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

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Mullingar to Swords via Leixlip 100km

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OMG! The last day! I always hate this day on the cycle. Everyone is at ones and twos! Nobody knows weather to laugh or cry. A lot of writing down contact numbers and emails. Been meaning to get them all week. Now I've no pen! text me! Call me ! then ill have your number! A lot of that going on. But we still have today. Its a 60 km trip to the food stop and having done the 100 miler on this route I know its relatively flat to down hill. The midlands of our beautiful country is great for cycling if not a bit boring for the climbers. But suits us today as the legs are beginning to talk back! Joe Dolan has obviously not taken offence at our antics last night, cause the sun is beginning to make a hesitant appearance. Warmers are rolled down, zips are retracted as we roll out, some 500 strong. Lakeside wheelers are with us, in support of their county and its great to see the colour. Catching up on guys in the peloton. Having the craic, going over stuff, assessing the 10 days. what ...
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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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