Day 5 done and looking back on the route today on a map on a postcard in the shop after our tea it looks like a stupidly long way to cycle! We always knew it would be a tough day, and the way you mentally prepare for these things, it's never as tough as you think! It's the days like yesterday which you think will be relatively straight forward but then turn out not to be (I can still hear the wind now!) that really mess with the mind and I felt much better tonight than I did last night. As Chris Boardman once tellingly put it "it will always end!"
Knowing it was going to be a long old day and given we were staying at a youth hostel last night, we raided Supavalve to buy all their porridge pots and bananas on the way back from last nights meal and arranged with the guy at the hostel to get access to the kitchen at 7am, with the plan that we would get on the road by 8 at the latest. With the bunk beds divied up (me on the top as Dec's dodgy hips precluded him from using the ladders to get up!) it was lights out after Kieran came back from an hour at the pub with yet more members of his extended family.
Waking up at 6 to the banging, snoring and farting from 4 guys in a room smaller than the normal sized bathroom, not to mention the stench from fetid cycling gear and shoes, and aforementioned farting was something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy! Stripping the beds, we ventured down for breakfast where early bird Conleth was being mother sorting out the porridge and toast. With Dec already having got the bikes out, it was a quick wash of the dishes and we were on the road at 7.45am. UNBELIEVABLE!
it wasn't all good news however, as the wind that dogged us yesterday was still there although in a slightly different direction so while not a straight headwind it was still causing some problems. Oh, and did I mention it was raining for a change?! With full wet weather gear we set off for Castlebar down some lovely unclassified roads, which although wet were very quiet and had the shelter of trees either side as the road looped up and down until we came to the T junction to the busy R311 for the 8 mile run into Castlebar. However another of the little joyous surprises you get on a big day on a bike was sitting off to our right, a lovely 2 lane, newly surfaced cycle path that ran right the way into Castlebar. Thank the EU for that! Kieran also pointed out as it was EU money that built it we should really ride on the right! And to top it off the sun came out!
Bombing in and then back out, the cycle path abruptly ended as we took the R310 out towards Pontoon. As it began to climb, the sun dissapered and it started to hammer it down. Stopping at the top of the hill we delved into our bags to put virtually all the clothing we had on as the temperature had plummeted to 8degrees. We agreed we would stop at Pontoon as Kieran new of a pub overlooking the lake we could take shelter in. We got there and it was closed and up for sale. The hotel 1 mile along the road, likewise. Bugger! Turning off the R310 onto the R318 past Lough Cullin, we stopped at the "beach" by the lake were Kieran used to go as a kid for a photo. One thing I have learned lots about this trip is the childhood holiday destinations of all 3 of my compatriots, all spoken with great fondness of basic holidays spent in the outdoors. To make up for it, I'm going to get them to cycle round Conwy in North Wales next year so I can bore them about mine!
With the rain still bouncing down, we made it to Foxford, found a pub serving coffe and tea and escaped out of the wet and wind. We'd done 21 miles, still 91 to go! With Kieran warning us about eating to much as we were due at his uncle Martins and auntie Maura's for an early lunch we just had time to get warm, then back out onto the unclassified roads for more swooping up and down on single track, traffic free cycling. 16 miles from Foxford, Kieran was showing me the house his mam was born in just before pulling into his uncle and aunties house. As with lunch back on day 2 at his aunties house the table was set and a feast of bread, ham, salad and ginger cake awaited! The hospitality we've had from everyone on the trip has been first rate and as we were leaving, his auntie Maura's gave us 20 euro for the charity, before a quick photo and back into the wind.
The rain had however stopped and we wouldn't see it again today as the clouds started to break and it began to warm up, as we carried on through Aclare and on towards our next stop in Collooney at the half way stage down the same unclassified quiet roads. Just before the village we had to stop a take a photograph of a massive model of a T-Rex just in a field by the side of the road! Only in Ireland etc, etc.....Riding into The very pretty village there was non one about and no cars. It was slightly odd and sparked the comment " have we missed the zombie apocalypse?!" Kieran meanwhile wanted me and Conleth to ride at the front in case there were Mexicans on the roofs of the houses in front taking potshots at the new sheriffs in town! Stopping for a banana and a drink we decided to push onto Dromahair where Declan had many happy memories from his childhood and was the nearest village to where his mam was born and was brought up. The 20 miles soon came and went, with a brilliant interlude of cycling down a completely overgrown farm track which we did just to here Dec chuntering on about staying on the main road, as did a lot of the gear we were wearing as the sun had come out properly and the wind had started to die down.
Finding a cafe, we ordered more paninis from the somewhat forgetful waitress and took stock of where we were and an estimated time of arrival. It was 3.30, we'd done 70 miles but still had 42 left to do and a lot of the climbing to get over. Dec phoned the B&B to let them know we would be there between 8&9 but we would be coming and set off round the beautiful Lough Gill and then a quick right and the biggest of the 2 large climbs on today's stage started. You'll notice the lack of messing about today, mainly because the unclassified roads we were on are not conducive to it, but also because there was an unwritten rule that today was tough and cocking about would only make it tougher! Thus Conleth just trundled off over the hill, waiting at each junction for us to catch up until after around 30 minutes of solid climbing we'd reached the top to enjoy the magnificent vista over the valley and the Lough below.
Taking a few photos it was off down the steep decsent with me leading the way. Nearing the bottom at near terminal speed of 40 mph, I didn't see a half dug drainage channel and my rear wheel smacked into it. Instantly the familiar death weave of a pinch flat puncture had me out of the seat and trying to get the bike slowed nice and gently, finding a lay by to pull into to change the inner tube. In the all for one and one for all spirt of the day, everyone stopped to help and within 15 minutes we had it changed and Kieran even managed to get one if the C02 canisters to work to blow up the tyre! It was still another set back though and as soon as we were going again, the second climb up to Lurganboy and up and over the valley started. Off went Conleth again stopping a videoing a "mock" sprint from me and Dec to the top, and a drop down the valley with Glenade Lough on our right hand side. And what a valley it wasn't! Geography nerds like me and Conleth were stunned at the geology of the place, with special mention of the massive stone perched on the outcrop at the top of the valley.
Down and up the valley, we finally turned off the unclassified roads and back on to the R280 for a very fast descent into Kinlough for our last quick stop of the day, 90 miles done 22 to go! Skirting Bundoran and the border with Northern Ireland we climbed up through the steep streets of Ballshannon and joined the very busy N15 for 8 scary miles before the route took us off on the side roads to Donegal Town. Predictably Dec started winging about we we weren't staying on the very dangerous, busy, N road into Donegal and predictably he got the reply to "trust the route!"
Things were getting uncomfortable now for everyone and Dec announced he defiantly wasn't going to sprint for the finish, on no siree! Conleth gave us permission to punch him in the face if he did, while Kieran was suffering in silence and if any of you know Kieran that is scary! Despite him and me agreeing a truce we still couldn't bring ourselves to trust the other one so it was with increasing pace we bombed down the cycle route down the side roads to the outskirts to Donegal, leaving Kieran and Conleth to support each other the last few miles. While we were both reassuring each other that we wouldn't be racing to the sign, especially not after 112 miles we couldn't bring ourselves to go one behind the other and instead rode side by side until we actually reached the town centre! There either wasn't a sign, or we'd missed it while keeping an eye on each other! Let's call it a (diss)honourable draw!
With Conleth and Kieran rocking round the square 2 minutes later while a beauty pageant took place on a large stage in the middle of the town square (only in Ireland etc.....!) it was time to congratulate each other on a job well done and find the B&B. It was 8.30 so in all we'd been on the road for more than 12 hours, but only 1 more day to go then it's over! We also got the good news that we've reached our target of £1500! Thank you all of you who have taken the time to donate, it does keep us going! Those who haven't there's still time, it would be great to get to 2 grand!
Just one final thing, Happy Birthday to Conleth's mum Mrs Kelly from her boy and all of us!
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