Club walk Sunday 28th April

Section of the Wicklow Way.
Grade: Moderate (hill walk). A to B. Duration: 4.5 hours. Meet Gullane's car park at 7.45am to depart 8am sharp. Boots, full gear, packed lunch, water/refreshments, change of clothes etc. required. Leader: Frances Leahy.

Tick Talk

Just a quick reminder to all to be tick aware and check your skin after a walk. Plenty has been written on the dangers of tick bites and the consequences of being bitten (see links below), so the following is intended as general information only.   

A tick on human skin
(pic: www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk)

These tiny creatures, no bigger than the head of a pin, are typically found in woodland, forestry, on bogs and bogland, in rough pasture and in gardens/parks with shrubs. They are most active between March and October, although they can occur during a mild winter. Ticks cannot jump or fly but humans and animals come into contact with them by brushing against vegetation. The tick may not bite immediately and can spend time on the skin looking for a suitable site to feed from. Ticks feed on blood. Their bite is usually painless and most people will only know they have been bitten if they happen to see the tick attached to them. Adults are most often bitten around the legs but  it's important to remember that the tick can travel, so check everywhere.  

Erythema migrans or Bull's eye rash
(pic: www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk) 

Ticks carry a number of infections, including Lyme Disease, which has extremely serious consequences for a person's long term health. Although not all ticks carry the infection, all tick bites should be considered as posing a risk of infection. The most recognised sign of infection is a rash known as Erythema migrans, more commonly known as 'Bull's eye rash' which is a roughly circular red rash, without itching or pain, that slowly spreads outwards (see pic).  

To prevent being bitten,  keep to paths and avoid walking through deep vegetation. Keep covered up to make it harder for ticks to reach your skin. Check for ticks regularly and brush off any you see on your clothing before they have a chance to bite. Insect repellents are available. Check skin carefully all over for ticks. Pay attention to folds in the skin and other areas where a tick could hide, especially behind the knee, under the arms and in the groin. Ticks can also survive on clothing.

   
In summary:

• Ticks can be very small and can go unnoticed

• They are most active from March to October, but they can be present in vegetation during a mild winter

• You will not feel the tick attach to you, so check your skin during and after a walk

• Take preventative action by covering up/using insect repellent/washing clothing after walk 

• If you have been bitten, remove the tick or ticks promptly and properly without squashing it/them

• Seek medical advice if rash appears or/and if you develop flu-like symptoms, aching joints/stiffness/headache

Check out these links for more information: 

https://www.mountaineering.ie/hillwalking/ticks/

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/l/lyme-disease/

Rosway Lanzarote Walking Week

Twenty Rosway walkers are embarking on a 6 day walking outing to Lanzarote from the 27^th May to the 1^st June inclusive. The walks programme consists of A & B walks from 3hrs up to 6hrs duration. The A walks will involve some climbing and challenging trails while the B walks will be mostly flat and less challenging. Back in 2105 the Club were also in Lanzarote for a walking week which mostly concentrated on the southern & eastern sides of the island, whereas this year the northern and western areas will be explored. Transport to and from the start/finish points will be by hired bus from our base in Puerto Del Carmen. Also this year one of the walks is on the Island of La Graciosa which is off  the extreme northern end of Lanzarote. We will be getting a ferry across which will give great views along the coastline and the spectacular Famara Cliffs. Normally when visiting Lanzarote, it’s the beaches and the resorts that visitors see but the Rosway Walkers will trek through areas that most people never visit. Some fantastic views will be had from a number of miradores (scenic view points) situated on a number of the most elevated points of the Island. It won’t be all about the walking. As per usual the Rosway crew will eat, drink and make merry and show the other nationalities how to really party. The photographs below show some of the areas and sights that we will explore. Hopefully the walkers will abide by the rule that what happens on holidays stays on holidays as the truth could be hard to live down afterwards ??::{].  What will the weather be like is a frequently asked question about active holidays on Lanzarote and the answer is that once you move inland and gain a bit of high ground there is always a nice African breeze blowing which makes the hiking conditions very pleasant. Drinking loads of water and using lots of sunscreen is vital in order to avoid dehydration and sunburn. When we return we will report on most of what happened (not all) and hopefully each walker will have a memorable trip. 

Author: Liam Roche

The Mirador Del Rio, probably the most iconic viewpoint in Lanzarote. A visitor centre , restaurant and viewing area built on the side of the Famara Cliffs. A must see and we will explore this area on one of our walks. Photo: L. Roche

View from the Mirador. Photo: L. Roche