Cycle Tour of Ireland

Thursday, 15 September 2011

STAGE 18 - Louth & Down

Stage 18 start:
Michael, Darcy and I standing at Tepee Valley Campsite.
Many thanks to Linda and her husband for their kind sponsorship.

http://tepeevalleycampsite.co.uk/default.aspx

Stage 18 Map

Start: Co. Armagh, Tepee Valley Campsite

Via: Co. Louth, Dundalk

Via: Co. Down, Downpatrick

Finish: Co. Down, Delamont Country Park

Stats

Date: Sunday 11^th September 2011

Time (in saddle): 5hrs 8min

Distance: 77miles

The rain and clouds made it difficult to appreciate the Co. Armagh countryside.

On our way into Dundalk, Co. Louth, Michael tries to convince a potential new recruit that this is a once-in-a-lifetime cycle around the 32 counties of Ireland and he should join the peloton.
Unfortunately it fell on deaf ears.

Me next to the monument commemorating the vist to Dundalk, Co. Louth, of President Bill Clinton on the 12th December 2000.

At the border of Co. Down.

As the rain clouds lifted the Mourne Mountains in Co. Down reveal themselves.

With it being a Sunday, the T.I.O and the St.Patrick's Centre in Downpatrick were both closed.
Michael standing outside the St.Patrick's Centre.

http://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/index.php

At Delamont Country Park camp site, Darcy reassures Michael he only has 30miles tomorrow and then it will be all over!

STAGE 17 - Co. Cavan, Monaghan & Armagh

Stage 17 start:
Not sure if Michael and I are convinced the off-road route Darcy is proposing is such a good idea.

Stage 17 Map

Start: Co. Cavan, Lough Ramor Caravan & Camping

Via: Co. Monaghan, Monaghan

Via: Co. Armagh, Armagh

Finish: Co. Armagh, Tepee Valley Campsite

Stats

Date: Saturday 10^th September 2011

Time (in saddle): 5hrs 58min

Distance: 92miles

Unfortunately the T.I.O. at Cavan was closed, but next door in the Johnston Central Library, Michael and I met Patricia Appleby who stamped and signed my stage 17 map.

http://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/cavan-tourist-office/72388

At the border of Co. Monaghan

Unfortunately the T.I.O. in Monaghan has been relocated. Luckly Monaghan Leisure Complex was next door to the old T.I.O. and Michelle Leonard was happy to stamp and sign my stage stage 17 map.

The wall at The Market Place, Armagh holding me up.

http://www.marketplacearmagh.com/about/

The amazing St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.

http://www.stpatricks-cathedral.org/

Tonight we will stay at Tepee Valley Campsite just outside Markethill, Co. Armagh. We brought our own accommodation, in the form of a camper van, but they provide options for an alternative sleepover experience in the form of a Gypsy caravan, Yurt, Tepee and log cabin. Check it out at:

http://tepeevalleycampsite.co.uk/default.aspx

STAGE 16 - Co. Offaly, Westmeath & Meath

Start of Stage 16: My mate, Michael Pennance, has come over from London to take part in the next 4 stages (Many thanks fella). He will no doubt add a much needed boost to my morale and cycling.

Stage 16 Map

Start: Co. Offaly, Tullamore

Via: Co. Westmeath, Mullingar

Via: Co. Meath, Navan

Finish: Co. Cavan, Lough Ramor Caravan & Camping

Stats:

Date: Friday 9^th September 2011

Time (in saddle): 5hrs 33min

Distance: 91miles

At Tullamore T.I.O, Michael and I met Mary Heansey who kindly stamped and signed my Stage 16 map. She also gave us a 200ml bottle of Tullamore Dew to boost our spirits! Very tasty whiskey ........ and no we did not drink this when we were on our bikes.

http://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/tullamore-tourist-information-office/70951

At Mullingar T.I.O, Michael and I met the very chatty Stef Byre and Maeve Murray who kindly stamped and signed my Stage 16 map.
Many thanks to Mick Lynch for sponsoring us (Mick is the happy man sandwiched between the two ladies.)

http://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/mullingar-tourist-information-office/70945

Michael having a break outside Mullingar T.I.O.

Trim Castle

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/TrimCastle/

At Navan T.I.O in Solstice Arts Centre, Michael and I met Colette who stamped and signed our Stage 16 map.

http://www.solsticeartscentre.com/

Stage 16 Finish: 91 miles later we have safely made it to Lough Ramor Caravan & Camping. Thank you to the owner's contribution to the fund raising (sorry we didn't catch his name).

Wednesday, 7 September 2011

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.