This is preliminary. I'll be posting a more comprehensive account
soon. But I thought I'd make a few observations first.
1. Yellow rain jackets/jerseys are visible but due to the abundance of
flowering Gorse bushes we weren't as visible as I hoped. Red would
have been better in May.
2. If a B&B is above a pub and they want payment when you arrive, go
find something else.
3. For those of us used to driving on the right side of the road be
prepared to see parked cars facing you on your side of the road, the
Irish park WHEREVER AND HOWEVER THEY WANT.
4. National Roads often go through villages on narrow roads (my
estimate, about 1.5 lanes wide and two way). Be prepared to bail off
the bikes and walk them on the sidewalks.
5. The Irish are warm people, both north (UK) and south.
6. It's more productive to ask directions by destination rather than by
route number.
7. It can be wet and cool in May (it was wet part of the time and cool
all of the time).
8. A good map is essential and I needed a magnetic compass to keep us
on track (according to the map we should be heading north!).
9. An Irish breakfast (at a B&B) kept us pedaling happily until after
lunch time.
Tom Gibb <[email hidden]>