Ireland 5/13/2013

(Click on any photo for a larger image.)

Today we began the tour.  Why would you put the longest day on day one? Especially one with 3,000 feet of climbing.  Well sometimes you just have to, Geography and geology dictate many features of a trip. Any trip; but especially a bicycle trip. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ROUTE.

We woke to sunshine. (Photo of Fin Barr church was from our bedroom window.)  But we had a shower even before we left the hotel.  That set the tone for the day; rain, sun, rain, sun.  I can’t tell how many times we put on our rain gear and pretty soon took it off.  Most of the rain was gentle. Two exceptions (1) about a third into the ride we got in a real downpour.  But we were within sight of a Texaco station with a big awning.  We broke both traffic laws and common sense getting there.  A couple of cookies and a cappuccino later and I felt better. But I was cold so put on my rain pants and shoe covers. (2) We also had strong rain and wind on the last 10k into Dungarvan.  Brenda and I stopped under trees until most of it passed.

 

The other natural element was the wind: 20 mph.  But it was at our backs almost all of the day.  If it had been the other way, we’d never have made it.

Getting out of town was a breeze in spite of 9:00 am Monday traffic.  After 2km along the river we turned right and were primarily in the suburbs.   Not in residential areas but along the wharf.  At 3k we passed (pictured left) Blackrock Castle  and got on a cycle path which took us to a ferry (16k). Once on the other side of the ferry, we were in the country.

Four couples stopped for lunch at the Coach House in Youghal.  The seafood chowder was well presented and equally good.

 

Today’s route was quite rural.  Except when going through towns, there was almost no traffic.  We had wonderful, if not spectacular, scenery.  The small roads often had trees at the side, sometimes overhanging. Or there were hedge rows. We could see fields of green and the ocean, actually the Irish Sea.  Speaking of green fields, the first time I was in Ireland I marveled about the many shades of green.  And this is something, coming from someone who is partially red-green colorblind!  I’m hurrying to finish this blog. We’re having happy hour at 7:00 then dinner.

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