Day 3 - Cork to Killarney - projected distance 60 miles.

Everything looks better in the sunshine, and Cork looked a much fairer city on this bright morning than it did in yesterday evening's drizzle. Cycling back out of town past the university I noticed lots of women 'power walking'. I don't know why they prefer to walk quickly in their tracksuits rather than jogging, but it's a local phenomenon. Sarah remarked on the same thing.

I was soon on the R618 which runs through the Lee Valley, a pretty gladed road alongside the river with occasional signs for salmon fishing. I passed through Dripsey, which bizarrely claims to have the shortest St Patrick's Day parade of the 20th century, Coachford, and then Macroom. By the castle in Macroom there was a small local market where I bought a bun to keep me going.

The other side of Macroom I found myself back on the main 'N' road to Killarney - another wide thoroughfare with plenty of room at the side for cyclists, not that I've seen very many in Ireland. About thirty miles into my ride I hit the Derrynasaggart mountains and the road rose up to 1000ft, but very gently. I had an equally gentle descent the other side and was able to keep my speed up to about 25-30mph for a few miles. By staying on the main road I trimmed a few miles off the total as well.

Once in Killarney, I found Sarah and children at the hotel, a hot bath and a late lunch waiting for me. My early finish meant we could explore some local sights together - Ross Castle, the Torc waterfall and Ladies' View. Flora soon overcame her disappointment that the National Park had no swings or slides. By now the sunshine had faded away, but we can't complain - not a drop of rain today.