Day 0. Wednesday 6th June 2018
I’m just about to leave for another cycling adventure, this time a charity ride with a bunch of Scottish pals. Oddly enough, we’re heading to Ireland (North and South) cycling from Larne to Galway.
The Prestwick Cycle Challenge is an annual fully supported charity event which began in 1997 with just 8 cyclists and grew over the years to close to 100 people taking part. I first entered in 2010 when it reached its peak with 130 riders. The numbers have since settled down to around 60 or 80 each year. After 21 years, this is only the second time the route has ventured into Ireland, and it will be my first ever visit to Northern Ireland. This year, probably due to the complicated logistics, just 42 cyclists have signed up to ride.
Although it is a Scottish event, there are about eight or ten people who travel up from England to take part each year. I enjoy cycling alone, so I don’t tend to attach myself to any particular group, but will cycle along with different people at different times.
Most people decide to camp, which is easy since all the tents and bags are transported by dedicated support teams. The cyclists simply need to turn up and ride. Oh, and raise money for charity.
Day 1 Thursday 7th June 2018
Day one of the Prestwick Cycle Challenge is now completed. The first part was more of a logistical challenge than physical. We drove to Stranraer on Wednesday evening stopping at a marvellous guest house (which served terrific breakfasts) before driving to Cairnryan to catch the ferry to Larne.
The ferry company took security surprisingly seriously here; I was frisked prior to boarding, the man even patting down my bare legs! I was clean.
Once in Northern Ireland, the first 5 miles along the A8 were horrible due to the heavy traffic, but once we hit the rural lanes, there was just hot sunshine and a gentle tailwind which kept up all day. It was so hot, the tarmac was melting – not seen that for years.
We covered 60 miles in the first (half) day, skirting the North edge of Lough Neaugh before arriving at Dungannon. The roads were generally very quiet and map-reading was straightforward, although the support team did put up helpful signs at junctions. Once we’d erected the tents, several of us wandered 1¾ miles into town to have a meal at an Italian restaurant.
We’re ready for a ride down to Leitrim in Eire tomorrow. Weather has been very good so far but I’ve just been told that thunder is forecast later. Oh well.
Day 2 Friday 8th June 2018
The second day is now completed. I cycled about 81 miles, although I can’t confirm this since my Garmin crashed at 70 miles and defaulted to ‘factory settings’. So I’m relying on others to confirm the mileage. 😕
We had just one issue with a puncture (not mine), but otherwise it was an incident-free day. The highlight has to be the tea room at Fivemiletown where a dozen of us descended to challenge the waitress to a variety of lunch orders. To her credit, she coped admirably with speedy service and excellent food.
A slight shower caused some of the group to take shelter in a pub, but a couple of us carried on to arrive first in our campsite at Battlebridge near Leitrim and allowed us to get the tents up in the dry (after a pint of Guinness!). A huge thunderstorm caused no problem since I was by then settled in a covered beer garden. The fact that there were several canoes tied up beside our tents alongside the River Shannon didn’t worry me.
The organising team had arranged for us to have a barbecue tonight and since it was held just adjacent to the campsite, plenty of beer was drunk and all the world’s wrongs were put to rights.
Overall, it was a great ride, moving into Eire after 50 miles although there was no evidence of changing countries. Just a change to the road markings and the road signs being in Gaelic. Oh, and the speed limits were posted in km/h, although that didn’t affect me.
Day 3 Saturday 9th June 2018
PCC Day 3 finished in Salthill (near Galway) after cycling about 227 miles in total with not a great deal of climbing – central Ireland is surprisingly flat. Today was fine and dry, although overcast which meant ideal cycling conditions, but I still got a bit sunburned. We found another excellent tea shop which sold toasted scones which came accompanied with marmalade and jam. And as much tea as we could drink once more.
The scenery was different from previous days in that it passed through several peat bogs which were interesting at first, but then became very boring as they lasted for mile after mile.
Upon arrival I set up the tent and then took a ride into Galway city which was stupidly busy, but very pretty.
The bikes all had to be packed before we went out so that there were no delays in the morning. I’m now waiting to start our final celebratory meal at the Oslo bar in Galway Bay.
Day 4 Sunday 10th June 2018
The final leg of a four day journey is underway. The bikes left Galway in a van very early this morning and we followed on in a coach leaving at 8.45. Travelling to Larne, via Dublin and Belfast, we arrived about 2.30, which was too early to embark. All the cars and trucks were loaded first while we stood outside for 90 minutes and I was glad that the fine weather continued.
Highlights of the trip included sunshine and tailwind for three days, friendly tea shops, excellent campsites, witty company and quiet roads (if we forget the A8). And I even managed to palm off the last of my dodgy currency on the ship!
The last leg (and 4th country of the day) starts in about ten minutes when we begin the 4 hour drive back home.