Inishmore (Aran Islands)

Ok, I'm going to try to make this one a quick one--I'm pretty exhausted.

Another killer day of blarney bikin' was had, this time on Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands. These islands are at the mouth of Galway Bay and completely exposed to the Western Atlantic. The cliffs on the south side rise 300 meters out of the sea.

Culturally, it's like this: Inishmore, by virtue of its relative isolation from the main island (Ireland), is a microcosm of the Celtic lifestyle. I rode it from one end to the other all through the quilt like patchwork that's formed by the endless meandering stone frences. Without question, the highlight was Dun Aengus Fort. Dun Aengus is (was actually) a circular fort made up of stone walls built in 1100 BC (that's BC - like 3000 years ago people). Now it's a semicircle fort, the seaward half of it having been eroded by 3000 years worth of bounding North Atlantic waves. (Did you know that you can click on these pics to see them full size - I just figured that out last night - try it, it does them more justice, I think.)




One tale of woe. On the way back to the ferry terminal end of the island, I lost my tarmac. That is, the pavement turned in to jagged rock. I made it back to a paved road, and made my ferry (as is always the case with ferry rides, it's a race to make them on time). I was so worried I'd flat and have to do a lightning fast change.

Some honorable mentions in terms of fellow travelers that I met today on the island. First I met this lovely guy from France (his name escapes me). He was traveling as part of a big group of very spunky people who seemed to be more that happy about spending their time on the road in Ireland. I first took notice of him because he was wearing a Tour de France back pack, so of course, I engaged him in conversation in hopes that I could convince him to trade me for my Liverpool Privateer 5-Milers bag - no such luck. I met him on the ferry ride over (which is a blog post in itself - so much to share!), then as it turned out, we met up again on the ferry ride back across. Bonne vacanes, mon ami!

Check the ferry ride (you can see my buddy with this pack on the port quarter by the bike)

Then there was Sharon. So, I ask this random person if she'd take a pic of me at Dun Aengus, and she says, OMG, you were on my flight over from Toronto, and indeed I was. We spend some time taking photos and walked back down the hill (to the bike (me)/bus (her)) together. It was so much fun to share experiences with a fellow Canadian; we were speaking the same language. She's a teacher and is on a deferred salary year right now. She plans to continue her traveling in Cape Town, South Africa, the Trinidad (the country of her birth), and then the Philippines. I don't think I left anything out. Man, Selena and I have to get on deferred salary!



I'll leave you with a few other notable pics:

At the seaward end of Inishmore

Bubbles' Celtic Mansion??

This is not the paved road I'm looking for...


And for the sailors among us, in Galway I happened by the Green Dragon, the Irish entry in the Volvo Ocean Race Boat

This has got to be a typo...
:)

So, I'm in Doolin for the Burren (hilly limestone, Karst terrain) and The Cliffs of Moher. I'd say the big climb on this leg of the journey will be "Corkscrew Hill". I had to drive it on the way here--like a mini Alpe d'Huez with all the switchbacks.

Thanks for tuning in.

Emo