Biking across the country . . . everyone says your mad. But like most things like this I say yes first and think about the reality too late to skip out on the plan. Only one of the six of us had any experience of cycling long distances and as these things work, she was the only one who got injured. My faith in humanity was renewed as locals let us sleep in their fields and offered us tea. But only slightly as our entertaining trip to Knock reminded me that you get more people every day going to absurd religious sights and taking it seriously then you would get to any libertarian event in Dublin. Considering all the blasphemous things we did while in Knock we better be right about there not being a god!

Our trip started off in full force that has us cycling through many a country and 117 kms in the first day. If we didn't have a bed waiting for us at the end of that day I would have given up and fallen into any ditch to make the pain go away. But in the end it was all worth it, we left the green fields of the midlands and arrived to the coast of Mayo. All I have to say is I heart Mayo.

With my illumimous vest stating Shell to Sea that I never seemed to take off and ruined many a photo with the reflection I could pretend that yes this fun bike ride had some thing to do with politics. But the reality is the few flyers we gave out were just an after thought to things like swimming in the bay of Grainne Whales castle and sitting at the edge of cliffs while we
ate our picnic.

So don't worry I havn't become a lifestylist . . . just needed a holiday and believe you me the weather was with us the whole way. They say the Rossport solidarity camp is no holiday but when the weather is like this and they are located at one of the most beautiful spots in all of ireland with an isolated beach you can't go wrong.

Click here to see a photo essay of the weekend and here to read a random bits about the bike ride.

Labels: Biking, Ireland, Social Movements, Travel