Today was the Monday of a Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland. We were a little concerned that we might be caught up in heavier than normal traffic due to all of the Irish returning from holiday. But, we only spent a few kilometers on main roads, and even those roads had light traffic.
We left Galway on small side streets and were soon out in the suburbs on quiet country lanes. The Eurovelo 1 route has taken us on many roads through residential areas that skirt the main roads. The areas that we rode through coming into and leaving Galway seem to be the more affluent suburbs. They have been full of large houses on properties big enough to support a horse or two. We passed several riding arenas and a couple of bigger horse operations, complete with stables and riding arenas full of practice jumps for the horses.
These country lanes are such a treat to ride. However, sometimes the surfaces are in need of attention, but without vehicles they are easy enough to maneuver.
It was a day of donning the light rain jacket and helmet cover and removing them, putting them on again, and taking them off again. Only once did it rain hard enough to warrant the gear, but when it starts you don't know what you're in for, so we usually decided to play it safe. One such time that we stopped to take the extra layers off, we discovered peat laying out to dry.
These are rows of commercially cut peat. The machine digs up the bog and then compresses it and lays it out to dry.
After the initial drying, they are stacked so that air can reach all sides to dry thoroughly. After it is dried, it is gathered up for storage and used as a heat source.
Today's route was very entertaining. We didn't see much in the way of historic sites like we did the first weeks in County Cork and County Kerry. But here in County Galway the terrain is constantly changing. When we left the city, we passed through a section of limestone pavements once again (we have seen a lot of it since being in Doolin and riding the Burren). But once we were about 30 kilometers along the route, we noticed some changes. The green farms weren't surrounding us anymore. Our 7 kilometer climb took us up through the Wind Park which was comprised of wind turbines surrounded by replanted pine forests. The area seemed to be full of mountain bike and hiking trails. As we descended down from this climb, we were in rhododendron alley. We were completely surrounded by 20+ foot high Rhodies on each side of the road and they stretched out for as far as we could see. I have always been a lover of rhododendrons ever since living in Portland, Oregon. So on this trip I have been completely amazed at the beauty and abundance of them. Sadly this particular varietal, rhododendron ponticum, is an invasive plant that escaped cultivated gardens a long time ago. They form dense thickets choking out all the native vegetation, as well as, propagate rapidly with their seeds. Apparently it is quite expensive to control and many times the land is just abandoned.
The view as we started the climb looking back at Lough Corrib.
The wind turbines are coming into sight and the rocks have changed. We are no longer seeing the limestone pavements, but now we are into granite boulders.
The iPhone camera doesn't catch the faraway photos clearly . . . but that island in the lake and the backside of the lake are full of rhododendron thickets.
It was a long day in the saddle, but we were mesmerized by the ever changing landscape and seeing the peat bogs. Once we arrived at Cashel House B&B, we parked the tandem in the "shed", settled in, and had to Google the rhodies and peat cultivation. We learned quite a bit today.
Cashel House B&B (it's really a hotel rather than B&B like we've been staying in). It was difficult finding a place to stay with easy access to dinner in this section of our route.
Note to ourselves: Rain jackets and helmet covers on / off all day. Mostly misting with 2 sections of light rain that lasted a couple of kilometers each.
Accommodation: Cashel House is a beautiful hotel with a wonderful atmosphere and excellent dining. Wish we could spend a couple of nights here, but we must move on.
Today's ride: 92 km (57 miles) Total: 1,282 km (796 miles)
