Goodbye Harrington Hall in Dublin. The 23-hour journey home began.

After an 8-hour flight, I had a 4-hour layover in Charlotte NC. I found the World Cup semi-final game being televised at a restaurant, hung out at the edge for a while, then managed to sit down by asking to join a table with two women .. but I really wanted to sit at the bar.

An opportunity presented itself which led to the highlight of the trip home. I sat at the bar next to Reagan. She recently graduated from Clemson with a degree in elementary education and was soon to begin the path to her first job. OMG – we are about 55 years apart in where we are in life. She is just beginning a career teaching elementary grades. I am retired 23 years + 31 years of teaching grades 2-8. We had a delightful conversation.

Thank you Justin for picking me up. Home, happy and tired. Spain beat France! I’m a fan of Lamine Yamal.

Hurray, the bakery was open to buy a snack for the upcoming bus ride.

I changed buses in Galway. Four+ hours from the start, I arrived at city center.

A 25-minute walk to the hotel. Grafton Street – packed with people. Just 2 days ago, I only had sheep to avoid and they scattered when I got close.

This trip is coming to a close.Today was a rest day with a bit walking around.

Dinner at Marconi.

Duck confit spring roll with plum sauce and Asian salad. Not a big dinner but just enough.

Today’s ride was through the Connemara district.

A short detour to see the town of Roundstone.

It’s always nice to get off the busier roads. More sheep than cars in this section.

32 mikes today. I went to EJ Kings for dinner

and found another enthusiastic crowd watching Gaelic football – a traditional Irish sport that blends elements of rugby, soccer, and basketball. The players can advance the ball down the field using a mix of carrying, hand-passing, bouncing, and kicking.

The ferry left at noon.

I retrieved my bike from the ticket office in Rossaveel and turned over my suitcase to the porter service. Time to ride.

This part of Ireland is described as “classic Connemara bogland.”

Entrance to tonight’s B&B.

Hydrangeas seem to flourish in Ireland.

Carna is a traditional Irish-speaking fishing village on the shores of Bertraghboy Bay with just one place for an evening meal, Tigh Mheaic.

26 miles today. View from the side yard of the B&B.

A taxi picked me up at 8:45 and delivered me to the ferry dock for a 9:30 departure. Ebikes are not allowed on the ferry. The ebike I was riding would be picked up and delivered to the next stop in Rossaveel for pickup tomorrow.

2 1/2 hours later, we arrived at Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran islands. It was a short walk to tonight’s B&B.

A few steps away was the bike hire for today.

Today’s ride was short, just 12 miles. There were two designated routes. I took the red route headed for Dun Aonghasa.

Lunch stop for a lobster roll. OMG!

The return was on the green route closer to the water.

And back to Kilronan for a rest, shower, dinner and a Rí-Rá.

Just out of town, Dunguaire Castle.

The first separated bike path encountered!

Coming up behind me, the Colorado group waving and smiling.

Dinner at Monroe’s Tavern.

Tonight’s B&B: Consilio. The 3rd floor window to the right is my tiny room. 30 steps up a narrow staircase.

24 miles today.

I put the battery into my ebike and discovered it hadn’t charged. I had to plug it in and wait a couple of hours before I could leave. Goodbye Doolin.

Today’s ride would be over/through the Burren – a rocky limestone section of Ireland.

Best stop of the day: the Burren Perfumery – gardens and production facility.

Plus a tea room with delicious carrot cake and lemonade.

The final 10 miles. The not-busy one-lane (with two-way traffic) roads are so bumpy!! It’s impossible to go faster than 8 mph. even on downhills.

Fallon’s B&B – tonight’s accommodation.

Dinner at Pier Head.

30 miles today.

There were options today for loop rides, but I decided to take a day off. I went for a long walk though.

This pitch and putt course looked brutal to me. Nothing but undulations, nothing flat. Sand traps were small, round and looked deep.

Dinner at McDermott’s tonight.

Bangers and mash: sausages and mashed potatoes.

The day started out with sunshine – a welcome change.

Miltown Malbay was jammed with people and cars.

Lahinch, a surf town, was also quite crowded.

The fog continued to thicken as I climbed up to the Cliffs of Moher. I’m sure these cliffs are impressive, but today, this was all I could see.

I bought postcards instead – lol.

The last 4 miles was downhill but on really rough roads.

46 miles today! My B&B for the next two nights.

I walked to McGann’s Pub for dinner. It was packed, everyone (except for the 3 girls and their dad who shared my table) watching hurling on multiple tvs.