Over the hill (and not so far away)
Cycle out to Cross Barry, and back via Killumney.Had bright idea to try to cycle a rather more "loopy" loop that usual. More width/minor axis, or some such. Specifically, I thought via Bandon and Macroom... almost immediately revising this ambition to Bandon and Crookstown... thence to Innishannon and Aherla. Eventually, after thinking about doing this on Sunday, then failing to move, then having a similarly sluggardly start today, hauled up the Bandon road, turning off at Aherla and along the redundant little road that parallels the N71 as far as Cross Barry. Didn't drop into Barrett's Bar in Killeady, but couldn't resist a cycle past and a peek in the window. Seems Monday evening is a slow night, even for them. On to Cross Barry, and found the road north. Fairly gentle climbing, especially compared to many other of the anonymous tracks over those nameless hills.
Quarry/stone mill still running, rather late at night, looking rather dramatic against the skyline. Google Maps had suggested a somewhat zig-zaggy course, but on the ground, I was neither entirely certain which one it was (squinting at my map in the gloom), nor did I much fancy the look of them in the conditions. Something whacked into my neck on the way up; felt bigger and... fleshier than the average insect... Wonder if it was a big moth, or a small bat. So, kept on going directly ahead, about 6km fairly steadily up over the hill to Begley's Forge. Had a pause there to sort out layers; getting a little chilly, and hiviz seemed indicated, too. Car drove past with a bike on a rack on the back. Some more procrastination on my part, and the same car drove back to see if I was OK, asking if I needed a spare tube or the like. I was thankful for the concern, but onward I went to Killumney (so, the loop had become that bit shorter again). Stars out a fair bit; another possible satellite, possible high-flying aircraft. (ETA: probably just an aircraft, if the websites on satellite visibility are to be believed. But they do confirm that previous sighting was the ISS -- also sighted in the twilight of the 19th.) Right along the Killumney road to Greenfields roadabout, then back the main road from there. Things afoot the the Sarsfield roadabout! Man with a... burny thing, causing an amazing amount of stink and smoke, apparently putting the finishing touches to the realignment back to where it'd been before... now just with a ton (or ten) of prestressed concrete piles, culvert sections, etc, to hold it all a bit steadier in the bog this time.
38.5k, rav of 18.6, FF of about 45m. Felt a little unambitious in the final event, but quite chuffed at having made it back from The Other Side of The Hill from the first time by any route other than the Bandon road itself.