Completing the Course

Taking a break from biking

On the last day of our cycling tour we had a 16 mile bike ride in the morning, followed by lunch and a 12 hour ride back to Ennis. We biked directly up the Burren mountainside for about 4 miles, congratulating ourselves for finally, after 4 days on the road, having leg muscles strong enough to tackle the steep climb with confidence. As we reached the top of the mountain we could sense the history of the land, wedge tombs dotted the countryside and the stone fences got bigger, yet more dilapidated with each passing mile. We said goodbye to our last view of the ocean and peddled inland.

Ancient tomb

We rode in silence and let the deep history of the land wash over us. You could feel the serenity of the mountain top and the only sound was the occasional meadowlark. We rounded a corner and saw a deep valley populated with large trees, a rarity in the barren mountain landscape. Here the stone fence lining the property was the oldest and biggest I had seen yet and a peacefulness filled the air. I pulled over, "Dad I feel the need to trespass." I told him as I parked my bike and unlatched the old metal fence. The small field we entered was littered with large moss covered boulders and arctic wildflowers. An ancient stone corral was in the center with a perfect view of the vast, forested valley below. A lost cow mooed in the distance. It was here that I left some of Thomas' ashes, safely tucked into some moss and covered with purple wildflowers. An eternal view fit for an Irish King.

The Poulnabrone Dolmen

Little did I know that the ancient people of Ireland had the same idea and less than a half-mile down the road we pulled up to the Poulnabrone dolmen. A wedge tomb, the poulnabrone dolmen holds the remains of approximately 20 adults and 6 children as well as their personal belongings including quartz crystals, pottery and bone pins. It was constructed between 4200 and 2900 BC., making it older than both the pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge by at least a thousand years.

A friendly Irish horse

We stopped for coffee at a medieval homestead and then pushed on hard. We got sandwiches to go and enjoyed a picnic at the bottom of the restored Dysert O'Dea castle. A few miles later we stopped to pet a pair of beautiful brown horses and watch a farmer cut his hay. When we got back to Ennis we gathered up our luggage and caught the bus just in time for the 5 hour ride to Dublin. Our Dublin hostel was less than exciting to look at so we ditched our bags and headed to a nearby pub for the best Irish music we had heard yet. Rowdy and drunk, the musicians performed many old classics including the beautiful "Galway Shawl." We got a restless night's sleep as the drunks of Dublin choose our window to fight and yell under.

To view the complete map of our County Clare cycling tour, complete with stops and descriptions, click here.