2018 Cycle against Suicide

What an evening I had with Ester. Great Ulster food. She is a wonderful woman. Has come through a lot in her life and is as positive about the future as anyone can possibly be. A true inspiration of success over adversary. Struggle makes us better people. She takes me over to the start line and I promise to keep in touch. The sun is shining now and the day looks promising. Im still struggling with getting my day and night bags sorted. What I need is locked away in the night bag. And the day bag only has part of what I need. Anyway! suncream on and I'm good to go. Cup of coffee, refill bottles and it off out through Newry town heading for Pointzpass and the rolling hills of the County Down. Its cold in the sun still but promises to get better. Im layered up anyway. You can always disrobe if necessary. Lots of new faces today and some old faces coming on the road today. The young lads from Belfast who have been travelling with us and who have never ridden bikes before, are st

Woke up in the hostel with no breakfast to be had. Not bothered too much as we will get something back at the start hall we are assured. Paddy Wagon is there before nine to collect us . So bags ready and off we go. It’s a long haul but arrive before most others. Back at the start hall in Navan there is a lot going on. A great buzz around the place. Lots more are joining us this morning for the leg to Newry It’s a fine sunny morning heading off and it looks promising for the day. Steady pace and im feeling good today. Lots of chat going on. Its great, meeting new people too as well as greeting friends. Nice easy roll out. Typically a hill start. I hate hill starts. I need to ease myself in on these trips. Nobber is our first stop for water and some bananas. Lots had heard about Nobber but few had been in it. It’s a lovely town. But most just fly straight through. Starting to get roly now, into Drumlin country . Climbing into Kingscourt was a good test and we are all st

Well today was a memorable day It was the first time in all the years, we only did a half day. Westmanstown to Navan. 40 km. Weatherwise it was a beautiful day. I arrived aa   Westmanstown looking   forward to seeing again all my old buddies again from previous years. Ah that was so much fun. Some were there and some were not. That was sad. Sign on was the usual scramble . Get your number , your stickers and your jersey. Am I the same as   last year or one size up or one size down. Not saying Sign on , coffee and a scone and just going around checking in with everyone. Some not able to cycle, for various reasons and just came to be there , meet the friends and say good luck and wish I was with you. Others not able to cycle but will drive a backup vehicle or volunteer for some other job just to keep them in the craic of this thing. Jim Breen is not here this year either and it’s a big lose. There is no identifiable figure head driving it on as far as I can see. He

Dublin - Navan - Carrickmacross - Newry - Belfast - Lurgan - Dungannon - Cookstown - Omagh - Irvinestown - Ballyshannon - Sligo - Ballina - Tobercurry - Carrick-on-Shannon - Longford - Mullingar - Leixlip - Swords. Loads of time to brush up on my Nornie accent!  Dublin to Navan will be a bit mundane. Time to catch up with old buddies and chat. Navan to Carrickmacross . a bit rolly! Familiar ground for me. Carrick to Newry. Through the hills of South Armagh. Hope they have replaced the road signs up there! Newry to Belfas t. The Star of the County Down. Belfast City Hal l where i dodged around as a kid, mitching school. Belfast to Lurgan . Unknown to be because of the M1 motorway. Could be easy and flat or a hilly start. Lurgan to Dungannon . Skirting the mighty Lough Neagh. Dungannon to Cookstown . Roly but overall downhill. Cookstown to Omagh . Gently rising and gently falling to overnight and a prayer in Omagh. Omagh