Day 8 Sligo to Narin (76 miles, 1053m)




Briefing on the river walkway in Sligo.

Concentrating for the most important distance - the first brew stop!


Our penultimate day starting dry.
Hamish in fully flight - giving the briefing.




Dry weather, at least in the morning.



Hills I gather! And a cycle on the beech before lunch in  Lunch in Rossnowlagh

 



A longer day today.
Not too cold but overcast.
Skirting the border of county Antrim we will cycle in the shadow of the impressive Benbulbin, part of the Dartry mountains.


We leave county Sligo, also known as “Yeats” country. 


Skirting the border of county Antrim we cycle in the shadow of the impressive Benbulbin, part of the Dartry mountains,.

After making our way round Donegal...

...we finished with a hillier end to the day before arriving at the secluded area of Narin and Portnoo by the sea.


Although mostly cloudy, the views are spectacular.
A few brief showers, but mostly dry, as we leave and rejoin the coast and the 'Wild Atlantic Way'.

So older buildings.
Usual plethora of roadside flowers, brambles, heather, fuchsia, crocosmia and gunnera.
A rest at the top of one of many hills.

Then dropping onto the beech just prior to lunch.
Cycling on sand was fine in a straight line...

...but don't turn quickly (as I discovered to my cost).



Still, a nearby surf school was there for any emergencies

Numerous ferns in this moist clime.
A really steep hill out of Ardara on the way to Donegal.
Many bridges traversing rivers descending to the ocean.
Marshy in places with many reeds.
Almost at our destination, Narin.
Then the sun came out...


...changing the quality of the light.
Big skies.

Our B&B overlooked the beach.
Just arrived and heard that Lee was playing in the pub this evening.
Our room overlooked the sea and beach.

Good to hear Lee play  his own songs...

...and a Leonard Cohen number (link to hear it!).




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