Wednesday 10th July

Curraroe - Roundstone (Connemara)
The place names on the road signs here are given only in Gaelic - elsewhere they are given in both Gaelic and English. This area is in a Gaeltacht - a region in which Gaelic is in everyday use - this was the case in Aran Islands and in Galway as far as Roundstone. We also saw signs for Gaeltachts on our Friday ride down to Galway.
As soon as we set off we began to notice the beauty of the Connemara coast line with its lakes and rivers, but it rained again. We decided to take a short cut over the hills at Derryrush, but then found that our smallest chain ring had bent cogs, so we had no more use of our low gears. Fortunately these hills are not too steep. There is open moorland with ponies, it is very green with a few lakes.

We stopped for sandwiches and hot drinks in a pub in Doonveagha, the went along the coast to Roundstone.
Roundstone is a small fishing port with a few sailing yachts. There are several restaurants and shops - plenty for the visitors who are not too numerous. There are lovely views of boats, the bay and the 12 Bens. The '12 Bens' is the name of a collection of small mountains, the tallest being about 700m. They are at a distance from Roundstone and tend to look rather dark. In the changing light, they vary from black to green, but they are not far enough away to look blue.

The place where we stayed had been a hotel. A young man in the middle of decorating came to the door, at first saying that he wasn't ready and he could recommend another place. Then he changed his mind and gave us a very nice room with a view over the bay to the mountains for €23 each. His mother had run the place as a hotel, but died 3 years ago, saying she wanted them to run it as a B & B. He is trying to get it going again.

Meal in a seafood restaurant (oysters/ sea food pie). Music at the community centre - all local talent including school childrens with tin whistles. We looked out over the bay from our bed.

Connemara	Connemara
Roundstone Quay and the Bens	Roundstone Quay and the Bens
Roundstone Quay and the Bens	Roundstone
Roundstone	Musical evening at Roundstone