Last long ride

Google gets it wrong again: this time believing a road / bridge existed across a sizeable river. That cost us five miles of detour.

Came slightly off route to find accommodation tonight, Kildare looking to be a reasonably sized town. The first place we tried (Lord Edwards - couldn't make it up :-) ) were full but helpfully they had the name of a couple of other b&bs. The nearby one was also full (wtf, tourism is supposed to be dead!) so tonight we're a few km out of town at a farmhouse b&b - possibly, in retrospect, the best of the three anyway. Cheap tea as well, just a few rolls and bits from a supermarket.

Rest of the day has been easy enough - mostly flat and once again the forecast rain never really materialising - just a bit of halfhearted spitting, and a mild tailwind.

Location:Lackagh, Kildare , Kildare, Ireland

Guinness

Really does taste better over here - sometimes. Very nice tonight.

Made good progress today despite another late start. Forecast of rain was needlessly pessimistic, in the end it's been a little cooler but still some sun. Route today fairly flat at first, a little hillier later on. Went through Limerick, was as unremarkable as we'd been warned.

Location:St John's Pl,Nenagh,Ireland

Lazy day Five.

Short day today. It'll end up being the 'rest' day - we've covered fortysomething miles and spent the rest of the day getting up late, swimming and lazing around at Banna beach. This town seemed devoid of accommodation and we cycled around for some time before landing on the one street full of b&bs. We're in a good one now: tea & coffee & biscuits on arrival, storage for the bikes, huge room. And best of all, a pizza place next door. No wifi though :-(

Tomorrow we're heading back towards Dublin. Google says it's 260km, our route will be a little longer to avoid some rather inconvenient mountains. Hoping to get there not too late on Saturday so we can have a look around.

Location:Boherbee,Tralee,Ireland

Day Four

This town is fully booked. The hotels in the centre that are not fully booked are expensive, the pub b&bs that are not booked are lousy, as we found at the first place we took, and hastily abandoned. We're at a very nice b&b just outside the town now. It's got free wifi :-)

Setting off in 5 mins for Tralee, and then Banna.

Location:Clonea Rd,Dungarvan,Ireland

Hills

Set off late after an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast. Tonight we are in a b&b in a large, old house. We may be the only guests. There's a plum tree round the back and a very promising breakfast menu.

Ride today has been very hilly - none too high but compensating for that shortcoming (as often as not) by way of gradient. It's the usual problem with these costal routes where the villages are set into the low parts, and the road in between is high.

Location:Davitts Quay,Dungarvan,Ireland

Day 2

First up. Google really doesn't understand Ireland. It's driving directions have taken us the wrong way down one-way roads, through an impassable quarry and along several unpaved trails.

Other than these blips though, it's been a very pleasant route - virtually all on minor roads, following the coast but only occasionally being close enough for good views of the sea, and only once close enough to break off from riding to dip toes. Riding so close to the edge of land means theres a lot of flat, but also one or two almost-proper hills and a whole bunch of gradual up & downing.

Saw an offshore wind farm, an inshore wind farm but one thing that's been absent so far are any rooftop solar panels. I've seen one house with thermal panels but absolutely zero pv.

It's not for lack of money - we've been along any number of quiet back roads lined with posh detached houses with long drives and trees and big security gates. All the things a rich man needs to live except PV.

In a hotel tonight. Almost a nightmare finding somewhere to stay tonight, but what google doesn't know, the locals make up for. Can't recommend the cheesecake, portions too small and the base was no good - sponge instead of crushed hobnobs.

Location:Monastery Ave,Taghmon,Ireland

Travel

The journey here has been uneventful from a timetable-adherence point of view. However, that doesn't tell the full story of hopelessly overcrowded trains (all three of them) and a ferry without much deck outside, and bland food inside.

Dublin. Didn't go through centre. Roads could do with some tlc - much the same as Sheffield. Went on one or two very good cycle tracks but there's a lot if rubbish ones too with broken, uneven surfaces.

Location:Cherrywood Rd,Dun Laoghaire,Ireland