We started riding out of Belfast much later than planned, mostly due to not wanting to get out of bed but also a few technical issues with our Garmins. We eventually got on the road about 10am, 2 hours after our intended departure time. Heading through the quiet Sunday morning traffic, we soon found ourselves on the standard city escape route for cyclists - follow the river Lagan for a bit, then the canal tow paths.
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| Heading out is soon became clear that we were missing out tour buds... |
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| ...at one point both of us thought we saw Alison in the distance. |
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| Another city... |
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| ...another escape route by canal. |
We made stunningly slow progress, as if peddling uphill, which in fact we were, climbing a paultry 50m over 20km. What was actually slowing us down this morning were morning joggers. Well I say joggers, mostly they were making a running action actually slower than walking pace, whilst enjoying a Sunday morning catch up. I noticed two runners wearing Sunday Squad running shirts. A squad with two members is a bit of a stretch. Tracy had what she described as a "coming together' with a pedestrian. I would describe it as her ramming a father with his child in a stroller and a dog on a lead. She ended up doing the classic comedy falling over as she couldn't unclip from her pedals.
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| Looking for the Brew stop... |
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| ...disappointingly there was no brew van, so we had to make do with this |
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| Tracy made good use of her caramel bars. I had run out of tea cakes by this point. |
We passed through a town called Lisburn - we took this as a sign that we would need to do the Portugal end to end at some point in the future. We will have to retire first though - Peak Tours only run this in term time.
The day was feeling psychologically difficult, having had a false finish at Malin Head - a bit like climbing a to the top of a hill only to find it a false summit. We had this feeling all day - 65 miles.
We experienced rain showers all afternoon, although our mood was lifted by hitting the Newry canal - no joggers, so our average speed increased. We found very little in the way of shops on route, so missed lunch - we were fuelled by Tunnocks today.
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| Love a canal. |
Arriving at Newry, Tracy was insistent that we stop for something to eat, although we both knew that she was trying to delay the challenging climb out of the town. We ordered a bit of food and managed to score an extra drink - I had initially said that I didn't want one. Tracy eventually had to accept that we had to move, by which point I had major cool down due to the ice in the diet coke. I was physically shivering outside getting my bike unlocked. On classic Tracy style she showed no sympathy whatsoever - and there's me the ever dutiful, caring and compassionate husband who is always looking out for her. Well reap what you sow I suppose.
The climb was a bit of a slog on this grey and miserable day. Signs pointed to the viewpoint at the top. In the final part of the climb you could see metres into the distance. Should be done for false advertising I think.
Climbs out of the way, it was downhill to Dundalk. At one point a kamikaze chicken ran out in front of Tracy. The shock caused a big adrenaline rush, but she didn't find it amusing when I suggested that perhaps she could use it to cycle a bit faster.
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| Mural in Dundalk |
We eventually arrived at the Imperial hotel in Dundalk. Bikes locked in the kitchen yard, showered and we were off to get dinner. Casa Luna - a very busy Italian and Pizzeria. We managed to clear it faster than our arrival at a Peak Tours brew stop - by the time our meals arrived, all the other patrons had left. Food was good though. Looking forward to the last day tomorrow - we are ready to go home.
Distance covered: 65 miles
Total distance: 852 miles
Cake of the day: a shared lemon drizzle cake. Too much guilt about the amount spent in Belfast
Tracy whinge factor: 2/10, mostly about the amount spent in Belfast.
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