Day 14 The next morning was the coldest yet. I awoke early to get a good start on the day, and immediately made the decision not to get out of bed. I couldn’t bare to move the covers, instead curling into a tight ball and waiting until the sun rose and the earth began to …
County Cork
Day 13 Exiting the field the following morning I found myself looking out over an expansive lake, the early sun flickering down upon the water. It was a cold but beautiful ride into the heart of Kinsale, the road leading around one body of water or another. Nearing the centre, I chose a coffee shop …
Exhaustion, Ocean Views, and an Afternoon Sprint
Day 11 It took five Weetabix and a banana for me to feel anything like human after the long day of wet riding to Dingle. With a plan to cycle the peninsula loop that morning, I realised my bike would first need some attention. At the end of each day I had been diving into …
Storm Ali, Pouring Rains and Dingle Peninsula
Day 9 I awoke with a start worried that my tent might collapse under the force of the storm at any moment. The intense whooshing noise from the wind was accompanied by clattering sounds as objects outside were blown around. What to do? It sounded wild outside, should I sit here to wait it out? …
Downhill to Lahinch
Day 8 continued… If I had thought the wind was bad at the top of Corkscrew Hill, the gusts that met me as I neared the Cliffs of Moher were horrific! The further I got along the road the less protection there was from the elements. There were no trees and few houses, all of …
Steep inclines to the Cliffs of Moher
Day 8 The first couple of hours out of Galway were highly uninspiring, and I was soon feeling that the best of the journey had already passed. It is a hard thing to feel motivated when you just see uninteresting road ahead, especially when there is so much of it yet to come. I was, …
On my way to Galway!
Day 6 The journey to the next town was only an hour or so, and I pulled into Clifden just as it was coming to life. There was an arts festival taking place in the town which, in wonderful small town style, meant the centre was adorned with colourful festooning. A tall silver shard-like structure …
Riding Through the Valleys
Day five It was a blissful start to the day, waking up clean, warm, and dry. I enjoyed Orla’s company and some breakfast. By mid-morning I’d begun my journey around the coast, taking in the ocean and mountain view. One hour into my journey, life no longer felt so rosy. The road was taking me …
Heading for the West Coast
Day four My second night as a 30 year old was one of little sleep and never-warming feet. I crawled out of my tent early the next morning with bleary eyes, and hair a matted mess, into a cold, wet world. Throwing everything onto the bike as quickly as possible I set off in search …
Dublin to Ballygar
Day two Safe to say I started my year as a 30 year old with a slightly sore, but happy, head. I’m quite certain the fuzziness contributed largely to the most ridiculous route I took out of Dublin. Not following the converted cycle way along the canal from the centre, instead needing many direction stops …