A coastal ride not to be missed

      Having missed the last Waterford Crystal tour yesterday by minutes, I woke early this AM, packed up and hustled over there. One of the receptions remembering my disappointment yesterday and gave me a free admission.  Do not miss this tour, the whole process is shown step by step and is fascinating.  The very skilled workers train for years in just one facet of the process.  The Finish company Fisker took it over along with Royal Dalton and a few other quality companies who have been struggling.

      The night before a man from San Jose arrived, the reception at the hostel was closed.  After some wondering around I found someone to check him in. Bunked out in my room, we hit it off.  He has been hard wired to a big Silicon Valley company for years, no vacations, long hours and now is facing age and sex discrimination. A woman CEO is replacing all the white male caucasians and there isn't much anyone can do.  With a buy out offer on the table, he is looking to buy a farm over here. Among other issues, he sees bad financial and political times on the horizon as do I.  Bill Lee, he is one of a growing number  individuals I have talked to who see the world around the middle class deteriorating.  Both Steven Hawkings and Elon Musk are predicting bad stuff on a global scale. Get on that bicycle and ride into the sunset while you still have time.

      Found my way out of Waterford and stuck to less traveled roads along the coast.  Plenty of hills but from Tramore to Dungarvan but the ride is spectacular.  The high cliffs jutting into the see, old farms, various ruins, the Atlantic crashing into cliffs, the wind; route R675, a must see.

     Dungarvan is charming but no hostels or campsites.  A greenway (rails to trails) comes into town but the accommodation are limited.  I back tracked two miles and found a nice hotel with camping located on the water.   While having dinner at the hotel, I watched a playoff Hurling match on television.  It is a national sport and dates back more than a thousand years.  It is a tribal sport which has evolved into a county vs county completion. In learning about the game, a few Irishman have told me the sport is a cross between Rugby and Murder.  I think it has similarities to Lacrosse.  The Nords brought Lacrosse to North American and the Irish and Nords are essentially the same people.

     Tomorrow, it looks like I may try for Cork but I may have to take an N route.  Get the earbuds out and crank up the music.