Dogged...

We take the usual farm lanes to start this morning, but also the wide verge down a bigger road, as there were few cars to share it with, being a Sunday. We pause for a coffee break at Delaney's Garage (we resist the temptation to ask after his donkey), and then cross our outbound route again as we enter Abbeyleix. Just outside we are ambushed by 4 dogs waiting for us behind a wall, nearly spilling us onto the road! We had been chased by a few farm dogs earlier, it must be their Sunday sport - one terrier keeping up with me for 100 yds even though I was doing more than 20 mph! The rascal!
We pause at the tiny village of The Swan, that exists because of the big brick factory, mostly derelict now, making just clay drainage pipes. The pub is of course called The Swan Inn. The landlord and 2 customers make us very welcome, explaining the Gaelic football match rules as we watch Galway slaughter Roscommon on the TV. It seems very like Australian rules footie to us - fast and furious. At the top of a forested hill near Carlow is the lovely home of our Warm Showers hosts English Chris and Irish Eilish, and and their two lovely friendly rescue dogs. Their only neighbours are a farm and a few wind turbines, still for our visit as there is not a breath of wind. Chris is a professional photographer, so their house has beautiful photos as well as Asian artifacts from their extensive travels. We sleep like logs after a lovely dinner, mostly from their poly-tunnel vegetable factory!


Tour miles to date: 728

Location:Birr to Carlow