St. Jean Pied De Post

I,ve crossed Ireland and France and tomorrow I go off_road for about 800km on the old pilgrim route across north west Spain, expect to be pushing the bike uphill in the mud. Done 1200 miles and all is well, the adventure begins tomorrow.

Scotland to Spain.
So far I have covered 600 miles in ten days. Started at St. Fillans west of Perth, Scotland and coasted downhill to Oban, stayed at hostel. Long ride in the rain to Tarbert, camped at the castle, Robert the Bruce stayed here nearly 1000 years ago. Beautiful ride across the Isle of Arran, ferry back to the mainland, camped by roadside at Ardrossan. Long day south for Belfast ferry. Arrive Belfast on a wet Saturday night, scaled chain-link fence with bike and camped in bushes near the docks. Up at 3am and biked thru empty streets, streetlamps lit the way until daybreak. Stayed at hostel in Ballycastle, long ride with 1000ft climb at the end, knackered. Made it to Letterkenny the following day, thru Glenties and Ardara, camped by roadside before Killybegs. On to Sligo and hostel, met Teri, a retired Frenchman walking across Europe, "the secret to this lifestyle is for your mind and body to be friends" he said. Currently only bits of me are on speaking terms with other bits. Another long day to Edgeworthstown, sleep behind derelict house. Lucky stop at Netti's Cafe in Delvin for the best traditional breakfast so far, accompanied with huge steaming pot of tea. On towards Navan, had first puncture, exploded new inner tube with too much pressure. Stopped at bike shop for supplies, now wearing flouresent lime green cycle jersey and am warm and dry for the first time despite another rain shower. Leave for Rosslare in two days.