Day 6 - Clifden to Achill Island

We were greeted by a beautiful, sunny morning today. After another ridiculously large breakfast, Aladin and I were on our way to what would become a fantastic day of riding through some absolutely beautiful scenery.

Along the coast road northwest of Clifden.

Kylemore Abbey, built in the 1860s by Mitchell Henry, a wealthy Manchester businessman and later member of the Irish Parliament. Henry built the house as a gift for his wife after they had honeymooned in the area. Nuns, fleeing Belguim during World War I, took over the house and converted it into an Abbey. Today it is an exclusive private girls' boarding school.

Typical road along the west coast...narrow, twisty, and full of sheep!

Our sunny morning soon turned cloudy and windy but the scenery was still stunning.

We spent most of our day making leisurely progress up the west cost toward Achill Island. Achill (rhymes with "crackle") is a beautiful, mountainous island attached to the mainland via a short bridge. We rode, and then hiked, to a look-out spot at the top of island.

The view to the west end of Achill Island.


I got to use my cool new travel tripod for this shot.

Feeling a little closer to God up here...

More beautiful riding on Achill Island.

When we arrived in the village of Keel in the late afternoon, we started looking for a place to stay. A woman working in the local grocery store sent us to Joyce's Marian Villa, where Ann, the innkeeper, greeted us with tea and biscuits. The hospitality was beyond our expectations. Ann made dinner reservations for us and sent us to Moyteoge Head, on the western end of the Island, to watch the sunset.

On the road to Moyteoge Head, looking back toward the cliffs on the south coast of Achill Island.

Our sunset destination was this beach on the western end of the island. Finally some beautifully clear weather and nice light for photography.

The beach at Moyteoge Head.

Every time we stopped in a beautiful place, Aladin called his wife to tell her that he missed her and wished she could be with him to share the sights. Then he made me take photos of him talking to her on the phone (or leaving her a message) so they could share them later. What a great husband!

Aladin having a long-distance phone date with is wife Susie.

The cliffs of Achill Island.

We ended a nearly perfect day of riding with an outstanding meal and some great conversation. Doesn't get too much better than this!