Sligo to Ballybofey

Leaving Sligo in the rain was a disappointment.  But again it didn’t last too long. I had donned my cycling wet top for the occasion but it was too warm and cumbersome. It was getting wetter inside with sweat more than outside. So off it came and on went the fluorescent gilet. An essential piece of kit. Especially on these busy roads.
My first port of call was the graveside of WB Yeats in Drumcliff. “Tread softly cause you tread on my dreams”. A most tranquil and lovely place. Then onwards.
Rolling again now and headed for Bundoran and Ballyshannon. It’s great to be on the coast again. Seeing the sea makes everything so much easier.
I’m texting my friend John from Cycle Against Suicide, who lives in Ballyshannon and I’m promised coffee and scones so that’s driving me on too. My legs are very tired today my knee is getting sore and I’m twisting around my foot to try ease the pain. Works sometimes. 

Seeing John was a great boost to my morale and after “the Tae!” and a long catch-up I’m off again.
Bypassing Donegal town on a nice wide road and after a stop for ice cream i begin the steady drag up the Barnsmore Gap.
Barnsmore Gap was the place we were on the CycleAgainst Suicide 2014 when tragedy struck. It was a cold wet filthy morning as we headed up the Gap. The higher we got the filthier the weather became. Brenaun, one of our motorbike marshals had gone on ahead to block a side road for us, when there was a tragic accident and Brenaun lost his life. Worst time ever on CAS.
There is a stone , in his memory at the spot and I stop to pay my respects. I have the latest Cycle Against Suicide Jersey in my kit so I brought him up to date. In sadness I left him there and headed on to Ballybofey.

My route was sending me on a short by road but I consulted with with a truck driver in a lay-by, and concluded that the main toad was safer. Wider road with a shoulder. There I go again talking about road widths and hard shoulders! But he was right. Traveling on the N road was much safer in the long run. But don’t start me on ‘traffic calming measures!!” Another book!
The whole trip was pretty nice. Rolling is what I call it.
The weather got better as I rolled into Ballybofey. I thought I might get further today so it would leave me  a shorter final journey to the top tomorrow. But I was too tired and my backside was screaming at me to stop.
In my hotel they put me in a room with a disabled bathroom! I didn’t think I looked that bad 😃😄😎. I didn’t care. It had all I needed. Nice dinner a pint of Guinness and then bed.
Tomorrow is the day!!

Great to meet up with John in his home in Ballyshannon for 'the tae'!

Had to stop off in Ballyshannon to pay respects to Rory Gallagher

Brenauns memorial on Barnsmore Gap

Benbulbin in the background heading North out of Sligo

' Tread softly cause you tread on my dreams'

Wide shoulders