Final Day. Day 9 Virtual Cycle Against Suicide 2020 Mullingar to Swords

Final Day. Day 9 Virtual Cycle Against Suicide 2020

Mullingar to Swords

Good morning everyone.

Before we begin ! Would the people who painted Joe Dolans statue Orange and stuck an Orange bike under his arm last night. Kindly go and remove it.

Hope you all enjoyed your homestay last night. Sometimes we can forget that this cycle is not all about us. Its not just about the cycle. Its about awareness and sharing( when we are able). Its great to meet new people. People who welcome us into their homes and feed us and look after us. We come as complete strangers and hopefully we leave with memories and leave memories behind. People we can share our lives with for a short time and they with us. Making friends and sharing the message that ITS OK NOT TO FEEL OK AND ITS ABSOLUTELY OK TO ASK FOR HELP. Maybe we did that.

Today is VIRTUALLY our last virtual cycling day. I hope it has been as good for you as it has for me. It was great to see, over the past week, the number of people who 'liked and shared' our experiences. Resurrected old photos from the archive of past cycles and friends. Sometimes you forget people we have been with momentarily and when I look at a picture and I see the subjects of the photo. But it was also nice to search the background of the picture and pick out a distant face that sparks a memory maybe of a person you knew but have forgotten. An there are so many of them. So it has been a good positive experience.

Today we have an easy day. Again its all flat or downhill. Lunch is in Enfield and onward to Swords Castle for the finish.

We are winding up the cycle tonight at 8pm with our quiz night. don't forget to register beforehand so we can include you in the ZOOM VIDEO CALL.

Its also not to late to donate €8 (at least) in aid of Cycle Against Suicide to:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/virtual-cycle-against-suicide-2020?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

Thanks for sharing.

WASH YOUR HANDS!

Day 8 Virtual Cycle Against Suicide 2020 Roscommon to Mullingar

Day 8 Virtual Cycle Against Suicide 2020Roscommon to Mullingar

Good morning guys! We are now on Day 8 of our cycle and we are heading for Athlone and Mullingar where we finish for the day.

But you know what? I think most of us are getting fed up with this VIRTUAL cycling stuff. We are dying to be on the real thing. Proper cycling it. Cycling the route for real. Want to be ACTUALLY, meeting up in the morning, as we return to the school we left last night, meeting up with our friends, finding out how our homestay went the night before and, just like kids in the playground in the morning, greeting each other like we have been away for ages. Lots of us have been saying this week how much we are missing the actual cycle this year. How much we have all been looking forward to it for so long. How much we are missing the friendship and camaraderie that comes naturally with every cycle. Being out on the REAL road, wind in the face, sun on the head, sometimes the hailstones and the bitter wind cutting your cheeks. What we wouldn't give for that now! Our buddies that we maybe only see once a year and can instantly gel with once again. The Ray's and the Christy's the Andrew's the John's and all the faces that just appear around the place in the ORANGE as if they never went away. That has nearly all been taken away from us due too this coronavirus. But we have seen on these platforms this week, photos from previous cycles, being posted and I know, for me, that has been that placebo needed. So thanks to everyone who posted and shared. Im sure it has been good for others too. Big hotels and guest houses are ok, in their own right. But the joy we get meeting our homestay hosts and spending time getting to know them and sometimes making friends for life, is a big lose. And indeed, sitting around a dinner table with our casual cycling friends and getting to know THEM better too is a bonus and a huge price to lose. September is our new date but I just wonder, sadly!

But HEY!! Enough of that! ITS OK NOT TO FEEL OK! And saying it out is a help!

But, we have places to go this morning! Namely! we are heading for Mullingar. Today this the JOE SHOW! ( a prize for those who post what that means, that's for cocooners! The young ones won't have a clue 😜)

We are on the homeward leg. Lunch stop is in Athlone before we make for Mullingar. I special treat in Mullingar for everyone!

Everyone has a homestay tonight. You'll all get a proper home cooked dinner, maybe a glass or two and for sure it will be the highlight of the week and maybe a friend for life.

So! On our bikes. We are outta here in five minutes and remember if you haven't already done so donate €8 to :

gofundme.com/f/virtual-cycle-against-suicide-2020

Day 7 Virtual Cycle Against Suicide 2020

Day 7 Virtual Cycle Against Suicide 2020

Cavan to Roscommon

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE ON DAY 7 !

HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOIUR FEAST LAST NIGHT?

Whatever rain we are having came last night and even though its cold now, it will be a beautiful day today. The road to Roscommon is flat so you might have a bit of work to do today. We have a selection of ELECTRIC BIKES on our 40ft dedicated bike carrying wagon. Where, incidentally Christy Montague assures me that every bike has its own stall which is padded and secured. The ELECTRIC BIKES are for anyone struggling with the pace today. We know that always by Day 7 people start to flag and look for a second wind. Well, not to worry today.

Actually the Margaret Levingston who drives the courtesy 44 seater luxury bus was saying that she has had no one on her bus all week. Even the Joe Dixon and Micheline Murphy are not availing of the bus. Im told they are editing photos on the move on their bikes> Now that's impressive! GIVE IT UP FOR JOE AND MICHELINE!!

This morning we are leaving here and heading for Granard were we will have our excellent lunch stop. after lunch we will have the usual cyclist briefing. Now there have been complaints that a lot of the cyclists are sloping off and lying in the sun at these times. That has to stop. Yesterday when Titch was giving his 'little chat' there was NO ONE THERE! And he was cryin' ! Not a pretty site! So please give your attention. These 'little chats' are for nobodies benefit. Just makes Titch feel good. ITS OK NOT TO FEEL OK TITCH!

After Granard we take the beautiful scenic route to Roscommon Town. I don't think we have ever stayed there before. Only passed through it in 2016 I think. So that is something to look forward to.

Because there is no hotel in Roscommon that passed the scrutiny of our dedicated and particular Front of House manager Darrell Hayden it was decided that we would bus everyone to The Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone. If anyone would like a local hostelry in Roscommon please see our accommodation manager Andy Mc Girl.

So if we are all ready to go. I hope you made your bed before you left?

If you haven't already done so don't forget your €8 donation for the week (and you must admit it has been great value so far) €8 for 8 days full board ! Where would you get it? Donate to :

gofundme.com/f/virtual-cycle-against-suicide-2020

Day 6 Virtual Cycle Against Suicide 2020

Day 6 Virtual Cycle Against Suicide 2020

Enniskillen to Cavan 

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!

Did the Kllyhevlin look after us all last night? Or What!. great food. Thanks to Phil and Joey for the wine.

Its a bit wet this morning as wet re standing here. But its virtual so we can have what we want. might as well get the spot of rain over before we start. Jo was doing her stuff with the face painting and nails this morning . So get the orange stripes on. But bear in mind its raining and shortly you could look a sight!

This morning we are heading South from here and its break for the border. Through Lisnaskea, we will be cycling along Upper Lough Erne and you'll think you're on the Riviera. Across the border and into Clones. If anyone remembers a few years ago on the Cycle Against Suicide, we went from Virginia to Clones! Drumlin country! It started to roll shortly after we left Virginia and it was incessant. Up and down and up and down. You would just get over one nasty little hill and there was another in front of you. Pulled the legs out of and drained your mental energy. There was anger appearing! By the time we got to Clones we were all beat up and it was getting dark if I remember and we had to make Monaghan Town before dark. One of those memorable days.

Well I pleased to say we will be travelling that road again today. Only in the opposite direction and that's not any easier. So the Jelly Baby Marshalls better be ready with adequate supplies.

We are entering the Ancient Kingdom of Breifne, a medieval kingdom in Gaelic Ireland. And keep in mind you will still be in Ulster. We finish the day in Cavan Town and our hostelry for the night is The Farnham Estate Spa Resort. Transport is laid on and dinner tonight is with the compliments of John X. Gibbons and Frank Mc Guirk is picking up the drinks including the wine. Give it up for the boys!!

Before we go. Rain is nearly gone and sun will be out shortly. I think its downhill all the way with wind at our backs.

If you haven't done so already! Top up your bottle, turn on your Garmin, check your tyres and donate €8 (at least) to 

gofundme.com/f/virtual-cycle-against-suicide-2020

End of Day 5 Virtually Donegal to Enniskillen 68km

End of Day 5 Virtually Donegal to Enniskillen.

Got into Enniskillen in good time today. Jo Little met us on the bridge in Pettigo and led us in with a full brass band on their bikes. Boy they could play. We had to give them some social distancing(whatever that is!) because of all the instruments, especially the big drum.
The roads in the north are brilliant, no pot holes. But they talk funny!
The scenery was lovely. Cruising down along the lake. Breathtaking. We must come back here in September. I hear the craic is gonna be ninety! Cant wait for that.
Tonight we are in for a treat Jo has us booked into the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel and Philomena Mary Murphy has offered to pay for the dinners tonight so tuck in. Joey Mc Daid is supplying the wine.
Don't stay up too late cause we have an early start. We are heading back south to Cavan tomorrow via Clones ( we might see our wee Barry)
Sleep well and donate if you haven't already done so, you €8 (at least) to :-

gofundme.com/f/virtual-cycle-against-suicide-2020 

 https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F3OxaQ-2-U8Q%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3yTLXrMXdiR77Taef9CqRb5YqrO3hG-i4Hx59OVDmaoh-UUjoVeyTaWTU&h=AT050wM-KhVuDqHHDo5rFWdm5OF4l774J2OsqMYWtLOD6OfhiIB8ggR3VdcTbSC_S3pp9BoHoCKQ2nUQZR2nqwg43bJGRH7FEOn1oy2SIU3zvAJznSv2TLsCcbfo3BfK1dO6iGC4Ic0B1RdxHN_b4Mw4KMBVd3uuTMiv

Day 5 CAS Virtual tour Donegal to Enniskillen

Day 5 Virtual Cycle Against Suicide 2020

Good morning everyone. Would someone go and get those cyclists down off those trees! We are leaving shortly!

Today we are heading out on another short day 65km across the border into the beautiful County Fermanagh, among the rushes. We leave Donegal with a heavy heart as we cross the border at Pettico with a Sos Beag along the banks of Lough Erne, after 30km. Lunch in St Marys College in Irvinestown. We cycled this road last year, in the opposite direction,I think and were taken with the beauty of the place. Then its on to Enniskillen where Jo Little has promised to give us a huge welcome party. knowing Jo, it will be a homecoming like no other. She is planning to do Face painting and nail painting for the brave hearted.

 

There have been some complaints in the last few days about the quality of the jelly babies being given out by the marshals. That they are not Bassetts! Your executive committee has been informed and Im assured a meeting of the executive took place into the night and the matter has now been resolved.

I know we are half way around and usually this is the time people begin to find it difficult. And maybe start to flag but keep going. Declan Mc Guinness has agreed to sing us a few tunes on the road today. I don't know how he can play guitar and cycle at the same time but he says he does it all the time so we look forward to that. Paramedics stand by!

Another celebration today guys. Its Kathleen Tobin (super gran) birthday today. Kathleen has cycled every day, every cycle, every kilometre every year with Cycle Against Suicide some 8000km. A legend. Tell a story about Kathleen. in 2013 the first year we did 1400km over 14 days and Kathleen was with us the whole time. Every time you would meet Kathleen in the peloton and she just grinding away with the head down. "Howya Kathleen!" she wouldn't lift her head. You would just get a response "Fine!" Anyway. On 14th and final day we were cycling down Drumcondra Road heading for the finish and 'BANG'!! Kathleen blew a tyre! Had to stop. Word quickly went around 'SUPER GRAN HAS BROKEN DOWN, WE MUST STOP AND GET HER GOING AGAIN!' But there was 600 of us and we couldn't stop. But someone gave Kathleen a load of a bike and she made it to the finish. 😄😃😎😍 Happy Birthday Kathleen. 👏👏👏👏

Ok !! lets mount up. check you Garmin, check your tyres and make your donation if you haven't already.

gofundme.com/f/virtual-cycle-against-suicide-2020  

End of Day 4

Leaving Sligo this morning in bright sunshine we skirted the town and and headed out part Drumcliff church, the burial ground of WB Yeats where he asked us to 'tread softly cause you tread on my dreams'. From here we circumnavigated the Mighty Ben Bulben before hitting the Wild Atlantic Way.
We cruised at a nice pace along the Atlantic through Bundoran, quieter now  than usual at this time of year. And onto Ballyshannon the birthplace of there great Rory Gallagher. Onto Rossnowlagh and into Donegal Town.
Happy and sunburnt everyone was appreciative of the shorter day. when is the hailstones coming?
We have to have hailstones. No self respecting Cycle Against Suicide trip is complete until the hailstones come!
Our digs for the night? Lough Eske Castle! Luxury! Its a little bit out but we have coaches and bike transport laid on. Tonight there will be time to explore the grounds of this beautiful place or sit around in medieval luxury and soak up the atmosphere.

Not bad for a donation of €8 euro for 8 days  :-

gofundme.com/f/virtual-cycle-against-suicide-2020 

Tomorrow if you can drag yourself away we are turning south east and leaving Donegal. Heading for the border and making for Enniskillen. I promise you a rose garden.
Enjoy your evening and night in Donegal. Buy yourself some Donegal tweed in Magees or a nice aran sweater. Or just take away your memories of Donegal.

Night night, sleep tight and don't let the bugs bite!
Oh and ... WASH YOUR HANDS!