Oxford Island – Ballyronan – 72 kilometres
Fortunately, most Irish are friendly, even offering dope. How nice of
them.
Lough Neagh is a freshwater lough and one of the largest in Western
Europe. I thus decided to follow its shore to Ballyronan, situated
along the northwestern shore. The path continued along tiny country
lanes, past small settlements and farms. The lake has an interesting
legend. It’s claimed the lake formed when the Irish giant Finn McCool
scooped out an earthen clod to toss at a Scottish rival fleeing Ulster
via the Giant’s Causeway. Finn’s shot fell into the Irish Channel and
formed the Isle of Man.
Ballyronan - Kesh (Lough Erne) – 101 kilometres
As usual, I packed up in the rain, but the weather soon cleared, and it
became a glorious day of riding. The route headed west, sticking to
the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, via Omagh to Kesh. In tiny
Kesh, it took biking up a serious hill to the campsite, only to find the
place wasn’t a campsite but a mobile home park with no camping
facilities. Bummer. The owner was accommodating enough and
allowed me to camp on a small patch of grass. He even unlocked a
mobile home so I could use the shower and toilet.