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Published: September 14th 2016
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Ireland Day 5
An easier day with less of everything except the great scenery. First of all I had a look at the ruins of the tower overlooking the sandy beach at Ballybunion. It was built by the Geraldine family in the 13th Century and is dilapidated by weather and the ocean not as a result of attack by man. The Wild Atlantic Way takes you along the coast as much as possible but does run inland at times as the road dictates. On my way back to the coast I took a diversion along Sandy Road and I should have known by the name I could be in trouble as it did actually turn into sand which was a little difficult to negotiate with the extra weight of panniers with 14 kilos packed in them. However, it was worth the effort as the road took me through the dunes and very close to the waters edge, passing yet another ruined castle and two memorials to James O Connor and Michael Sinnot who had died in the defender of the Republic. I also saw a statue of a Roger Casement in handcuffs on the green at Ballyheigue who had formed the
Ulster Volunteets in 1913 and had been executed for treason in 1916. Sad. Another sad site this morning was the body of a dead otter at the roadside which had obviously been run over by a car. Whilst talking of cars I must say how considerate the motorists are to cyclists giving you plenty of room on country roads and holding back if another car is approaching, where in the UK they would have taken a chance and used you for grip. Ireland is very popular as a holiday destination and as such had more than its share of holiday home caravan sites and public bars with live Irish music each night. I went out to the point at Fenit, which did not have much going for it besides being the birthplace of St Brendan the Navigator and a sandy beach with two pubs. Oh! and it has a lighthouse way out on the estuary. On the way up the estuary to Tralee it started to rain and I made the best decision in putting on my cape straight away as it got heavier and heavier until it was quite Ribble Valley stuff. Upon entry to the very nice Benners
Hotel I dripped all over the floor for some minutes until I could drop no more. My bike was left outside in the rain in the secure courtyard so I covered it with my new plastic bike cover bought last week from Lidl. I was beginning to think it was just extra weight I would never ever use ready to sell on E bay on my return. How wrong can you be? Ten minutes later a shower followed by stamping up and down on my dirty clothes in the bath got me warmed up and ready for some lunch. However, this blog and the desire to lose a couple of kilos around my waist put it off for a couple of hours. Besides I also needed to dry my clothes by using the rolled up towel trick or they would still be wet on the morning. The joys of cycle touring. Great stuff.
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Robert Ward
non-member comment
envious mate
looks great Richard, I think you will have to make this into a CTC tour. keep your spirits up. Rob