Poor night sleep last night. I’m incubating a dose of a cold, I think and I was awake at 2am sweating it out.
The morning arrived dark but nice. Sun was trying to come out and after a night of gale force wind and heavy rain it was a welcome site.
Breakfast was fantastic and leisurely and we were all looking forward to the day.
Heading out at 9.30 we were soon into a headwind that was going to stay with us for the first 50km or more. The scenery was stunning from the start. The pace quickly went up and groups formed. I was struggling with cold so was quite happy to go at my own pace. So was happy to drill along on my own, as long as I knew there was a group behind me. Arriving into Clifden I turned up the Sky Road! Aptly named. It was a long steady climb but the reward of looking out over all the islands and the sea stretching far below.

There was a regroup at the top where they had a drone filming the whole thing.
Because of the heavy rain last night. Parts of the road were like open streams flowing across the road. But traffic was light and it was a very pleasant ascent. The downhill was terrific, very fast and the headwind wasn’t an issue.
Rolling into Cleggan was good to see because I had an idea where we were then, as I had been there before.
Wind was starting to come around into our favour and it makes so much of a difference when it does.

Heading out through the valley lake with the mountains rising on the left and right. Surely the nicest scenery in Ireland.

Fast descent into Letterfrack and lunch in the Connemara National Park. Before heading off again over some nasty steep hill climbs and drop downs past Killery harbour. Moyard and rolled into Leenane to another nice hotel. A Guinness with the lads, a hot bath and rejuvenation.
Looking out over the fiord at the road we have to drag ourselves up tomorrow. Trying not to look! 100km today. 140 km tomorrow.

Speak to me legs!!!