HUFFING & PUFFING.......

…….. I complete Stage 15 in the driving rain and gale force winds.

Stage 14 & 15 - View looking towards Wicklow Gap.

Great stuff the sponsorship keeps coming, it now totals £2,942.50 (including gift aid). Many thanks. I would love to raise more, so if anyone else would still like to sponsor me (even small amounts add up) click on the web link below:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/cycletourofireland

Since completing the 115miles of Stage 9 I thought a new pair of shades and clip-in cycle shoes would help speed me along on the rest of the tour ……… this has been a bit of wishful thinking on my behalf.

Out with the old broken shades and in with the new.

Out with the old footy trainers and in with the new clip-in shoes and peddles. I will now become at one with the bike.
As I find out on Stage 14 & 15 this is not so good when a gust of wind comes along, there is no way of getting your feet out to prevent a tumble.
I become at one with the bike........I fall over (twice) connected to the bike.

Stages 10 to 15, through Counties Tipperary (South), Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wicklow, Dublin, Kildare and Laois, have been a hard slog. For example the moment I got on the bike at Nore Valley Farm, Co.Kilkenny to start Stage 12 my legs felt like lumps of lead and the whole cycle ended up being a very, very labored 76mile cycle. Thank goodness I had a rest day the next day.

But without doubt the hardest day of the tour so far has been the 70miles of Stage 14 & 15.  The combination of the hill climbs through Wicklow Gap, gale force winds, rain, sheep jumping out in front of me and falling off my bike twice made it a bonkers day. You know it is going to be a hard day's cycle when you have to peddle to go down hill (Rich Brown - any chance I could take you up on the offer of an electric bike?).

A peak just north of Wicklow Gap called Tonelagee or its Irish name “Tóin le Gaoith” meaning "back-side to the wind" captures the essence of the day.

Update on punctures

For the puncture sweepstake team (sick bunch) I have added a few photos to inform them on the brand and type of tyre on my bike. Anyone who knows his “onions” will be able to guess how the puncture rate is going?

Update on Stages Completed

Looking forward to Michael Pennance joining the team tomorrow (Thursday 8^th Sept.) for Stages 16 to 19. It will be good to have a fellow cyclist along.

Cheers

Ian

STAGE 14 & 15 - Co.Kildare & Laois

Start of Stage 14 & 15 at Hidden Valley Holiday Park.
Darcy is dressed for the weather conditions.

Stage 14 & 15 Map

Start: Co. Wicklow, Hidden Valley Holiday Park

Via: Co.Kildare, Naas

Via: Co.Kildare, Kildare

Finish: Co.Laois, Portlaoise

(transfer to Camac Valley Tourist Caravan & Camping, Clondalkin, Dublin)

Stats

Date: Tuesday 6^th September 2011

Time (in saddle): 6hrs 21min

Distance: 70miles

View over Rathdrum (Hidden Valley Camp site is in the middle of the picture) and the rain clouds over.
Lovely day...NOT.

View looking down Wicklow Gap.
The road I came up is on the left hand side of the photo (difficult to see).
The wind was gale force at times and made the climb a real hard slog (with a few pit stops along the way).

View looking over Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains behind.

http://www.glendalough.ie/

At Kildare County Council in Naas I met the very smiley Sandra Fenton who kindly stamped and signed my Stage 14/15 map. 

http://www.agparchitects.ie/civic_kildare.html

At the border of Co.Laois

Unfortunately, by the time I had huffed and puffed my way through the gale force winds on Stage 14 / 15, both Kildare and Portlaoise Tourist Information Offices were closed.

At Portlaoise leisure centre car park ........ just about had enough.

Please give as generously as you can via www.virginmoneygiving.com – a heartfelt thanks from my Mum, other MS sufferers and me.

STAGE 13 - Co.Wicklow & Dublin

Stage 13 Map

Start: Co. Wicklow, Hidden Valley Holiday Park

Via. Co.Wicklow, Wicklow

Finish: Co.Dublin (Train from

Pearse Street

Station back to camp site)

Stats

Date: Monday 5^th September 2011

Time (in saddle): 4hrs 21min

Distance: 47miles

At the border to Co.Wicklow.

At Wicklow Tourist Information Office I met Sandra Moffatt who kindly signed my Stage 13 map.

Monument to commemorate the Leinster 200 Motorcycle Races.

http://www.baltoracer.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1877

Picture from Greystones looking towards Dublin.

View of Killiney Bay with the Wicklow Mountains in the back ground.

Dalkey Island.

At Dublin T.I.O. I met Michelle McGroarty who kindly signed my Stage 13 map.  Also thanks to the security guard who took the photo and kept an eye on my unlocked bike while I was in the T.I.O.

Molly Malone on Grafton Street, Dublin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Malone

Please give as generously as you can via www.virginmoneygiving.com – a heartfelt thanks from my Mum, other MS sufferers and me.

STAGE 12 - Co.Kilkenny & Carlow

Start of Stage 12. Beccy & Darcy are feeding the animals in the farm behind me.

Stage 12 Map

Start: Co. Kilkenny, Nore Valley Park

Via: Co. Kilkenny, Kilkenny

Via: Co. Carlow, Carlow

Finish: Co. Wicklow, Hidden Valley Holiday Park

Stats

Date: Saturday 3^rd September 2011

Time (in saddle): 5hrs 52min

Distance: 76miles

Darcy hanging out with his new mate Mr Rabbit.

At Kilkenny T.I.O. I met Lynda Browne who kindly stamped and signed my Stage 12 map. 

Kilkenny Castle viewed from the River Nore

At the border of Co.Carlow.

Unfortunately I arrived at Carlow T.I.O. during lunch hour and it was closed.

I met two ladies in Carlow who were also using a sponsored cycle to raise money.
In this case they were raising money for the elderly. Best of luck.

Please give as generously as you can via www.virginmoneygiving.com – a heartfelt thanks from my Mum, other MS sufferers and me.

STAGE 11 - Co.Wexford

Darcy and I ready for Stage 11.
I am starting to think I could do with stabilizers.

Stage 11 Map

Start: Co. Wexford, Ocean Island

Via: Co. Wexford, Wexford

Finish: Co. Kilkenny, Nore Valley Park

Stats

Date: Friday 2^nd September 2011

Time (in saddle): 5hrs 29min

Distance: 73miles

At the border of Co.Wexford.

Street in Wexford town.

The old and new buildings of Wexford town.

Wexford Tourist Information Office

At Wexford T.I.O. I met Caroline Walshe who kindly stamped and signed my Stage 11 map. 
A keen cyclist herself she was able to give me a few tips on the route ahead. Many thanks.

A few indigenous animals I spotted grazing next to River Slane just outside Wexford.

View of River Slane and the Blackstairs Mountains that I will be cycling up, in the background. 

Pit stop at a road side well. Thanks Paddy.

Please give as generously as you can via www.virginmoneygiving.com – a heartfelt thanks from my Mum, other MS sufferers and me.

STAGE 10 - Co.Tipperary(S) & Waterford

No I am not trying to do the can-can.
Look .....my new clip-in shoes and shades, brilliant the rest of the tour will be easy. NOT

Stage 10 Map

Start: Co. Cork, Dungarvan, Bayview Caravan & Camping Park

Via: Co. Tipperary (S), Clonmel

Via; Co.Waterford, Waterford

Finish: Co. Wexford, Ocean Island

Stats

Date: Thursday 1^st September 2011

Time (in saddle): 6hrs 31min

Distance: 86miles

My food reserves for the day.



What looks to be a very bizarre sit down protest by the sheep in Co.Waterford.
You can see the ring leader standing in the middle.  



Me at the borders of Co.Tipperary & Waterford.

At Clonmel T.I.O. I met Shirley O’Dayer who kindly stamped and signed my Stage 10 map.
She also took my photo outside the office.

At Waterford T.I.O. Breda O’Halloran signed my Stage 10 map.
Her son will be doing a sponsored cycle from Mizen Head to Malin Head (most southern and northern points of Ireland) Respect for taking on the challenge, if you would like any tips feel free to contact me. The best of luck.

Just about to get the boat from Passage East to Ballyhack, crossing from Co.Waterford into Co.Wexford.

Beccy & Darcy at Ballyhack.

Please give as generously as you can via www.virginmoneygiving.com – a heartfelt thanks from my Mum, other MS sufferers and me.