SKIBBEREEN

Saturday 9.8 ~ Kinsale to Skibbereen, 77 km

After a stop at a local artisanal bakery, I'm on the road by 10am and it's a beautiful sunny day! I take the R600 and in Timoleague I am riding along a very expansive cove. I'm admiring the seaweed and hoping to get to eat some soon. That makes me ready for a hearty lunch and I stop at the R Cafe, in Clonakilty, where I have the most delicious vegetable soup with Irish soda bread. I have found my new favorite vegetarian ‘go to’ food.

I find out that there was a flood here just two weeks ago, which has created big problems for the farmers trying to get into their fields. I also hear, that due to the flooding, the road I'm taking was closed. I decide to take a chance that it's open again, because I don't want to take the N71 since it's a major, loud, high-traffic road.

All roads are open and it is a lovely ride over hills and past harbors! I go through the charming towns of Castlefreke, Rosscarbery, Glandore and Union Hall.

At one point I'm riding along, thinking ‘fruit’, when I notice there are blackberry bushes covering stone walls that are full of fruit! While I’m enjoying the blackberries I also enjoy seeing the remnants of a castle off in the distance.

My route is hilly and I alternate riding and pushing the bike up the really steep inclines which gives my butt, and my head, a break. My head is actually more sore than my butt because the roads are so rough and bumpy. On the down hills I stand on the pedals to absorb the bouncing. I have to keep a close eye on the road on the down hills do I don't hit big bumps. I have 20 lbs over my back wheel and if I go too fast the bike feels like it may have a tendency to fishtail.

After lunch and tea stops, I get into Skibereen at 7 pm. The hostel is full and after checking in at a couple of places, I find a reasonable B&B. I ended up cycling 77km! I’m happy to have reached my destination as tomorrow will be another full day of bicycling. I want be to the end of the road in Baltimore by tomorrow night, and take the ferry to Clear Island the day next day.

Plans in place, I take a hot shower and crash!