Day 86
Spot the tent
Thankfully the expected rain hadn’t arrived when we packed up. Tom had been up early taking photos of the tranquil stunning spot. See if you can spot the tent in the photos - it gets easier as they go on! We had ‘just’ 45 miles to do today and we’re heading for a two-night stop with Warmshowers hosts Tom and Fiona. I had messaged WS Tom a bit and something told me we would get on, let’s hope so!
Tom was struggling with a bad back, we both have aches in our knees and pretty much everywhere so two nights rest were really needed. The route was hillier than yesterday but nothing bad, after 20 miles of lovely quiet roads we arrived in Dungarven and the start of the Greenway to Waterford. We stopped for a few photos of WS Tom’s artwork, we especially loved the arch of multi-coloured wheels at the entrance. The Greenway is on the old Mallow to Waterford railway line, running for 46k. We had been impressed with the Achill Greenway but boy this one was even better. Not quite as dramatic views, but it has priority to cycles at most road crossings, gates to slow cyclists designed by someone who has clearly ridden a bike, my seizetheday crew would love them, if only all gates were like this! If it wasn’t in the Republic of Ireland I would have thought Carlsberg had been involved in the design. We especially loved the section where the line went through a ravine, the foliage created a mystical world, clearly we weren’t the only ones to feel this as the walls had been taken over by the fairies. Then the highlight, a tunnel! This was simply joyous, we do love a good tunnel do Tom and I. I expect we sang, but you’ll have to wait until the video is edited to find out! Ear plugs advised.
We rode on a viaduct above the town Kilmacthomas, but I was feeling kindly towards my Thomas so ignored the advice and shortly afterwards we left the Greenway at Kill, we were worried this area had a particular violent past, but fortunately as Fiona enlightened us later, Kill means church, phew!
Komoot worked it’s magic and directed us to WS Tom and Fiona’s. We recognised the large mushroom house WS Tom had built for his daughter Emily, we were here and could relax!
Mugs of tea, homemade fruit loaf, showered, washing on, was followed by a fantastic meal cooked by their son David, practicing for college life. We spent the evening chatting, learning about their lives, a brilliant Europe trip they did in ‘95, and drinking Fiona’s homebrew cider and wine. We may even has tried poitín but it all gets a bit hazy!
