clairedavieswriter

We spent a comfortable night in our modest surroundings, undisturbed by passing traffic or departing pub-goers.
Like our meal last night, there was a Sardinian flavour to the weather when Team Bernard pedalled away this morning

As the Green Heartlands Cycle Route sign correctly suggests, this was another day of rural views, from the beginning:

Through the middle:

To the end:

Though we did pass through the county town of Roscommon, where we found Jon at a motorhome dealership. He didn’t get a solution for Midge’s water pump issue, but we did enjoy the dealership’s crackin’ brand name

Guillaume was less keen on this sign

Luckily, the diversion only involved an extra 200 yards on a main road before we were back on our route again.
At the end of a long hot day, this was a cheering sight – Midge (one of those white dots in the distance) parked up beside the cool waters of Lough Rynn

Highlights today included crossing the Shannon (again!) at the little town Rooskey

Ticking off our 7th county:

The discovery that cats’ eyes on Irish roads come in the colours of the national flag:

And the view from the van this evening. If you look carefully, you’ll see eight lines of buoys marking a 2,000m course for top level rowing and kayaking events

But the best moment of the day came this morning when I stopped at a nameless shop/feed store/post office in the one-street village of Curraghboy. A quick scan of the shelves showed they didn’t have what I was looking for.
Me (leaving): I was hoping you’d have a coffee machine but never mind!
I’d not gone three steps out of the door when the younger of the two men behind the counter came running after me.
Him (looking shy): Sorry about the coffee, like, but I can make you one in the house…
Me: (Gobsmacked)
Him: It’s no bother, just wait there, I’ll be out in a minute.
I do as I’m bid and a short while later he reappears bearing a mug, a teaspoon and a milk carton
Him: Sorry, I’m not much good at coffee, I drink tea, I hope it’s alrigh’. There’s sugar and milk if you need it. Just bring in the mug when you’re finished.
It was a very good cup of coffee.
When I returned to the shop, the older man shrugged off my thanks, as though dishing out coffee to passing strangers from their own kitchen was something they did every day. Taking the mug, he addressed me in the manner of an appreciative dog owner to his four legged friend, ‘Good girl, sound as a bell’ and went back to his business.
I continued on my way, wondering once more at the kindness of strangers.

We’re past the halfway point now, and are giving ourselves a day off tomorrow. See you on Saturday!