Friday. Westpoint.Very grateful for stay with inspirational touring cyclist Mike Murphy and his lovely wife, Sheila (who cooked us a feast). A chance meeting with Mike whilst we looked for a campsite in the rain led to a dry night for us in great company
Sat. Mike M. led us on our way North via very quiet roads past lovely lakes and mountains. Camped Insihcrone-very hot and sunny .
Sun. Sligo -bought mike a new rear tyre as a spate of punctures -trying a `Continental`.Camped @Rosses Point.View from tent of lovely `Oyster` island with its tiny lighthouse.View ,brill weather and Guiness so good we stayed 2 nights -our 1st rest day since Rosslare!.
Tuesday. Carney -hamlet just north of Rosses. Ancestral home of Kevin Davenport.The other famous son is WB Yeats ,after whom everthing is named ,including local football team -Yeats UTD.
Fabulous queit ride past breathtaking montains..Camped on shore of Lough Erne.
Sorry to be leaving Eire as shall miss staggering scenery ,sunshine ,beaches etc but mainly the lovely people-especially the many little old ladies who insisted on giving us complex detailed routes to places ,even if we werent going there!
Wed. Lovely back roads through bigger fields -cows now Charalei and Chocolate. Lots of donkeys.Farm dogs have often rushed out -if you are going 12 mph or more they cant keep up -all right down hill or on flat -difficult up hill !Camped by lake in park south of Dungannon.
Thurs. 71 miles today(got a bit lost ) -longest yet -its great to be so fit now -we couldn`t have done 1/2 that a mounth ago .Camped on shore of river Bann .Next tent a cyclist from Holland -he had such dreadful weather crossing England -he gave up and took train to Liverpool.Has just rung his Mum in Holland who is flooded too! We met many fellow touring cyclist in SW -mainly French -much fewer now.
Friday in Ballymena to meet Liz and stay a while -Then off to Scotland. Total 310mils since last blog update - just under 1,500 miles so far!
Friday 27 July 2007
Friday 20 July 2007
Moher, the Burren, Galway & Connemara
Friday .Westport,pased lakesMask and Corrib down little roads with grass down middle -hares everywhere -brilliant sushine.
Thursday, Connemara mountains and enormous lakes full of little islands and bobbinng fishing boats.
Wednesday, Peatbogs,tiny fields with limestone walls -honey coloured cows with calves,blackfaced /socked sheep and thoroughbreed horses and foals.
Tues ,Banna,fantastic limestone landscape -cliffs and lakes ,completely unspoilt.
Monday,1000miles in total !Early start in sunshine along the Atlantic road on the north side of the Loop -wonderful Basalt cliffs almost as good as cliffs of Moher which we saw later in day . Camped by the sea at Doolin and had guiness in good pub recommended by Mo spent evening talking to a very interesting Ozcouple.
Sun. Heading north to the Magnificent Shannon estuary -crossed by car ferry in a shower .Camped on the shore overlooking colonies of Sandwich terns and blackheaed gulls.
Sat.Visited Inch beach where `Ryans Daughter` filmed sat out in sun to eat Full Irish. Beautiful setting with mountains behind but spoilt by parking -litter on beach and quadbiking in dunes!
Cycled over wonderful Connor pass to Dingle.Fab camp site with views of Dingle BaY.25 Mile cycle without gear round caost of Dingle peninsula in sun ,great views of the Blaskett islands .
The papers here are full of the housing market as values dropping and negative equity.
Last 2 weeks no signs /directions have been in English .I soon discovered fìr is gents not ladies.
Thursday, Connemara mountains and enormous lakes full of little islands and bobbinng fishing boats.
Wednesday, Peatbogs,tiny fields with limestone walls -honey coloured cows with calves,blackfaced /socked sheep and thoroughbreed horses and foals.
Tues ,Banna,fantastic limestone landscape -cliffs and lakes ,completely unspoilt.
Monday,1000miles in total !Early start in sunshine along the Atlantic road on the north side of the Loop -wonderful Basalt cliffs almost as good as cliffs of Moher which we saw later in day . Camped by the sea at Doolin and had guiness in good pub recommended by Mo spent evening talking to a very interesting Ozcouple.
Sun. Heading north to the Magnificent Shannon estuary -crossed by car ferry in a shower .Camped on the shore overlooking colonies of Sandwich terns and blackheaed gulls.
Sat.Visited Inch beach where `Ryans Daughter` filmed sat out in sun to eat Full Irish. Beautiful setting with mountains behind but spoilt by parking -litter on beach and quadbiking in dunes!
Cycled over wonderful Connor pass to Dingle.Fab camp site with views of Dingle BaY.25 Mile cycle without gear round caost of Dingle peninsula in sun ,great views of the Blaskett islands .
The papers here are full of the housing market as values dropping and negative equity.
Last 2 weeks no signs /directions have been in English .I soon discovered fìr is gents not ladies.
Friday 13 July 2007
On to the Peninsulas
Off to the Dingle Peninsula today, then continuing across the Shannon heading north up th west coast. Mileage since last blog entry 270.
Killarney. Reached here early 8.30am so avoiding traffic. Charming town a bit like Bath ,well preserved, quite posh hotels -worth a visit.
Thursday was best days cycling ever. The mist lifted and the road went high round the coast wqith views of bays and farms. Then the road through the centre of the peninsula was quiet as no HGV .Went through two high passes with stunning mountain views on 3 sides Maccilycuddies Reeks the highest mountains in Ireland -,plus flower meadows and hanging lakes -clear views and sunshine all day .10 miles from Kilarney found beautiful little campsite -1 other tent only ,behaind a shop on a river -dried out all gear and had evening walk to look at mountains.
Wednesday Ring of Kerry road going West clockwise,some views ,lots of traffic including at least 20 tourist coaches going opposite way -dangerous speed -by afternnon heavy rain and mist ,camped at end of peninsula on sea edge -but could see little.
Monday /Tuesday Beara Peninsula -The most beautiful place we have seen yet -views all round of Bays ,distant islands and The Ring of Kerry in distance .Had Veronicas guiness fruit cake and tea in bruilliant sunshine before cycling on clockwise East to wild camp just over a high pass om the warmest night so far -very early start next day so beat all the traffic
Bantry Bay area wonderful views, sunshine all day .Curlews, oyster catchers shelduck and
ducklings.
Blarney - despite big tourist attraction of castle still a charming village centre with colourful cottages. Mike thought I didn`t need to kiss the stone! Great campsite with views for miles -
sunshine all day.
Cork much like anyother large congested town ,but the suburbs very Irish little terrace houses and corner shops.
Kinsale a disappointment as stuffed full of queuing traffic,tourists and carparks -prettier and quiet was Glandore -lovely yachty bays and fab scenery. Campsite "The Meadsow" in a quiet country garden.
Killarney. Reached here early 8.30am so avoiding traffic. Charming town a bit like Bath ,well preserved, quite posh hotels -worth a visit.
Thursday was best days cycling ever. The mist lifted and the road went high round the coast wqith views of bays and farms. Then the road through the centre of the peninsula was quiet as no HGV .Went through two high passes with stunning mountain views on 3 sides Maccilycuddies Reeks the highest mountains in Ireland -,plus flower meadows and hanging lakes -clear views and sunshine all day .10 miles from Kilarney found beautiful little campsite -1 other tent only ,behaind a shop on a river -dried out all gear and had evening walk to look at mountains.
Wednesday Ring of Kerry road going West clockwise,some views ,lots of traffic including at least 20 tourist coaches going opposite way -dangerous speed -by afternnon heavy rain and mist ,camped at end of peninsula on sea edge -but could see little.
Monday /Tuesday Beara Peninsula -The most beautiful place we have seen yet -views all round of Bays ,distant islands and The Ring of Kerry in distance .Had Veronicas guiness fruit cake and tea in bruilliant sunshine before cycling on clockwise East to wild camp just over a high pass om the warmest night so far -very early start next day so beat all the traffic
Bantry Bay area wonderful views, sunshine all day .Curlews, oyster catchers shelduck and
ducklings.
Blarney - despite big tourist attraction of castle still a charming village centre with colourful cottages. Mike thought I didn`t need to kiss the stone! Great campsite with views for miles -
sunshine all day.
Cork much like anyother large congested town ,but the suburbs very Irish little terrace houses and corner shops.
Kinsale a disappointment as stuffed full of queuing traffic,tourists and carparks -prettier and quiet was Glandore -lovely yachty bays and fab scenery. Campsite "The Meadsow" in a quiet country garden.
Friday 6 July 2007
South East Ireland
Have arrived Cork this morning in sunshine !150 miles since Rosslare.Thursday rained from taking down tent @7.30 until 1.30 then force 8 gusting 9 headwinds -Oh Joy. N25 road from from hell including roadworks and blocked exit to field campsite. Highlights -Irish breakfasts at Dungarven and outskirts of Cork,beautiful coastal views. Japanese knotweed along roads and canals. Mike growing beard. To camp at Blarney tonight then on to Kinsale and West to Dingle.
Are taking photos but can't attach presently.
Are taking photos but can't attach presently.
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