Meandered along the coast

      So the other day when I was pedaling out of Doolin, this guy and two women pass me going the other direction. They had the panniers but nowhere near what I had. The guy blurted out "you have too much stuff".  Thanks for the unsolicited remark, buddy.  After think about it, I realized, in fact, he had three times the baggage I had, his accommodations and food costs were no doubt costing him geometrically more than mine and, finally, he was probably enduring immeasurably more aggravation.  I bicycle solo for a reason.

      It was nice to weave my way out of Galway.  Very cool but the coastal roads were scarcely traveled and the scenery was awesome.  When I arrived in Galway two days ago in the state of extreme fatigue, I decided a new strategy was need.  Instead of just one rest stop, I am taking two, one after twenty miles, the other after forty.  When I hit the four hour mark of actual riding, I will start looking for a place to stay.  Today, I made it to Carna, just over fifty miles. No camping sites, no hostels, just B&Bs.  Now I could have pushed onto Roundstone another 18 miles away but I decided stay at a cheap B&B and save my strength for another day.  Twenty-five euros for the night includes breakfast, not bad. Better than stealth camping with no shower and rain predicted for tomorrow.

      As I pedaled along today, I suddenly noticed all the English-Gaelic signs had changed to just Gaelic.  I felt I had crossed an unmarked boarder into a foreign country.  I heard it spoken by a teacher to his students in the Galway Museum but to hear everyone in the village speak  the language was weird.  It is called speaking Irish.

      Along the way I came across a wagon full of rectangular chunks of peat and I saw smoke coming from chimneys smelling was kind of earthy.  Backwoods Ireland is alive and well.

       Tomorrow I will head for Clifden, about forty miles away. 90% chance rain

is predicted so the small shower I encounter today may be only a prelude to a very

wet day on the road tomorrow. I have been expecting it and have the gear to handle it. I hope I can find a hostel instead of setting up camp in the rain, all part of the experience.