Biking the Waterford Greenway (9/24)

[Chris]

For our Wednesday adventure, we made it down to the southern coast for the first time, which we discovered is only about 30 minutes away!  That area has a "Greenway" which is an old railroad converted to a biking path.  We decided to rent bikes starting in Dungarvan and heading toward Waterford (home of the famed crystal 1783, and the oldest city in Ireland, Vikings 914, although of course people have lived in Ireland for many thousands of years).

Since it was the first time biking in a few decades for some of us, we decided to do the half-ride, which was about 30 miles round trip.  Not long enough to be miserable, but long enough to be sore.  We stopped at a boxcar diner in Kilmacthomas (church of the son of Thomas?) before turning around.  It was about 6 hours with all of our stops and photoshoots.

After our ride, we walked around town a bit to stretch our legs, backs, and necks and saw Dungarvan Castle, which was a little underwhelming.  I mean it was fine, but compared to the other 3 castles we've seen it was pretty run down, only has 2 spaces to look inside, and is under reconstruction.  But it is a rare example of a polygonal castle in Ireland and it is right on the ocean!

 

We were so young and innocent before we started

Setting out for Mordor Kilmacthomas

Our first view of the ocean (for readers from Grand Rapids, the ocean is a large body of water like Lake Michigan, but with salt).

The beach

The cliffs

Picturesque

A verdant tunnel

A literal tunnel

When I realized this used to be a railroad, the half-mile underground tunnel made more sense.  It seemed like a bit of overkill for a regular bike path.  The tunnel was eerie, it was much darker (and full of spiders) than this photo portrays.  It's so dark you are required to walk your bike.  The light here is the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel (and a long exposure due to night mode).

The path was mostly through farmland

If Doug S is reading, these are small-town Irish fire trucks. 

Stopping for lunch.  All of the eateries in this one-stoplight town cater to cyclists.  This one is literally on the path.

Another view of the ocean through a little tributary

I was excited to find this green rock in Ireland, but everyone told me it wasn't green.  I'll let the internet decide.

Almost back

Stopping for a final snack at a rock picnic table

30 minutes before closing, Dungarvan Castle was empty so we got a private screening of the history of the castle.

Its primary function in recent centuries (until 1987 in fact) was as barracks for soldiers and later, police officers

A small circular room is available for weddings (small weddings presumably)

The polygonal keep

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Who me?  No, I'm not tired at all (just to be clear, this photo was staged)

The view from the outside (there are multiple depths in this image, even though it looks like one piece of wall)

Walking the sidewalk along the bay before we head home.  Just FYI, there were no rails of any kind.  One misstep puts you in the drink.