Killeter, Northern Ireland
We may have been rained out yesterday, but oh did we get "trail magic"! About midday when the rain was taking a rest, we wandered into town to find water and power. Being Sunday not much was happening but we did find a wee pub open. They kindly took us in and fixed us coffee and toast, then later biscuits, and later yet, wine and beer! Collette and her husband have owned it for 25 years. It was the sweetest, cozies place to land on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Today we pedaled on but not until we stopped by for water and hugs!
When we look at weather reports here, they often show raindrops, a cloud, and sunshine all in the same icon. Now we know why. It means anything can happen and many times all three! That was today. Rain and cold, then sun and sweat. Jacket and pants on and off. At one time I was in my skirt with my raincoat, hat, and gloves on! We often look at the hourly forecast to see when the heaviest rain is expected but mostly see this trio. Today was most challenging because if we get too wet, we get too cold. Temps are in the high 50s to low 60s here and drop at least 10 degrees when one of those rain fronts passes over. In fact, the temp dropping means rain is coming. Today feeling that change in temperature and wind pick up I was worried about getting drenched when I spotted the open doors of a barn and cycled right in. April followed although she said she wouldn't normally do that. The sky opened up! We would have been so so wet. Good timing. It was a tractor barn and the farmer never knew he provided a haven for us.
Sometimes all we can do is stop, put up our umbrellas blocking the rain and huddle behind it with legs pulled up onto the bike frame. It works amazingly well and we sit waiting for the heavy stuff to pass. Rain. Sun. Rain. Sun. All day long. It just started raining again. And sometimes it rains when the sun is out, what the Irish refer to as "sun showers". We had a lot of them today!!!
Today after our huddle we cycled into a small village and saw a tent set up in front of a pub and pulled under it. The pub emptied out to study us and our funny bikes. Before we knew it everyone was riding them up and down Main Street racing each other. What a sight!
They found us a place to camp "in the garden", actually a small unmowed pasture in the Y just out of town. May have been a bad idea since the teens are already harassing us throwing rocks at our tents and propositioning April:). I followed them back up to the pub and told them we didn't want any trouble tonight. "Remember, we're Americans...and we carry guns!" Had to frighten them somehow! Hope it works.
Livin' the life,
BagLady
