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July 11 Tuesday sunny breaks Bicycle touring Ireland It rained during the night. There's only one trouble with rain -- it's wet. Definitely not my favourite weather when on bicycle tours. Looking out the tent flap, I could see a massive horde of teeny no-see-ums just waiting for an opportunity to eat me. Several were on the tent door's netting trying to pry the screen apart with their tiny peckers. I mean these guys are ruthless. We decided to make a move. Sharon figures if we take too many days off now, we're going to be stuck in cold weather later when we have to cycle across the Alps. Besides, I read that if it rains in the morning
in Ireland (which it has), it is a guarantee of a sunny afternoon.
Ha ha. So, with military precision we break camp as hastily as
possible. Even with my bug hat on I still feel like bug bait. Sharon says we are not knackers -- we're slackers. There we were relaxing and eating while everyone else was pedaling. "Ha. They don't know what they're missing," I tell her. We waved as they went by. I'm thirsty, but we're our water bottles are dry. Gee, I wish I had something to drink, I think. I look out into the harbour and see a bottle of Orange pop floating in the bay. The waves bring it tantalizingly close to shore. Talk about delivery! When I thought I could reach the pop, I went down to the bank and stood with one foot on a half-submerged rock. I leaned out with a stick in one hand and pulled the pop into reach. Sharon warned me that I'd fall in. She of little faith. I was soon enjoying Orange pop. I thought it could have been a tad colder. From Glengariff, Ireland we bicycled on route N71 over the Caha Mountains. The views were superb -- lots of rock, tufts of grass, and sheep grazing. We bicycle through a rock tunnel dripping with cold water. Fortunately, it was a straight-through affair and we could see the light at the other end, the opening making a frame for the hills on the other side. Ireland is living up to its reputation of being the Emerald Isle. We even saw some famous green-back sheep. Their backs are spray-painted green. Consequently they blend in rather well with their surroundings. Camouflage sheep: a new predator resistance concept. As we pedal along on our fully loaded bicycles, the valley is far below us. Houses dot the landscape. I can see a mountain lake reflecting light in its basin high up on the hillside. A treacherously steep road goes to the houses. We begin descending and come upon a little-used track. At the end of the track is an abandoned rock house. We set up our Kelty tent in the overgrown front yard with an expansive view of the valley. The wind dies down and the no-see-ums come out. I wonder if we packed them with us this morning. I sleep with bug netting over my head ... inside the tent. |
