Last day in Ireland

Last full day in Ireland - played golf at Palmertown.

Fantastic and difficult course...lots of water hazards....multiple lost balls

   - Kitty

Musicians

In Galway, musicians perform on the street ... and above the street.  Here, the metal posts are about 5" in diameter; the caps on the posts are slightly coned-shaped, which requires even more concentration.  They were playing what I considered fairly difficult pieces without bobbling around.  Only when they stopped playing did they seem to have some balance problems.  The banjo player even smoked a cigarette while he played.  Music was great.  Later that evening, Mark, Susan and I went to a pub for more local music. Fun day even if a bird did a number into my wine glass.

  - Kitty

The group

Last day of bicycling

Last ride of our trip ... from Clifden to Roundstone ... another gorgeous ride (with 25-30 mph sustained winds).

Rode the bog road  ... a very desolate looking area...

Our trip mascot

We saw sheep everywhere








Typical countryside - stone fences holding lots of sheep

Skye Road

View from our bikes on the Skye Road.  Beautiful day, a bit windy on the northern side but so worth the prize at the end.





Lands end...or so it seemed....we cycled out this peninsula, missing a turn somewhere along the road, and ended up at the tip of this land mass.  
It was pretty barren - didn't even have sheep!

     - Kitty

Sunrise in Renvyle

35 mile ride today around several peninsulas including the spectacular Skye Road.  

Looks like only Peg, Molly and I will be doing the full route.

   - Kitty

Westport scenery

Two views from our bicycle ride out of Westport















bottom photo:

Katie, Peg, Susan, Kitty

 pause to consult a trail map


   - Mark

Greenway trail

We rode the Greenway Trail which follows an old railway line through lots of sheep pastures.

It was a beautiful ride with great weather!

    - Mark

Stuffed

Here is Janice's vegan dinner-- stuffed squash with onions and pine nuts.

Looks like chocolate sauce on the plate...but I think it was a balsamic reduction - for presentation.

Connamara Trail

Sunshine!!! Big bump in the background is Crough Patrick (St Patrick) where pilgrims make an annual trek to the top. The day we biked past it, it was raining hard and a 3 hour hike on scree just had no appeal.  So Mark, Susan and I did this loop ride to Louisburgh and onward to the Drummin Valley which took just as long, if not longer.  Great ride despite the rain.

Had one very long and steep hill that we had to walk. On the steep downhill, the up-canyon wind was strong enough that I had to pedal to go downhill (in the rain)!

Sheep everywhere....along with sheep doo-doo. Glad to have a cap over my water bottle.

     - Kitty

Leenaun

Morning in Leenaun -- brilliant sunshine but windy (note whitecaps on lake).

We have a shorter ride today with 2 options-- going to Kylemore Abbey or north along the coast and then down to Connamara National Park with the 12 Bens Peaks.

View is from window of my hotel room at Leenaun, on Ireland's only fjord. 

Lunch was a panini with goat cheese, onion marmalade and tomatoes (along with a Smithwicks).

   - Baaad Kitty

Ashford Castle

Enjoyed a magnificent dinner at Ashford Castle near Cong in County Mayo. Walked back to our B&B at 10:30 p.m. --- still a little light left!

below:  Kitty and Katie at the portico



Castle originated in 1228 by the Anglo-Norman House of de Burgos (Burke). 

Bikers Arrive at Dublin

Arrival day....

lunch at Dublin's Heuston Railway Station 

The station opened on 4 August 1846 as the terminus and headquarters of the Great Southern and Western Railway. It was originally called Kingsbridge Station from the nearby Kings Bridge over the Liffey River, but was renamed in 1966 after Sean Heuston.

after lunch, a train ride to Westport

Ireland Bike Trip Prep

Our Ireland bike adventure is coming up...time to get bicycle clothing ready!

Mother wouldn't want me to show up wearing worn-out socks, so here is my foot attire for this trip.  This should get me through the first week in style.

My philosophy while on the bike is "be visible".  I love this jacket--keeps me dry although I haven't put it through a really heavy rain yet.

The black pants will make all the sheep doodoo (everywhere in Ireland) less visible.

I also have a waterproof helmet cover, water resistant gloves, and  neoprene socks!  Think I'm expecting some precipitation in county Mayo?

         - baad kitty