?I should be back by six, Jack, as long as the weather stays fine.??Have a good walk, Siobhan. I wish I could join you, but you know how it is, istanbul travesti there?s always something needs doing.??Sure do, Jack. Thanks again ? there?s a pint on the house for you next time you?re passing.? That was a joke, since it was a rare evening when he wasn?t in the pub, having ?just the one.?For once, the forecast was right, and by ten o?clock the sun was blazing down and I?d put on my hat. I wished I didn?t have to wear such a heavy pair of boots, but the route I was taking was rough and uneven, and a lightweight pair wouldn?t have been suitable. Still, my t-shirt and shorts were pretty thin and designed to wick off the sweat, so I wasn?t too bothered. I didn?t bother with a bra either; my tits are pretty tiny to be honest, so don?t need the support, and it?s much nicer walking without one. Sometimes, when it?s really warm and I?m sure I?m alone, I walk topless. I love the feeling of the sun on my nipples, but anyone who sees me from a distance will just think I?m a small bloke, especially with my short blonde hair. I think I must be a bit of an exhibitionist at heart.My route followed the river upstream along the valley, and by about eleven o?clock the river had become more of a stream. The path, after ascending gently for a few miles, was starting to get steeper as the side of the valley got higher and rockier, and I was getting warmer. I knew that the path crossed the steam just up ahead, and after that there was a long not-too-steep section that led up past a sequence of paternoster lakes, so called because they?re lined out along the valley bottom like a string of rosary beads ? how very Catholic of them! This led up to the top of the valley, where the stream flowed out from the last of the lakes. After that, there was a final very steep climb to the col just below the summit, where I planned to have lunch. My idea was then to retrace my steps back to the lake, before taking a slightly different route back to my car.So far, I hadn?t seen anyone else at all since I got up into the valley. That wasn?t too unusual at this time of year, and it suited me just fine. I don?t mind walking with just one companion, but I can?t see the pleasure in going out with a large party, and when I?m by myself I can set my own pace, stop when I fancy, and generally suit myself.So I was a bit surprised when I came round a corner to see another walker, closely examining a map spread over a large rock. At first, he didn?t notice me, so intent was he on his map, but the click of my boots on the rocky path made him look up with a start. For a second, he looked a bit surprised to see me, and gave me a slightly nervous smile. He looked to be in his twenties, not bad looking I suppose; a good pair of legs in his shorts anyway.?Hello,? he said, ?It?s a lovely day, isn?t it??The etiquette about talking to other random walkers is a bit delicate. In my view, you should always say hello whenever you meet or pass someone, but there?s really no obligation to stop and chat ? and most people out walking don?t want it anyway. If they wanted a conversation, they?d stay at home and go to the pub. This even applies when the person you meet is, as on this occasion, an eminently fanciable member of the opposite sex who you?d quite happily spend some time with if you met them in other circumstances. So I was ready to walk on past, when he spoke again.?I?m not lost or anything,? he said, ?at least I don?t think so, but I don?t suppose you could confirm I am where I think I am. I mean, I just want to check I?m on the right path.? He gave me a slightly embarrassed smile, which made him look rather cute. I was quite istanbul travesti flattered to be asked, to be honest ? everyone knows how men hate asking for directions, and he must have thought I looked as if I knew what I was doing.?Sure,? I said. ?Where do you think you are?? ? a bit naughty really, because that meant he had to show me, which meant he?d look silly if he was wrong. But I wanted to reassure myself that he wasn?t a complete novice; that sort of person can be a right menace if they get themselves lost.?Just here,? he said, pointing on the map. ?I came over the arête on this path, but part of it had fallen away, so I had to swing left round here, and come down by a slightly different route, round by this outcrop. So I just wanted to check that I?d come down where I thought I had.?And it turned out he was exactly right. I gave myself a mental black mark for doubting his abilities; he clearly knew what he was doing.?You?re spot on,? I said, ?and that?s interesting about the path. I?ve not been up that way myself since last year, and there was some bad weather this winter. I guess it must have taken the path away.?I?m not sure why I said all that ? well I suppose I do ? I wanted to show that I know what I was talking about too.?Did you come up from over by Arraglen Farm then?? I said. ?You must have started early.??That?s right, although it wasn?t too bad, because they let me camp in the back field, so I didn?t have to come all the way up from the village. And they even gave me breakfast, which I wasn?t expecting?? He tailed off, as if he wasn?t sure if I wanted to chat.?That?s ok,? I smiled at him. ?They do get a few campers there, so they know how to look after them. I think Mrs O?Keefe gets a bit lonely, and likes the company. She knows how to talk, as I expect you found out.?He laughed. ?That?s one way of putting it. But I didn?t mind. She was really interesting, and gave me some useful tips about the best walking routes around here.?Whoops; we were starting to get on a bit too well for passing strangers.?Which way are you heading now?? I asked, although the answer was pretty obvious: up to the summit. He wouldn?t have been here if he hadn?t been going on up, especially if he?d come from Arraglen.?Oh, I?m going to the top,? he said, not surprisingly. ?But I guess the hard bit?s still to come.??It?s not too bad if you take it easy,? I said.There was one of those pregnant pauses.?Look,? he said, ?I expect you?re going that way yourself, since you came from down the valley. And you?ve come out for a hike by yourself, so the last thing you want is someone tagging along. So why don?t I give you a 15-minute head start ? I?m sure you?re a quicker walker than me anyway ? and perhaps you?ll meet me again on your way down.?That was so sweet and thoughtful; he seemed to think just like me. If he hadn?t given me another one of those friendly smiles, I might have gone along with this suggestion, but my stomach flipped and I knew I?d always regret it if I agreed. He?d spoken as if he wanted to walk with me, but was giving me a way out if I didn?t want to. But I knew I did.?Actually, I like a bit of company,? I said. ?I really don?t mind - if you don?t, that is.?Did he think I wanted to get off with him? After all, that?s what blokes are like ? always thinking they?re God?s gift to women. Mind you, he wasn?t bad looking - even if I didn?t even know his name yet. I decided I?d worry about that later. For the time being, he seemed happy to accept my company, and I had no problem with that.?I?m Siobhan, by the way.??And I?m David.?As we walked, I found out a bit more about him. He hadn?t istanbul travesti actually intended to come walking by himself, but his mate Bruce had had to drop out.?He really is an Australian ? can you believe it? Poor bugger! But we met at college, he?s a really good mate.?"Ok," I thought, "he?s letting me know he?s not gay. That's cool."So anyway, this mate Bruce had come down with a stomach bug at the last minute, and as all the travel tickets were booked, he thought he might as well come by himself. He needed a break, especially as he?d recently broken up with his girlfriend ?"Whoa ? he didn?t really need to tell me that. Unless he?s letting me know ? no, I?m reading way too much into an innocent comment? He?s good company, though, as well as good-looking."We reached the last of the paternoster lakes just after one o?clock. On a hot day like this it really did look very inviting, crystal clear and still. David dabbled his hand in.?It?s really warm on the surface,? he observed, ?but then it gets cold so quickly deeper down. Is it ok to drink???It?s grand,? I said. ?Probably better than the stuff that come out of the taps. I usually top up my water bottle from here. I?ve even swum in it a couple of times, on days very like this, but I never allow myself that particular luxury until the way back. Otherwise, I don?t think I?d ever get any further.??I get the hint,? he smiled. ?We?d better get on then.?As the path got narrower and steeper, he let me go ahead. The last ascent was very steep, a real scramble up a narrow almost vertical path. I told myself that he had no ulterior motive in letting me go first, but I think I was being too generous. From below, he must have got an excellent view of my tight firm backside and long legs. I knew what he?d be seeing; my thigh muscles tightening every time I pulled myself up; my buttocks straining against the material of my shorts; he?d be able to get a good look at the line of my panties ? Oh sod it, I was starting to get a bit wet between the legs just imagining it. Would he be able to see a little moist patch around my crotch, just where my pussy lips were? What would he think about that? I could feel little beads of perspiration forming on my legs, turning into little rivulets as they trickled down over my calves. How I?d have liked him to lick them off my bare skin, tasting their saltiness on his tongue.By the time we got to the top, I was feeling more than a little bit turned on by my fantasy. I flopped down on the grass at the top of the ridge, and out of the corner of my eye I saw him trying to manipulate a very stiff cock into as unobtrusive a position as possible inside his shorts as he joined me. So he had been ogling at my arse, the dirty sod.We took a short breather (I always kid myself I'm ?admiring the view?) before the last easy ascent along the ridge to the summit. Here, we shared lunches and enjoyed the view properly. I pointed out the different villages you could see: Brandon , Murreagh, Dunquin, the Blasket Islands off the western tip of the peninsula, round to the town of Dingle almost directly south of us, barely visible in the distance. The sun was high in the sky now, and very hot. We found a bit of shade behind the cairn at the highest point, and there was a bit of wind to take the edge off the heat. Even so, it was too hot to stay for long, so once David had taken a few photos from the summit (including one of me perched on top of the cairn ? he was very insistent that he wanted me in it), it was time to turn back.As usual, the steep vertical descent was trickier than the ascent, but we managed it without any mishaps. Once we were off the ridge, we were sheltered from the wind, and I started to get hot again. We?d both drunk our water by now, so a stop by the lake to fill up was clearly called for.By the time we got there, it was about three o?clock, and the sun was very hot. David filled his bottle and gazed at the clear water.