Day 69
Mountain roads
We started the day with a freshly brewed coffee thanks to the cyclist and fellow camper we had met yesterday, much appreciated Eamon!
The route we took meant we were back in the hills, nothing too challenging but definitely some height gain. I switched off and was happily riding along when Tom asked, “Err, how to we get out of here?”
We had ridden along a valley, ahead of us was a range of mountains. It appeared a dead end. Then we spotted a car that appeared over the brow of the hill, plunged down and apparently disappeared! We pulled over for a local farmer to pass, who happily reassured us that yes, we were off up there. The climb when we got there was almost disappointingly easy. A triumph of man and nature coming together. The views were mind blowing and the descent down the other side a joy. The sun was so powerful, we could hear the safety barriers expanding in the heat. We were riding the Doulough Valley and over the Sheffry Hills. I hadn’t thought that Ireland could get more stunning than the previous few days but oh my she could!
We met a lovely couple of fellow cyclists who the day before had climbed Barrclashcame, at 772 metres the highest in the range. The hills are surrounded by Loughs, too many to name here, Tom and I cycled along the road as it wound it’s way past them.
The ride ended at Connamara campsite. The views over the beach to the surrounding hills was stunning. Check out the horse-riding scene from the 50s film, The Quiet Man, it was filmed here. The site itself was not the best laid out, the shower had flooded, but none of this mattered at all. The staff and fellow campers were some of the kindest and friendly people we had met on the trip. We swam in the sea, then ended the day, along with our fellow campers, by watching the sun set. That sight, as so many people stood silent, enjoying nature at it’s best will stay with me for a long time.
