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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Epilogue

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An epilogue is a sum up of the event. Im not sure if thats an easy task. Because there is so much that went on in these past 10 days. I started this trip no really thinking too much about it except that its a sort of pilgrimage for me. I felt I had to keep my record going, if nothing else. But as the start day grew closer I found myself getting more excited about meeting old friends and doing another epic ride. So when it came I was really up for the challenge. What I hadnt factored in was, I would be meeting great people who struggle every day with issues and the bravery and resilience of those people to keep going. And not only keep going. But who shine through their struggles. Those people would be cycling alongside me. Some, from previous years, didn't make it through. And are gone forever now. To see that there is help out there now, if anyone wants to talk. Were there never was before and that help is reaching into and is available to anyone who wants to talk, or not tal...
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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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