d73 c- Sep7 Fri Dingle-Blasket Islands-Dingle

Day off from cycling, instead a boat out to the Blasket Isles, populated until 1952.
However the boat service from Dingle was cancelled and the substitute was a minibus to Dunquin then a shorter, smaller ferry to Gt Blasket.
View of the the unclouded parts of the Blasket Islea from Dunquin

The tiny port of Dunquin with its traditional rowing boats

A closer view of Gt Blasket sland

Getting from the ferry to Gt Blasket shore

The landing slip at Gt Blasket

Remains of habitation abandoned in 1952

Looking back at the mainland, Slea Head, from Gt Blasket Island

Clocked up 8,000 miles on this bike since summer 2009

d72 c28 Sep6 Thu 0945 Valentia Island-Dingle 1720 101k1929

Ferry from just outside the hotel, (once grand but now rather run down and with some low cost rooms)

to the mainland.
Looking down the channel at the lifeboat, the lighthouse and towards the Atlantic.

see yesterday's blog for the SUNSET version
Then E up the N Ring of Kerry shore, and W down the S Dingle coast into the wind.
100k day.
Met up with F in Dingle, relaxed over a beer or three, and enjoyed dinner and local music.

d71 c27 Sep5 Wed 0900 Sneem-Valentia Island 1515 46m1136

Out W along the S shore of Kerry then round the corner and N into beautiful bays

and natural harbours

Up through St Finan's Bay with views of the Skellig Michael, 10miles offshore, a site of pilgrimmage and an abandoned abbey.

then over  xxx head and down to Portmagee

Finally evening on Valentia Island (of BBC shipping forecast inshore waters fame)
looking from Knightstown harbour E to mainland Kerry hills

and looking NW through the channel to the Atlantic

.

d70 c26 Sep4 Tue 0902 Alihies-Sneem 1556 88k1755

First 5 miles the hardest yet this trip, steep ups and downs round a rocky headland.  
Then gradually the ruggedness softened cycling E along the N coast of the Beara peninsular.  
At Kenmare, crossed to the S coast of Kerry and headed W.

d69 c25 Sep3 Mon 0920 Bantry-Alihies 1515 43m1035

Beautiful morning.   Set out along the S coast of the Beara peninsular.
Weather fronts coming in from the SW were visible.   Eventaully the drizzle and fog arrived.  
Called in to say Hello at the internet cafe in Castletownbere, whose staff helped us when we were fixing our boat's drive failure. (see day35)
Passed the 1000 cycling milestone of this trip.
Wanted to experience the cable car crossinng to Dursey Island, but with visibilty down to not many feet, and soaked through, pushed on to Alihies for the evening.

d68 c24 Sep2 Sun 0840 Skibbereen-Mizen Head-Bantry 1618 58m992

Felt the legs were strengthening, after being cooped up while sailing, so went for a 60miler.
Out along the S coast of Mizen peninsualr to Mizen Head, reportedly the most SW part of the Irish mainland.   Must have been one of the calmest days ever at Mizen Head.
Visited the lighthouse

Got a view of the prior day's Cape Clear and a distant Fastnet Rock

Cycled back along the N coast of the Mizen peninsular and then over the start of the Sheep's Head peninsular and down into Bantry bathed in early evening sunshine.

d67 c23 Sep1 Sat 1300 Baltimore-Cape Clear-Skibbereen 1416 15k1502

Visited (by ferry) Cape Clear Island, the most southern inhabited part of Ireland.
Could just about make out the Fastnet rock in the distance as we approached our harbour.

Even in today's benign weather, the entrance seemed tight, but it must be quite a challenge in foul conditions.

Returned to Baltimore,

and cycled to Skibbereen for the night.