Distance: 59 km
Time: 3hrs 30 min
Av Speed: 15.6 km/hr
Av Heart rate: 109 bpm
Calories burned: 1805
Punctures: 0
Total Distance: 628 km
The details above are just for the trip as far as Malin Head. At breakfast-time there was a nice bit of a drizzle outside and not a puff of wind. So it could stay around for a while. I was prepared to delay departure as today wasn't the longest. The tyre that I replaced last evening was ready to go.
However by 8.45 the sky had cleared and hit the road. It was down through the streets of derry and on to the cycle-path along by ther Foyle. It runs for about 2km with new developments on the left. Work is progressing on the Peace Bridge (a S-shaped pedestrian and cyclist bridge that should be completed before the end of the year)
Just after Muff I conrtacted Tipp Mid West and gave my last route report. Todays cycle was in gratitude to the good people of Tipp and surrounding areas who proved so generous last Saturday during the collection. The kids in Providence will appreciate it.
Now I was cycling along by the waters edge for the first time in days. I spotted a bit of marketting for an event coming up soon that sounded like a lively one. Could be tempted to stick around another few days !!!
At Quigleys point i turned west and started a long climb to higher ground in order to cross the Inishowen Peninsula. At the top of this climb stood the memorial to the five young people killed there in 2005 involving a drunk driver. Donegal has had more than its share of those tragic accidents.
Now I was on high ground and banks of mist were regularly drifting towards me. Wind was from slightly south of west and slowed things down. At one stage I needed to take shelter. happened to be a sheep-dog in the same shed, but one of the friendly type. Plenty of sheep about up here on the high ground and being lovingly attended to. The top of Slieve Sneacht on my left was clouded over in mist all day.
carndonagh was a busy spot and from there I had plenty of signposts for malin Head. Not far to go.
As around Mizen Head, the Cordelion trees seem to have survived the heavy frosts. And plenty of Fuschia on the roadsides. Must be the proximity to the sea, not just the south-west location.
Malin village is still over 16 km from Malin Head. from the village out, the scenery was something else. it made today's cycle the most scenic day by far. It had touches of the west coast and of Kerry. The road was right by the waters edge with that lovely smell of seaweed. I like it. Other times on todays route I got that lovely smell of burning turf. Glorious. leaving Carndonagh, I was behind the household rubbish collection truck. Strangely the smell is the same as what I remember of the bin lorries going to the depot in Enniscorthy years ago. With all our progress, our rubbish still smells the same.
A number of remote churches along this coast road RC and Presbyterian. I won't say they were in the middle of nowhere. that particular place seems to be very built up. Any place not in a city or big town is located there. there was a signpost to the left for 'Inishowen 100', a scenic route. I took that and didn't regret a bit of it. it did involve some sharp climbs and extra kilometers but all well worthwhile. Some great views down on Doagh Island (not really an island) across the bay. The Five Finger Strand beneath me made me pause for a while at the viewing point. Only spotted one car on this route (pity). Just as I rejoined the main route to Malin Head it was quite built up (I told you so) We had abandoned, traditional and new houses almost side by side. And also plenty of caravasn and mobile-home parks.
Distances for Malin Head were now down into single figures. passed by the Met Station...listening to the weather reports will be different now.
And then the last signpost. Banba's Crown....I never heard Malin Head refered to as such. The tower on the Head appeared. less than a kilometer to go. But, the sting is always in the tail. The last 300 metres was up the worst climb of the last 7 days. It measured 20% in places. But with the game well into injury time it was possible to draw up deep from the well of energy. Finally at the Head. All I felt like saying as I came to a halt was a big 'YES, I DID IT' Not many people there, but one family came over and guessed that I had achieved something and offered to take photos. They asked about the route, the cause etc. They were from Tullamore (Colaiste Choilm) and they are also involved in the Immersion Programme. Before leaving, donated E20 to the cause. Our thanks to the Lynch family. will be in contact. So this was it. This is the culminating point of the planning since shortly after Christmas. I walked about a bit. Just soaking in the moment. Thrilled to have made it, on the one hand . And then 'Is that it?' still, it was satisfying and I sat in the shade of the tower and had my lunch...nothing very fancy, mind you. Very strong wind from the west. A mobile cafe was the only service to tourists. Not as well appointed as Mizen Head. No book here for Head-to-head cyclists to record the moment. Spent about an hour there.
And so ends the IRELAND....HEAD TO HEAD adventure.
Thanks to all who sent comments and texts of support. Just, couldn't get around to reply to them individualy. But apreciated.
...and beyond
So how about getting back to base. i plan for 2 more days cycling along the north and east coast as far as Belfast and then two trains home to the Junction.
MALIN HEAD TO GREENCASTLE
Distance: 42 km
Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
Av Speed: 19.2 km/hr
Av Heart Rate: 108 bpm
Total distance so far:670 km
Leaving Malin Head it was a lovely spin down that sharp hill. But it didn't seem as long coming down. other cyclists from the holiday homes about were doing their bit of cycling. I came back to Malin Village by the direct route and saw all the beauty again from a different angle. In Malin itself I met a group of 4 from Crosmaglen (Armagh) who were on the final approach. They left Mizen on Sunday morning and were doing '435 miles in 4 days' for the Hospice. They had come up the western corridor- Limerick, Knock, Bundoran, Letterkenny. Shared views of the cycle for a short while. From Malin I crossed over to Culdaff and down into Moville. The ground wasn't as high as the road over to Carndonagh. Lovely looking down on Lough Foyle with the Colerain area just across. Another bit up the coast to Greencastle where I bunk down for the night. Tomorrow morning I take the ferry across and head east.
In Greencastle, there was no computer available to upload, so I thought there would be no blog for the final day. that would be disappointing. Finally succeeded in getting a lift into Moville where I located an internet cafe. (Hope I find one in Cushendall tomorrow night)
All's well that ends well.
Thank God for the health and for the energy.