The cyclists set off on day 6 more than 30 minutes late; though today they had a legitamate reason as Rita (our lovely B&B host) kept us occupied at breakfast talking about how in the not too distant past, women who were pregnant out of wedlock would be sent to the laundries and their child given up for adoption (pretty heavy for 8.45am!).
As we all departed on a grey and slightly damp morning though, the cyclists (after a few wrong turns) headed up the N17 towards Knock. Meanwhile, those of a motorised persuasion headed for the more meandering route north via Ross Friary and Lough Carrib. As the morning wore on and the cyclists were making good progress north, us in the car headed to Foxford Woollen Mill, a delightful place where you could not only see a working woollen mill and see its wears in the shop, but also sit in the café where we had tea 4 two!
As lunchtime approached the two parties merged in Knock, where we had all had toasties outside a local café and vistied the world famous Roman Catholic Pilgrimage sight, the 'Knock Shrine' where over 100 years ago observers stated they saw an apperation of the Virgin Mary appear. The shrine is visited by over 1.5 milllion each year who go to pray and get sample of the holy water that flows next to the church (if anyone would like some, Joe and I can do you a good deal!).
As we left Knock the two parties headed their seperate ways, only to be reunited later in the afternoon at our evening stop in Strandhill (just west of Sligo). Here we went for a short walk along the seafront, saw the sunset (sort of - it was cloudy), and took in the sea breeze, fresh air and 2 cray guys attempting to surf.
Owing to the fact that our rooms for the night were smaller than our hire car, we spent the evening in the local pub playing cards, eating food and sampling some of the local beers before heading to bed for a well earned rest.
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