Day 5, June 25, 2005

On the fifth day of our tour, we traveled through Connemara to Westport/Kilmeena, a total of 205 km. We made several stops along the way, including Killary Fjord near Leenane, Delphi, Croagh Patrick (Ireland's holy mountain), and Connemara National Park.

Croagh Patrick, at 762 meters, is a well-known pilgrimage site. Looking west, you can see the islands in the Atlantic; to the south, the Mayo and Connemara mountain ranges; to the east, the plains of Central Mayo; and to the north, Clew Bay and Achill Island. Connemara National Park is also worth a visit; besides interesting hiking trails (not necessarily suitable for motorcyclists), there's a small museum and a documentary film, which is also available in German. And of course, we mustn't forget the hungry robin that helped us with our snack.

During our stay in Westport, also a lovely town, we had a good meal before heading to our accommodation in Kilmeena. We highly recommend the Buckfield Inn, which has its own pub. Bikes can be parked behind the building and are therefore not visible from the street. A great choice.

At first, we sat outside, since smoking is now banned in Irish pubs. Later, we joined the friendly Irish people inside. We started by playing pool, which later turned into an hours-long international match with friendly, laughter-filled Irishmen. And before we forget: pubs are like family; you'll find men and women there, all of whom love to laugh.

Anyone wanting to stay overnight in Westport should book the Buckfield Inn, even though it's a bit outside the town. With the people and their mentality, anyone who doesn't stay there would be missing out on a true taste of Ireland.