Trip to Goleen and the start line.

 The day with Gavin and Maggie and Emily and Fred was lovely. A spin down into west Cork and at Goleen we decided to stop and have lunch before heading out to the Mizen Lighthouse. Goleen is such a pretty village and you certainly know you are you in the heart of west Cork.The scenery is just stunning and I Am now recalling when I was last here with the Cycle Against Suicide. It was memorable then and I’m sure it will be again.

Somehow I had the impression the place would be full of cyclists beginning or ending their trip here. But not so! I seem to be the only one and that in some way scares me. Am I the only Crazy Guy on a Bike?

It’s a beautiful day now. The sun is shining and there is a southerly breeze which I am pleased about. Because it’s what I wanted in my forecast.

I decide to start my trip here and now. Leave the clan here to sightsee and I head back to Goleen on the bike. That way it’s saves me coming out here again tomorrow just to begin again. 

I think that was a good plan because it bedded me into the cycle for tomorrow and I can head straight north after breakfast tomorrow morning.

Digs are fine I don’t have great needs so I can get an early night after making sure all is ready for tomorrow. 

I’m daunted at the prospect of the next week but I think that’s good. I’d worry if it was otherwise.

Beautiful beaches around Mizen Head

On the start line in Mizen Head. Im the only crazy here!

WWW marker

Gavin, Emily anf Fred brought me to the startline

Malin Head or Bust!

First thing is a train trip

It’s Saturday morning and I have to get myself to Newbridge to catch the train to Cork.
It’s been an eventful week of preparation . A couple of short trips on Loretta to make sure she is sound. Two packing days were I have to view and review what I am taking with me. Evening wear is one pair of Craghoppers, a pair of shorts and two t shirts. Two sets of cycling gear and basically that’s it. Toiletries, chargers and various bits of essential bits and bobs. Then a fully loaded practice trip to
See if everything stays were it’s put. The whole rig is quite heavy of itself . But it’s almost un-noticeable when I am rolling. In fact, the downhills are generally faster. Curious! 

The test run was all ok so all is ready to go.
So far so good. Now I’m off!
The train is quite empty but it would be nice if Ianrod Éireann would mark the carriages that take bikes. I ended up occupying a place for a wheelchair! A change of trains at Portlaoise. This time I know what to look for.
On the train I met up with Stephen, from Rathcoole, who is off to Cahir on his bike for a week of communing with nature. He got off at Thurles and I had a quiet peaceful time to Cork.

I met Stephen and his bike on the train.

The weather for the next few days is giving it mixed but improving as the week goes . So that suits. Gavin and Maggie and the kids are picking me up in Cork and taking me to Mizen Head tomorrow for the start.

I found a b&b in Goleen after a lot of searching. Its holiday time and accommodations are at a premium. But I trust in the angels to look after me. I will be missing a lot of the resorts so accommodation shouldn’t be too bad.

A week to go!

With a week to go there is no turning back now. I’ve said out loud I’m going. So it’s nearly jump off time. Loretta is looking good. She has had her checkup and she got the all clear to go. I took her out this morning for a spin around so I could get familiar with her again. Brakes are still a bit iffy and she has a rattle which turned out to be only a loose bottle cage. I’ve had a run through with my clothing and various bits I plan to take. Just to make sure everything fits into the limited space I have. Not that easy! I’ll probably refine that up as the week goes. It difficult planning for every eventuality cause it’s Ireland! This week looks to be good but I have no idea what next week will bring. But hey! How bad can it get? It’s July after all! And it’s only a week!

Here I go again! The build-up!

Having a beer with my son Sean last week, he asked me "well when is your next adventure?"
I dismissed his question, as I do now when asked. Think I've done enough trips and trails to do me a lifetime. He was equally dismissive of my assertion and said I should, at least, hold on to the idea
I had a disturbed sleep that night because he told me that there was no reason for me to quit now and that I still had it in me to go.
In the early morning, Malin Head  to Mizen Head came into MY head and I let it rest there. Its an iconic trip I thought, undertaken by many as a challenge to do in 5 or 4 or 3 or even 2 days, between 600 and 700 kms. But I have no interest in that madness and could never see the attraction in that. Then as the incubation progressed I thought!
I had cycled the spine of America (Vancouver to Mexico) in 2008 and in 2011 the spine of New Zealand (Cape Rienga to Bluff) . So why not the spine of Ireland as a trip?
So, I left it there to incubate further!
Before long it looked like something I might like to do.
It is usually done by groups, supported by a crew or one person doing the impossible. My plan began to materialise. It was to resurrect Loretta, my Cannondale touring bike, unearth my panniers and maybe my tent and do it as an unsupported trip, stopping where the notion takes me and hopefully completing it in something like 6 days. that sounded do-able to me and an adventure that maybe, just maybe would be within my capability.
And so to plans.
Loretta needed some attention. So the bike shop is the first port of call for a health check. Next is a scour through my belongings to dig out the bags and make lists of 'bits' to take. Priority this time is cables and chargers and boosters! Things not required when last Loretta was travelling. But essential kit in this day and age.
Routes are the next thing. What way to go? Not too much of the Wild Atlantic Way route because that would be much longer. My focus, as always, is 'getting there'! No side trips! No sight-seeing. Unless I happen to stumble on it! Just Do It! as Nike say!

First draft route

Mizen Head in the South to Malin Head in the North

Loretta