Day 4 - Listowel to Ballyvaughan (Lisdoonvarna) - Aug 26th

https://www.strava.com/activities/185576505

Starting the day with, of course, a full Irish breakfast (with no black pudding to both the Chrises delight and my chagrin) we set of on what looked on paper as an easy day since it was relatively short and flat. But it turned out to be a bit of a slog. Cycling east along the bank of the Shannon was into a brisk headwind that offered no respite. Much of the time we were having to pedal on the downhill sections - murder on these old thighs. On the plus side there was no rain today but still pretty overcast.

Brendan takes on fuel at 33miles

Beautiful views of the Shannon and it's many power stations plus a surprising number of failed hotels and businesses along the tourist route. Every other house seems to offer bed and breakfast so there must be at least seasonal trade to pick up. 

Ireland's sensible cycle lanes on the N roads. 

Crossing the river just west of Limerick gave us some faster and easier cycling until the wind changed as we went through Sixmilebridge and into a predominately uphill run into Lisdoonvarna where we are staying tonight. 

Crossing at Limerick. 

The hotel billed itself on the web as being in Ballyvaughan but is actually some 10km south in Lisdoonvarna, a town that seems to pride itself on matchmaking. Next door to the hotel is a bar called "The Matchmaking Bar" and posters for the "Matchmaking Festival" are all over the area. We decide to give it a miss. 

Guinness, dinner and bed is the plan.

Two pints of Guniness, a great Irish stew whilst being entertained by the house Irish band Ceolan then up to bed. Only to discover that our room is right over the stage and the band plays to midnight. Still nothing can keep me awake except perhaps my aching thighs. 

I probably should take the Irish advice.