Day 5: Clarinbridge to Castlebar. 57.2 miles, Elevation 1563 ft.

Sun was out, porridge and fruit for breakfast, feeling fit, all looking good for the day ahead, bit of a breeze !  A lot of club cyclists on the road in the Galway area this morning, large groups, romping along giving me a wave.  Suddenly some were cycling with me but turning off at a junction ahead where two ladies were directing them. Stopped for a chat with the lovely Julie and friend, it was a charity cycle from Cork to Roscommon in aid of Epilepsy, Tour de Gaggs, again all the change in my pocket. Good craic with both, Julie finding me on Instagram, "fair play to you, Janice, fair play".  The wind was getting up, full headwind from the NW, certainly not on my backside. Tough, head down,  getting it done, definitely a day for just getting from A to B. Such a shame as the sun was out and the route was undulating, should have been flying.  Rich farmland, I have never seen so many herds of beef cattle. I had planned my route to skirt Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, they were there to my left but I couldn't see them because of trees and high hedges, just catching a glimpse at the lough head, disappointing. Maybe for the best as the wind was buffeting me, at times almost bringing me to a standstill, at the lough side it would have been stronger. At a photo stop the wind blew the bike out my hand, clattering on the road, but thankfully no damage down. Really impressed with Mr Garmin, never putting a wheel wrong, guiding me through lanes, alleys and roads. Only stopped for about 5 mins to eat 2 biscuits, didn't feel hungry today. Hard going, shoulders, lower back, bum all sore. Give me hills and a tailwind any day over headwind and flat.  Just a grind.  Murray cycled about 17 miles today meeting up with me on his return to Castlebar. Ate a huge dinner tonight, always mashed potatoes, followed by a Mr Whippy 99, apparently the Irish love their ice cream. Think the wind should be on my backside tomorrow, hope so. Still loving it though.

The Lovely Murray...Getting ready for the road

Julie and Friend...Tour de Gaggs

Hope Not ???

Rolling farmland

2 Biscuit Lunch Stop

Mr Garmin

Route planner

Beautiful Church

Another amazing house in middle of no-where.

Lough...at last

It is really Murray's Guiness !

Turket, ham, stuffing, veg, mashed potatoes...ate the lot !

Day 4: Quilty to Clarinbridge. Wild Atlantic Way. 63.3 miles. Elevation 2977 ft.

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.

                                   

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At Cliffs of Moher

The Lovely Michael

Lights On !!!

Gorgeous Beaches

                             

The Burren

The Lovely John

Lighthouse Near galway

Rugged Route

Looking Over to Galway

Kinvare Village

For Rosie...couldn't resist !!

Dunguaire Castle

The Lovely Eoin and Friends

Day 3: Ballyheigue to Quilty. 51.4 Miles, Elevation 2176 ft.

Enjoyed breakfast looking out on the Atlantic with waves crashing in on the shoreline. Dull, drizzle in the air, warm and a wind hopefully from the south or west, hitting me side on as I make my way north.  In the morning my body tells me I have to eat but I really don't want much, forcing down poached eggs (protein), toast and tea. Once eaten though I feel so much better. Hopefully there will be fruit tomorrow.  A short way into the cycle the drizzle turned heavier and stayed with me to the Mouth of the Shannon where I was catching the Tarbert/Killimer Ferry. Countryside was undulating farmland with huge herds of cattle. I disturbed plenty dogs as I passed but fortunately all were behind gates or fences.  Beautiful, grand houses are everywhere, look so out of place. Mr Garmin was in his element whisking me along narrow, twisting back roads where very few people have been before and I made good time. Fortunately the Shannon ferry was running late and I literally arrived and walked on, 5 Euros to cross, 20 minutes. Huge queue of cars but I think everyone managed on, made me feel quite at home. 12.30pm and I was on the other side, now in County Clare with just 20 miles to go. Miraculously, in crossing the Shannon the rain had stopped and the sun was out.  Didn't feel like stopping for lunch so ate a couple of biscuits and kept going.  Then, of course, the dreaded detour, I was given the option by the lovely Declan of carrying my bike over 400 metres of chips or detouring a couple of miles. Detoured !!  Declan told me he had lived in London for 15 years but belonged to Ireland, the pull had proved too strong and he had returned. I asked him how far to Quilty and he said 20 miles, "What",  ok then maybe 10.  With 5 miles to go Murray met me and guided me to the B&B.  Again, overlooking the Atantic Ocean, the sun setting as I write. An easier day, no big hills.  All good, loving it !

Doonbeg

A Patriot

One of the Numerous Grand Houses

Shannon Ferry

Fuzzy Feels at Home

The Lovely Declan...."I should have put my cap on"

Our B&B Tonight

Murray Visiting Mr Trump

Murrays Dinner 

My Dinner...Irish Stew...Delicious

The Quilty Tavern

Day 2: Kenmare to Ballyheigue 52.5 miles, Elevation 3299 ft

On the road just after 9.00am, better.  Not so good was a warm, fine drizzle, still it wasn’t torrential, be positive. Heading from Cork into Kerry today and wondering whether to stick to my planned route of back roads, again advised by the Irish Cycling sadist or find an alternative. Firstly, I headed for Molls Gap on a surprising quiet main road, near the Gap I spotted a man pushing a pram packed with his worldly goods. I stopped to chat and received a warm welcome from Paul Llewelyn Franklin ( see. Facebook ) who is cycling/walking from Mizen Head to Malin Head and back again for Spinal Fusion. We had a great chat, he much admired the lightness of my bike, and I gave him all the change in my purse for his cause. Puts my little outing in perspective !!  Although he didn’t go over Priests Leap !! At Molls Gap I had to decide back roads or main road “ Oh what the hell, back roads “. I am so glad I did as this led me through the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks Range and the Gap of Dunloe, absolutely stunning.  Met a  German cyclist heading for Killarney, he asked ME for directions lol. The rain had gone off, the mist clung to the mountains, so atmospheric, silent... then as I crested my last ridge a horse and trap appeared round the corner. Perfect, struggling to get camera out. Then another three traps appeared....carrying tourists over the Gap. The drivers all greeting me and asking how I was. Just great, to be sure. The hills were hard but all doable today, no walking, so pleased I made the decision to come this way. Now on to more farming land, mostly cows and sheep, making good progress. Legs have felt fine but yesterday had sore shoulders and lower back, cramping fingers after braking hard, all par for the course. I had planned to stop about 30 miles for lunch but as I was in the middle of nowhere carried on to Tralee, 40 miles in, nearly finished. Walked into a Spar with Fuzzy, bought a sandwich, and found a table. Couldn’t be bothered locking him up outside and no one said a word, why should they ? Had been in touch with Murray so with a few miles to go he cycled out to meet me and guided me to B&B on the coast at Ballyheigue. Again our B&B has a wonderful view. Enjoyed today, everyone so friendly, farmers, gardeners, walkers.... all greeting me or giving a wave. Still loving it, all good.

Paul admiring my bike.

Paul's Adventures

Gap of Dunloe

Molls Gap

Traps on Gap of Dunloe

Fuzzy in the Spar

View from B&B...Ballyheigue