(August 2020) As I’d mentioned in my previous post, we spent the majority of the lockdown with my parents and saw a couple of friends and other family members along the way. The time had now come for us to travel south to Italy, to visit Miki’s family. We had decided to cycle to Italy, …
Cycling
The final ride (…in Sri Lanka)
Our time in Sri Lanka was drawing to a close and though we had been enjoying our lazy lifestyle by the beach, we wanted to make sure we saw a little more of the country before leaving. After some contemplation we decided to make our way to Kandy, a mountainous city situated in central Sri …
Heading from Mumbai to Pune, or so we thought…
After leaving Mumbai, Miki and I had a peaceful twenty minutes on the water before reaching Mora Jetty where we met a crowd of people, all waiting for the boat to take them to the city to work. After very gratefully being helped by some locals with my heavily loaded bike, I joined Miki, who …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Ireland
In typical English fashion the train was over thirty minutes late. My anxiety increased as it pulled slowly into the station, the doors opened and I struggled out with my bags and bike. Then came the tedious pace of the station lifts, and of course, the platform for my next train placed separately to its …