Despite assurances when I checked-in that there’d be some scran available when I showed my face at 0620 the following morning, you never quite believe it. Well, now I’m a believer! Various cereals and tea and toast all a go-go…get in er, get gone!
This absolute beauty was waiting to say hello after only 5 miles…wow!
Couldn’t care less it the weather had a word.
Wot he said.
Seriously, this kinda thing oughta be part of the National Curriculum and NHS!
I didn’t expect such a treat early-doors but after 15 miles you’re back into slightly more normal surroundings and trundling on to Letterkenny (Ireland’s tidiest town in 2015, lest anyone forgets) in increasingly rubbish weather.
Pretty comfortable armchair for early elevenses at Letterkenny. Rocking a Mocha.
This is how dreich it was: even the locals were sheltering!
The objective for today was to reach Malin Head which is the most northerly point on the mainland. It wasn’t gonna give up without a struggle though: between the wind, rain and gradients it had a decent defence.
Too soon, too soon!
There are two ‘orrible climbs protecting MH…this one is merely a nuisance. Wot headwind, hah-hah!
Right then: get the photo, look around, sod-off. #sorted
It is a helluva landscape though…maybe not one for softies like me though.
Okay, job done? Well, sorta…now to retrace about 10 miles to a spot where I hid my panniers, as I it would’ve been too grim to lug them up as well. Result! There they are and away we go to tonight’s acco in Moville!
Used to seeing sheep at the side of the road, but cows? Why not indeed!
#acceptable
I welcomed any downhill, whether lethal to cars or not.
Was going with a different blog song until I saw this poor sod!
Don’t care if it is a tad on the basic side of things…only here for 14 hours. #movealong
This was a more difficult day than I bargained for: maybe I sorta reckoned that being near to the end of the challenge, somehow things would just happen and that would be that. Nah, no way Pedro. So that’s what made this day a bit more special than others…that, and the donations that keep pushing us to very nearly £10k. I’d love to say that tomorrow’s route was nailed-on: I do know where I’ve gotta finish…it should have a couple of sights along the way. I hope!
Rosato’s bar was the spot: ace grub and Guinness. Oh, and iced water…cheers!
Not in any immediate rush to do that again, hah-hah!
And so to today’s blog tune- an absolute belter from Webb & Campbell. Just perfect…good night!
Hold on- there’s no way it’s 0601hrs already…I demand a recount or at least another couple of hours! No dice, so it’s up and hope that the early staff don’t mind me helping myself to their breakfast stores. In the event, they were very helpful…even got a coffee. It’s the little things, sometimes innit?
The forecast was not wrong. More’s the pity, hah-hah!
Dunno why Peter Wyngarde is revered here particularly, but there you are.
That’s a still from ‘Ghost’, right?
At least it wasn’t raining anymore. Small wins ahoy!
I’ll not give you a load of bs and say it was fun for the first 25 miles or so: you’re not exactly pulling up trees progress-wise, and you know that time slips away faster than you realise. There’s that and also the fact that it’s sorta the rush hour around here, so folk aren’t as inclined to look-out for you as they otherwise might. Give us a shoulder, please! Lo- that’s what happened…eventually.
Was a big deal to stop in Ballyshannon to say hello to the only Gallagher that matters.
Looks a terrific town: wanna return for their festival!
No. Not one clue. Is it prog?
Leaving town…gotta keep plodding.
Hadn’t noticed, hah-hah!
In all honesty, the winds were as advertised but it could’ve been a sight worse. I mean, when I’m going up any hills I’m so slow anyway…what’s the difference? The sun even broke through later and it makes everything a little better…or at least not quite as bad, hah-hah!
My kind of Sat Nav.
I stopped briefly at some small town about 60 miles in: a bloke parked his car and said hello, and had I come far? I said Sligo, but wasn’t too sure if it was 35 or 40 miles left: his reply was that I was a lot nearer Gortahork than Sligo! Fair point, well made. Everyday brings some interaction with either locals or fellow tourists.
Yesterday I was stuffing my face with a tuna sandwich about 10am when a local old boy asked where I was going: Sligo. He nodded and asked if I’d be stopping for lunch and a drink at some completely random pub on the way? No…no Sir, I would not. Fair enough he goes and wishes me luck! Or the random friendly beep from a SUV today, or the shouts of ‘Allez, allez’ from a couple of French tourists. They *know* about cycling, hah-hah!
I had forgotten to mention that when I was up at checkpoint number two (Mizen Head, last Tuesday), an Aussie couple stopped me and asked what I was all about: they had passed me on the road and remembered the CL colours. Nice one! It’s the little things…
Entirely satisfactory.
Hah-hah/a huh-huh!
Mount Errigal looking all that.
As advertised, today’s stage was shy of a century by five miles: zero guilt or any of that ‘I’ll do extra tomorrow to make them up’ cobblers. We’re now through 1000 miles in ten days, so that’s good enough for Government work!
Usual knee playing-up malarkey: Pharamacist recommended this non-medicated stuff over Voltarol…it is ace!
Tonight’s acco…Hobson’s Choice given the remote nature of things.
Don’t mess with the formula.
It’s so heartening to see the total tick ever closer to £10,000. You might be tired of hearing it but I can’t get tired of thanking all who have given. It’s a big deal. The standard two items of business remain…
Would defo have had your arm off if you’d offered that at 0715hrs!
Today’s tune has to be from the G-Man: thankfully there wasn’t too much brute force today but the usual quota of ignorance remained, Go on Rory!
It was a bit tricky trying to get some breakfast but it sorta worked: after three hours of sleep (the band called it a day after their 25th encore and the guests were vocal until 0200hrs. Gits, hah-hah!
She kept watch at the top of the stairs. Frankly terrifying.
One is a relic, too thirsty and causes noxious emissions. Other one has four doors!
No way could the scenery match yesterday’s, but there were some spots…
I was quite looking forward to the first stop after 25 miles, not least for a Mocha. From the world’s slowest pouring coffee machine. Irrational sleep-deprived rage talking there, hah-hah!
Fall-back if the punditry work dries up.
Why that’s my hometown!
Hurry up you cart! Yeah, because 30 secs will make all the difference over 10 hours…
S’alright innit?
You sure about this move, Paul?
Downhill! Followed by uphill! Bollocks!
Sticking to the coast wasn’t all bad then.
Despite the not entirely kind winds, progress was okay and a late lunch was called at 65 miles in Ballina. No real dramas I thought…maybe another 35 miles and we’re home and hosed. Not so fast, pal. Er…the route in to Sligo was a main drag and a couple of local cyclists advised against it as there was almost zero shoulder and the majority of the motorists viewed the 100km/h signs as minimum speeds. No thanks. I went for the slower and longer scenic route even though it added on a few rolling bonus miles.
Your usual table, Sir? Mais our et bonnet de douche. Blinding! #teamtayto
Mate- tow me to Sligo and there’s a century in it for you.
The farmer had no problem stopping the herd for me. Does this at 0700 and 1600 every day. Can take an hour to move all 700 cattle!
If you can find them, maybe you can hire…the G-Team!
Basically it ended-up being a 110 mile day: I’ll be drawing-down on those excess miles tomorrow, as it’s probably about 95 miles…into a headwind. Still, don’t have nightmares! Tonight’s acco is fine and does not feature any live music acts within proximity. Bueno!
It wasn’t that tidy 3 mins later, hah-hah!
For Pauline…Geoff’s Mum.
So there was the small matter of finding the right pub for the post-stage Guinness: it can’t be any old gaff…in the event, Furey’s was the right choice!
Lovin’ your work!
Oh yus indeed.
Somewhere under there is a steak. Sorry, was.
The standard two items of business remain…
Not a complete walk in the park. Job done though. Onwards!
And the tune of the day is one ID’s finest, which means it is very good indeed…(sorry, that was another of his!)
There’s only another £650 to reach the magic ‘five figures’. Outstanding effort from everyone innit!
