Day 1: Rosslare - Passage East

Arrived at Rosslare with fresh legs and raring to go. It's 7pm but I set off regardless and cover 40 miles to Passage East by 11pm. Ask for somewhere to camp at hotel, they suggest the beer garden, so I bed down there and fail to get to sleep because of noisy reception in hotel.

Day 2: Passage East - Fermoy

Very long day through the hills. End up sleeping rough on top of a hill. Fine view (63k) as it starts to get dark, but clouds descend so that I am shrouded in mist. Weird expereince.

Day 3: Fermoy - Ballyvourney

Another extremely long day in the hills. Two 800' climbs to end the day.

Day 4: Ballyvourney - Waterville

Another long day. Planned to stop in pretty town of Kenmare, but the place is heaving with tourists so I press on into the Ring of Kerry. First climbed up to Moll's Gap where the view North is splendid. In the photo (66k) you can see the line of the Black Valley running across the middle of the photograph. I went down there and follwed the valley West where there are yet more fine views both back East (69k) and to the West (45k) - the terrain is quite tough for a loaded touring bike though.

It's pretty remote around here and I don't fancy sleeping rough tonight so that means riding along the Ring of Kerry to the West where there are some villages. But it's a really hot day, and the terrain (164k) is unrelenting. Ended the day very hot and cross. Must take it easy tomorrow.

Day 5: Waterville - Cahersiveen

Very pleasant day pottering around St Finnian's Bay. Fine scenery including view over to Valencia Island. Cahersiveen's camping ground is charming and I'm minded to make this my base for another short day tomorrow. In the end I decide to press on as I want to give myself a realistic chance of getting to the Giant's Causeway.