Day 124, Thurs 4 May
Rest day over. Fond farewells to Claire and Rae. They can’t resist the temptation to stay another night with hosts John and Sue at the fantastic Sharamore House. Highly recommended for anyone heading for a break in the Clifden area. Stunning location and amazing breakfast menu. A particularly good place to stay if you fancy a bit of blue water deep sea angling. Take a look at Blue Water Fishing here. Thanks so much Sue & John for your support, encouragement and filling me with such a beautifully prepared, high octane breakfast.
So, it’s back on the road for me, heading north, while the ladies linger a little longer before heading south tomorrow, back to Shannon Airport and home.
The next Lifeboat Station to visit is on Achill Island. A mere 85 mile single day training ride for an aspiring young road racer on a carbon velo. But just a bit too far for an expiring old road rager on an overloaded Granfondo, so it’s a half way destination for me today. A steady cruise around the Connemara coast via some more awesome scenery. But first, 21 miles of battling into a very brisk easterly around Lough Fee and the south shore of Killary Harbour, a long fjord flanked by some mighty mean looking mountains.
Next, relief and exhilaration for just a few miles of effortless speeding back westwards along the north side of the same fjord, now wind-assisted. Finally, about 15 miles heading north through the very dramatic and atmospheric Doonlough Pass, with a tragic tale to tell.
I must thank the good people of Glen Keen Farm, today’s emergency fuel stop. The first sight of habitation and a possible energy re-charge opportunity for many miles, the pretty, attention seeking fresh lilac paintwork and a Restaurant sign was enough to reel me in. Alas, it was not as open as I first thought. They’re not opening until the holiday traffic picks up in June. But that didn’t stop them insisting I sit down and tuck in to a plate of fresh, warm scones with butter, jam and cream. No charge, because they’re not really open yet. And they like what I’m doing. 
No RNLI Lifeboat here in Louisville. Just the convenience of a good half-way-house stop-over point en route to Achill Island. And a pub that does food.
rnli coastal cycle ride 