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I woke to mist and no chance of any
views on my ride over the summit of Wicklow Gap. I’d been lucky in
that there hadn’t been any midges. This could have been due to a
combination of wind and low temperatures. It was 5degC when I set
off just after 7am. The climb was steady and the gradient didn’t get
too steep. After rising above the tree line I reached the summit in
mist. It’s a pity because I’m sure the views back to the west would
have been good. A steep winding descent took me down into a deep
valley with lots of spoil heaps and evidence old mine workings. |
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Misty
summit of Wicklow Gap |
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I was freewheeling all the way down to
Laragh where I turned right. The roads and scenery were now much
more wooded and green. I rode through a tunnel of trees for several
miles to Rathdrum. I think I saw a sign saying it was the Vale of
Clara. The roads were very undulating with rarely a flat stretch of
any length. To the west of the Wicklow Mountains most of the roads
were flat. In Rathdrum I stopped to check my phone and a man stopped
to enquire about the bike and weight of my panniers. |
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He could hardly believe I’d ridden
from Galway on Friday. I continued along quieter roads to Wicklow.
I’d made a detour to visit the coastal town because it seemed
interesting. I rode through the town and down to the dock area but
couldn’t find anything of interest. I rode along a dock road, over a
flyover crossing the sea, then back to the mainland and north. |
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I followed a minor road that was sign
posted ‘Coast Road’ but I followed it for several miles and didn’t
see the coast anywhere. One sign I saw was to ‘Druid’s Glen’ which I
had no intention of visiting. My map shows a National Garden
Exhibition Centre, which I would have visited if I’d seen a sign
saying where it was. I reached Greystones and a Tesco Supermarket. |
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Not much
to see in Wicklow |
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The
lager inside was horrible. |
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I stopped to buy a 5lt bottle of
water, some biscuits and a bottle of Czech lager. That’s what the
label indicated but closer inspection showed it was brewed somewhere
in the EU. I was nearing the end of my planned day’s ride and a few
miles north turned right down a lane leading to a level crossing.
The main gated were locked and I had to take all my panniers off,
take them across both sets of gates then return to lift my bike over
both gates. The continuing track was rough then just a rutted path
so I had to wheel the bike. I reached a grassy area above the sea
where I had views out to see but nothing to see. I’d now completed
my coast to coast but still have tomorrow to get to Dublin and the
ferry. It was a pleasant camp with few people around and only the
occasional toot from passing trains and the seashore below. |
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Whittle Wanderer
