IRELAND E2E: 05/25/19

After a lovely breakfast of Pancakes and honey I left our farmhouse B&B with a fresh scone in my pocket for lunch. Murray was off with Farmer John to inspect a newly born calf from his beef cattle herd. Overcast but dry and warm, perfect cycling weather. I was hugging the coast today following the Wild Atlantic way, past the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren so expecting more tourist traffic. Firstly though past Spanish Point where more than a 1000 spanish men were lost after their Armada ships were wrecked on the reefs. Making good progress, a tailwind or as Farmer John said " May the wind always be on your backside", I couldn't agree more ! On nearing the Cliffs of Moher the mist came rolling in from the Atlantic and I could hardly see 50 yards in front of me, lights on !! No sign of the cliffs in the mist but a great chat with the lovely Michael who works there. He thought it a great laugh that I was on the road dodging the Tourist buses, he told me about the Burren, "limestone rock, where you couldn't bury the dead, hardly a blade of grass." He was right, what a fascinating place, slab upon slab, stone upon stone as far as the eye could see ( and that wasn't far ). No rain, just this mist but clearing gradually. A beautiful route, the wild Atlantic rolling in on my left, the Burren on my right. Then suddenly I was in amongst runners, there was a Marathon on, the road Marshalls clapping me and cheering me on. I stopped at one of the refreshment tables and spoke to the lovely John, who was most impressed with my bike, and me too I think ? Murray had been in touch and was cycling out to meet me so with 13 miles to go we met just by chance, at a Chocolate Factory and cafe. As I hadn't stopped all day we went in and I had the most gorgeous creamy cake and green tea. Now for the last 13 miles, feeling restored, powering along at 17 mph. Tonight we went to a nearby pub for dinner and got talking to the local guys at the next table, everyone talks to you here. They were the local cycling club "Challenge CC" and were interested in my journey. The lovely Eoin is now following my progress on Strava, great craic. Another great route, rolling hills with a few steep ramps but what atmosphere up on the Burren. Have left county Clare and now in Galway. Loving it.