KILOROHANE

Monday 9.10 ~ Schull to Kilchohane, 76 km

It rained last night and this morning it is overcast. Today I'm glad for the rough coastal road, as it’s not slick when wet, I'm going downhill pretty fast, and… the wind in my eyes is making them watery and I can't see so well!

I bicycle 27 km to get to Mizen Head which is the most southwesterly point in Ireland.

By the time I get to Mizen Head, the sun is out. I can see that the low rain clouds have moved out over the ocean. I can also see the Fastnet Lighthouse.

After a very satisfying vegetable soup and Irish soda bread lunch, I decide to take a small offshoot road to get to a north side route called the Coastal Road. The road snakes up inclines for over an hour during which I am mostly pushing the bike. It's up and up and no coast in sight. The sun is hot on my back now and the scenery is breathtaking!

It is wonderfully desolate except for the sheep who call out to me as I ride by. I finally make it over the mountain top, and a have glorious ride down the northern section of the Coastal Road overlooking Dunmanus Bay.

The next town is Durrus, where I stop for squash based vegetable soup, Irish soda bread and coffee. Fortified, I decide to cycle on and enjoy a leisurely coastal ride along the south side of Sheep's Head Peninsula. I'm seeing lots of unprocessed fresh seaweed along the shore and eyeing it with envy…

After 76 kilometers I make it to the hostel in Kilcrohane. I'm the only hosteler here and enjoy a much deserved nice, long, hot shower.

I love not having expectations and seeing how far my curiosity will take me in a day!