Well, this year the black beetle had been replaced by a long haired reddish/brown/black caterpillar this time about as long as your little finger. Though I I'm glad to say that the little beetle has returned from about two days ago.
I like to think that this road run of the beetle and caterpillar is a kind of selfless one beetle/catapilar anti-car protest unnoticed in the human world (until now) but much admired in the insect world. Unfortunately unlike the hedgehog or rabbit, when one doesn't make it, you can't really tell, there is nothing much to see.
Irish sport
Here's an odd thing. I've been studying Irish sport. Which is different to any other sport in the world. So they take something similar to our football and decide you can also pick the ball up. It makes a great game, and it's called Gaelic Football. Much better than our own version.
Then there is hurling. Which is amazingly skillful. Fearghal tells me that if you haven't started playing by the time you are 5-6 then you won't ever be any good. It involves a hockey stick with a much wider hitting bit, again you can handle the ball (I think). Once more, a great sport that seems to have passed the rest of the world by.
Then there is shinty. Similar to hurling but but you can, apparently whack an opposition player with your stick, with the understanding that he can whack you back even harder. This is what football/soccer would be like with no red or yellow cards. Worth trying I reckon.
Finally, and my favourite, one that doesn't seem to have a name. We'll call it 'Walking slightly faster than normal, but swinging your arms a lot'. This seems to be for women only (though I did see one man participating yesterday and looking a bit sheepish about it). It's for pairs or threes people. Can take place on any road side. Seems to go on for miles and miles and involves quite a lot of talking, probably discussing tactics.
Apollo 13 and my bike
I had a little problem with my bike which was solved by the great folk at Royce Hubs back in England making me a new freewheel and mailing overnight to O'Sullivan's in Killarney who then fixed my bike as I passed through (only a tiny detour). Amazingly all for no cost. I can't believe the generosity of people all along on this trip.
After my freewheel had been replaced, I had a new little problem. The chain dropping off the cassette at the back and locking, which isn't too nice when you are bombing down a hill. So I have had to be a little more gentle in dropping the gears. To do this I remembered a scene from Apollo 13 where (Jack, I think) puts a bit of tape over a button with 'don't press' written on it. This is the bit where they are tired and cold and trying to fix the carbon monoxide filter. So I pinched this idea and put a bit of tape around the gear shifter to remind me in the excitement of a hill to be a bit careful.
Dogs
You can never tell with dogs when you're on your bicycle. Ireland has about two dogs per head of population, and about half are trained pretty well and about half are well pretty wild I'd say. Of the half wild ones, about half are tethered by chains, so can howl and bear their fangs at you, but that's about it. Its the other half that you have to worry about, some just can't be doing with you. But every now and then one or two or three will sprint out and have a go at you. You have to decide (depending on breed and age) whether you can out sprint them. If not, sometimes you've got to get off the bike and shout them out. This works sometimes, as they are surprised at this and don't know how to react. Anyway it's scary and I just wish there were a few less.
Bars and shops
I have collected many photos on my way of lovely bars and shops, here are a few.