Stage six: Killorglin to Ballybunnion…Glory Days!

My acco was not accustomed to having their esteemed guests demanding* breakfast at ‘ungodly hour o’clock’, so they asked one of their faithful to come in early. When I heard this, I was mortified: turns out the truth is that the lady in question was only too glad to do so, as this meant she finished 30 mins earlier than she otherwise would’ve done! (*there was zero diva behaviour I promise!)

Goodbye Killorglin, with your odd goat statue type-thing!

It was a meh trudge for the first 25 miles and then the sun and some scenery happened.

Was ready for this artisanal doorstep. Very reasonably priced. For Monaco, hah-hah!

Next stop is at the furthest away bit. Precise navigation as per.

After 25 miles or so, I stopped for a coffee and sandwich in Dingle: possibly the most Irish town evah, and with quite a few visitors from the USA. Because it was gonna be a backtrack after seeing Dunmore Head (most westerly mainland point), I dumped my panniers with a local bike shop owner and enjoyed my new lightweight bike…albeit for two hours!

Never mind the colour, dig that smooth surface!

Luck was holding re the weather…

Get in…checkpoint number three!

Only six hours too soon! #denied

It’s all too wonderful!

Speed back to Dingle and remembered to collect my luggage. Joy!

FJ- lose the hardware.

No point in hanging about, so it was straight into the climb up to Connor’s Pass…5% up to 9% and you actually felt it! There was a bloke walking up it and he had an obvious limp, but it was him giving me plenty as I struggled past him! Blimey…

The summit is somewhere top-right…

Only ever see signs like this in Italy, France or Spain. Nice touch!

The view from the pass changed whichever direction you looked in. #weatherinnit

The downhill was chilly but immense!

It had been a wonderful day so far: after a nondescript opening, the journey to Dunmore Head was a joy. At the same time that I arrived, I got notification of a very generous donation from my ex-boss and her better half, hah-hah! This took us past £9k, so there was no choice: let’s go for ten. Aim high, right?

And CL bunged this on their socials. You never know, might get a donation from it?

After the terrific descent, I had that familiar sinking feeling from my front tyre…oh come on, the tube was brand new on Monday and a decent make. No clue as to why it failed, which is a concern. No matter: 15 mins and we’re back on the road.

Please let this be the final one of these…

Unfortunately that wasn’t the real issue. The front wheel had become more out-of-true each day…only a little at a time but noticeable. So much so that now that it caused the front disc to rub against the brake pads. And as much as I’d love to ignore this, it’ll only get worse…quickly, and of course I didn’t pack a spoke key. I Googled the names of bike repair shops in Tralee and set course. Twenty miles later and the first shop was snowed-under, so the second choice was about 5 mins away.

Go on maestro!

He was a character, but in a good way! He asked where I’d been (reckoned O’Connor’s Pass was the highest paved road in Ireland…cheers!), and where I was headed (Ballybunnion- don’t get your hopes up, hah-hah!). He gave it his best shot for 25 mins or so and did at least true it enough to stop the rotor rub. My problem is whether to chance it and hope that it doesn’t get worse again, or to try to find somewhere that is relatively on my route that’ll sell me a replacement. I still ain’t decided!

Ballybunnion luvs Bill Clinton. Of course you recognised him!

Tonight’s functional acco. Frankly, I could sleep standing-up.

Satisfactory 5 minute walk to decent grub and booze. Not too bad then!

Gertcha!

Today’s stats. Keep on, front wheel!

So there’s just one more item of business…the play-out music. Bruce has written cinematic anthems, introspective and tortured numbers, you name it…yet this song never fails to deliver. Go on!