The annual pilgrimage West

From Beara, Iveragh · The 2-Day Weekend Tour

"Hoping for some bit of half decent weather this weekend for the annual pilgrimage West and haulin' up for a couple of nights in Glenbeigh." That was the plan, posted on the Thursday. The weather had other ideas — and it didn't matter a bit.

The route, for the record: Crookstown, Kealkill, Glengarriff, then the length of the Beara — Castletownbere, Eyeries — across to Kenmare, and down the Ring to Glenbeigh. With Dave Keating and Ross Long along for the run.

When a friend ribbed us afterwards — "ye got savage weather" — the honest answer was: 100%, had a great ride. Some of the best days on a bike are the ones the forecast tries to talk you out of.