photos. Mary our homestay and Mags my new Belfast buddy.

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Dungannon to Omagh 70km

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Morning breaks sunny and cold with the promise of some nice sunshine for the day. Im first up to the kitchen and watch Brian out in the fields tending his sheep. Looks idyllic. Mary comes and prepares a hearty breakfast of beef sausages, vegetable roll, free range eggs and lovely bread and toast. A veritable feast. Then drives us back to Dungannon for the start. Before hairing off to an appointment in Armagh, the opposite direction. The generosity of people! After a sort out of my kit and bike, its in to the presentation to the students in the assembly hall. A very moving talk from Bob Carley. Such an inspirational guy with a story to tell. I know he makes a difference. Soon we are ready to head out and we get a great send off from the students and their teachers. Straight into a climb and a strong headwind. Its head down and grind out the day. Lunch stop is early today but very welcome nonetheless. Half Way Round Syndrome I call it. The legs begin to complain about now on the t...
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Dublin to Navan First day on the road

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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...
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This is the route map

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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. Om...
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