Very green and we are so lucky to have good weather.
Still in Dandalk when I came across this church. I should not have found it as I drifted off the planned route, but got back on soon afterwards.One of 3 churches I snapped photos of today. No castles and for sure I could have bored you silly if I took photos of all the churches we passed.
An interesting looking abandoned cottage in the woods. Windows and doors are missing and I assume the roof is gone.
In the Cost of Living department: How do these prices for coal compare with ours. Can somebody check?
I don't know how they did it, but the staff found this "road" for us to cycle on. It wasn't much more than a driveway, but wasn't too long - a couple of km.
This was a typical country lane today - narrow, no shoulders, but little traffic. Actually, very pleasant to cycle,
We passed by a lot of open farmland. There were a lot of hay fields & cattle. A couple of fields already had their first cut of hay laying down and drying.
There was a particularly "farmy" smell alongside many of the farms. Not yummy!
Oh, and these two photos were taken in Northern Ireland. We've crossed over the border and there was no check or even a sign. The only ways we knew we had crossed were:
1) A sign at a gas station advertising changing Euros to Pounds
2) Those with cell phones received a text message telling them that they were now in Northern Ireland and new Roaming rates applied.
Second church today, the Newry Cathedral. Again, it caused me to go off the planned track (easily distracted, I am). Apparently, lots of other cyclists did the same.
This is where the lunch truck stopped to feed us today. Beautiful spot, although I'm not too sure I'd like to swim in this river.
The procedure for lunch is for one of our trucks to drive ahead and set up sandwich makings and drinks for us at (usually) slightly more than half way along the days journey. Sometimes, we're in a dusty cow pasture and this is one of the other days.
I included this photo to make the point that there are a number of houses installing solar arrays on their roofs, and that they are also installing wind turbines where it makes sense. This should probably be happening in BC more than it is.
The gastronomical corner: In addition to lunch we will often stop for a coffee or snack along the way. This was my snack today at the Pheasant Restaurant and Bar just past Annahilt.
Sticky toffee pudding & a Latte. Everybody with a spare spoon loved it (grumble, grumble!).
That's Karen from Edmonton in the background.
On the outskirts of Belfast we left the roadways and traveled a bike path through Bevlan Park Forest and Lagan Meadows. This old scow was moored in a side channel of the Lagan River. There are 2 or 3 locks along here, but no good photos.
A pleasant ride through the forest and park before the traffic of Belfast, which wasn't too terrible, but it is a busy town.
In Belfast now, in our hotel, showered, laundry done (stomped on in the shower as I washed myself)
and then out for a walk.
I took this artsy shot of the Dublin Cathedral - last for today.
Across from the cathedral is this sign with the upper arrow pointing to the cathedral and the other to the coffee shop adjacent.
Updates: I re-read my post from yesterday and I apologize for all the spelling errors. Too late at night.
Laura is mending nicely, although upset she couldn't partake in today's ride, which most riders agreed was beautiful.
Unfortunately, another crash today - the fellow has very sore ribs.
And I have spotted 2 more rotating doors: One at our hotel last night and one at the Dublin Library. These both turn counterclockwise (like North America), so the score is 3 to 0 for CCW rotation (I'm sure you are all very interested in that).
Day off in Belfast tomorrow, then Scotland on the 1st. Time for bed. I need to rest my slightly saddle sore butt.
