Glen of Aherlow nr Tipperary
58 Miles
3881 ft climbed.
The objective today was to get to Tipperary to be able to debunk the famous World War One song. Checking the song out, apparently it was originally written as it’s a long long way to Connemara. We’ve already been there so that’s ok It was changed because a co-author had family from here and was song about a Irishman missing home written two years before the war began but adopted as it was easy and a popular reminder of home.
We left the campsite at Blarney at 8.30 as usual and whilst not boreens we found smaller unbusy roads and started climbing straightaway. Cycling north we kept crossing the prevailing hill ridges and then dropping back down into the valleys.
Apparently there is a heatwave in continental Europe and the temperature in the Arctic Circle reached 33c. Here the weather was decidedly on the cool side. I think the best we’ve had all tour is 18c and it hasn’t reached 15C all week. Today was overcast with some showers around although we only caught the edge of a couple There was a bit of blue sky though.
The landscape had changed to rolling hills and agriculture, mostly pasture supporting herds of cows. We did see one large field of potatoes all in flower.
Coffee and croissant stop was at Glanworth today. Even though it was only just over 20 miles into the day, we had already climbed almost 2000 ft so were ready for a stop as my legs seemed to have disappeared today
Leaving Glenworth we quickly detoured to see its castle but then on leaving came across it’s abandoned Protestant church and Dominican Friary which we had a quick peak round. Amazing to see so much attached to a very small town.
Our next problem was a closed road. Ignoring the signs we carried on to be met by heras fencing right across the road. We squeezed passed.
Getting through the fencing we came across a massive trench dug across the road but we could get round by going into a farmyard.
Not being sure what it was, we asked the foreman Mickey what it was for. He explained it was a cow underpass. Saying that as farmers work on their own and traffic has increased so much they cannot slow the traffic down so build these underpasses. We saw very little traffic in comparison to the SouthEast but apparently there have been several fatalities in the area. They had a week to do the work which was to cost €100,000. Apparently no subsidies involved but suggests the farmer is doing ok.
The roads allowed some faster riding and as usual there were a number of monuments and plaques to the various uprisings and wars for Irish independence.
Finally we found some boreens today and they were some of the most luxuriant and unkempt ones of the trip leaving only a foot wide track to ride on. At one stage we hit over 30mph doing this.
It was not far to go to Tipperary but we had a lunch stop outside a school which although open looked very under-utilised. Nigel checked that there was no issue having three Lycra clad cyclists camped outside the school having lunch!
Cycling into Tipperary Town it was very busy and we had to use our best traffic conscious tactics. Apart from the photo we took however the pubs seemed closed so we decided to move on.
There were only 6 miles to the campsite but it required us the cycle over the ridge and down into the Glen of Aherlow where we are staying. We effectively finished with the toughest climb of the lot. Cresting the hill we took the shortcut through the Aherlow House hotel grounds. Nick being ever resourceful saw the terrace so the Guinness that we missed was consumed on the terrace of this posh hotel looking across the glen to the Galty Hills
After our Guinness we had a short ride to the campsite. After arriving we fitted a new front tyre to my bike as it was looking a bit worn in places as you could see the canvas. Then a shower and a curry dinner where we were joined by Doug an American hiking the length of Ireland.
Suffice to say Nick once again had the beating of Chris And Nigel to make it three wins in a row for the novice! Beginner’s luck I don’t think so.
The campsite today is in the grounds of a former country house destroyed in the Irish Civil war in the 1920’s but the coachhouse and huge walled garden remain.
Not such a memorable day today as we crossed the midlands of Ireland but it did remind us that this is still a very rural country and large chunks remain depopulated as there continued to be many empty and abandoned houses from across several centuries.
Lawn mowing, road repairs, hedge cutting and of course power strimming remain the most common pastimes we have seen apart from tractor driving of course. As I finish this entry off I can hear the tractor in the field next door spreading muck to remind me the famous odour of Hadlow is only a few days away!
Just two days remain before our intended destination of Dublin and we are hoping for fewer hills tomorrow.
nbjtours 