It was very cloudy as I packed my
stuff up then the dreaded pitter patter of rain started just as I
was about to take the tent down. I set off in light drizzle towards
Monasterivin. Thankfully there was little traffic on the road
presumably because it is a Sunday morning. When I reached Kildare
the whole town seemed deserted. I only saw two people as I cycled
through. I stopped at a small shop on the outskirts to buy a small
bread roll which I ate before setting off again.
Canal
The roads were flat so I was able to
make good time. Along the road side were many memorials to dead
people, presumably killed in car incidents. The majority were large
memorials like gravestones. The gravestone monuments along the roads
seemed to equal those in church graveyards.
The open
road
I continued on the R455 to Naas where
I stopped at an Aldi store to buy some water. They only sold it in
5lt or a 6 pack of 2lt. That was way too much weight so I just
bought a banana which I ate while continuing my ride. I followed the
R410 towards Blessington and was pleasantly surprised to see many
cyclists out enjoying the roads. Unfortunately they were not as
friendly as in the UK and all those who rode past me on their
lightweight road bikes didn’t give any greeting or acknowledgement.
I reached the Pollaphuca Reservoir and followed the R758 road across
a couple of bridges across the water. I noticed some TDF spray paint
across the road and wondered if this years Tour de France would be
coming this way (it turns out it’s not).I reached the R758 which is
the Wicklow Gap road. I started the steady climb but my enjoyment
was hindered by the constant stream of high speed racing motorbikes
going both ways. This is the same as in England and I often wonder
why the police allow it, or in Ireland the Garda. I’d planned to
camp by the Annalecka Brook and when I got there it seemed ideal.
There was a good grassy patch to pitch my tent and the only down
side was the rive water was very dark and peat stained.
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Whittle Wanderer
