It was a clear, crisp morning so before long I was getting cold with the fast pace I was going and the cold air on my chest. I stopped to put on my jacket. Away again and I was going uphill. Got a bit hot so stopped to take off the jacket. A dark cloud moved towards me and within minutes the sunshine was gone and the rain started. Stopped, jacket on. All of maybe ten minutes later, the rain was gone, the sun was back, the heat picked up and ……… bike stopped, jacket off. When the rain started again ten minutes later, I decided enough was enough - and suffered through the rain knowing the heat wouldn't be far behind. And so it went. From rain to sun to drizzle to sun …….
It was easy to contend with a bit of rain! In fact the rain often cooled me down between the hot sunny spells. While lost in thought, peddling along a quiet country road, I was going past a very ordinary looking bungalow when out of the blue ….. well out of the doorway to be precise, a HUGE black and brown Doberman dog came bounding and barking towards me! All pleasant thoughts left me immediately and most of my 41 years flashed before my eyes - in the shape of snarling, growling, saliva dripping, gnashing teeth ….. the Grim Reaper was a Doberman, and was effectively reaching for my throat when his own throat felt a tightening.
The chain caught him and yanked him back to ground. A chain - the best invention in the world at that particular moment. Give thanks for chains. I dropped a few gears and peddled on. Then came back and took a picture, much to the annoyance of Grim!
I pressed on up and over Holywell Hill, and when coming down at tremendous speed into Kildrum, my GPS popped up and out of its holding on my handlebar. It wobbled briefly before disappearing down under the bike with the horrifying sound of "bang, crash, and bits all over the road". I was grabbing for my brakes while looking behind to watch all the pieces, and managed to stop the bike without falling off. I went back and collected all the bits. Initially I was worried sick. I needed this equipment to get me down the country. In the previous two years, when travelling the country, I had logged various critical points into the GPS as waypoints. This equipment was vital. I was somewhat relieved to see the retrieved bits consisted of all essential parts - the body, the batteries and the battery cover. Nothing seemed to be actually broken - just some damage on the body cover. I put it all together, pressed the "On" button and the screen flickered into life. A tense wait for a few second and then the perfect map flashed up on the screen! The relief! That Magellan Meridian Colour handheld GPS can take a fair bang on a tarmac road and still go strong! It's still working fine today. I realised it was from pulling my handlebar bag forward that it unclipped the GPS. No more pulling the handlebar bag …..
On to Saint Johnstown, and a rendezvous with John, a strawberry Yop and a banana. Nice little town. Short, maybe five minute break and then back on the bike. I took Cycle Route 92, which is on small roads, with little traffic, especially on a Sunday. Through Ballindrait and on to Clady, for another rendezvous and short break. The next stage was a very straight road, up and over Fearn Hill and down into Castlederg, where we planned to have lunch.
But that road up to Fearn Hill was a "killer"! It didn't look that steep on the map but …… for some reason (probably gravity) I really struggled with it. It was a small road so very little traffic. I went from side to side, to try to reduce the vertical effort. The perspiration dripped down my face, and each time I looked up I could see John waiting patiently at the top. Just waiting to take the photo. I had to put on a brave face, albeit a sweaty one! I grinded and grinded, leg muscles solid with effort, the sun beating down …. and a photo opportunity ahead! I stopped a couple of times, maybe a few times, for a rest but eventually got there.
A drink and a quick discussion with agreement on just how steep that hill was, and I was off again. John went ahead to check out what was on offer for lunch. As I got to Castlederg, John was waiting in his car to greet me and gladly tell me that a place had just opened for Sunday lunch and we could park my bike and his car around the back in full view from a window in the restaurant. I think I had roast chicken and ham, and a big banoffi for desert! We studied the maps carefully as there were two routes to get to Pettigoe - the long and flat cycle route 95 or the straight and steep B72 road through a valley and up Crockalaghta. We discussed the merits of both options at some length, but at the back of my mind all the time was ….. the challenge. I think it was always going to be the straight and steep route!
Back to the bike and the decision was made - straight and steep - see you at the top! John drove off and I cycled. There was about 8km of reasonably flat road before I got to the steep part. The scenery was pleasant, with trees both sides of the road. A low gear, head down and away I went. Maybe two stops, but surprisingly quickly I could see John's car parked up ahead. I wondered if he was stopping to give me encouragement half way up. But a few more pedals and just beyond him the road was dropping down again, and I could see my turn off to the right. I was there - at the top. No bother!
John took this photo from his moving car! -
It wasn't long before I got to Pettigo - more Yop and a cereal bar, sitting in John's car, and then on to the road North of Lower Lough Erne. It lashed rain for a few minutes and then back to sun. We rendezvoused at a car park for a few minutes rest and photos.
I was feeling great. I was well ahead of schedule, I felt fine-and-fit, and there was only a relatively short section around Lough Erne to the B&B. I had rung the B&B at lunchtime to tell them I was a day ahead of schedule. I was glad to hear it was no problem - I had a bed for the night! There was still about another 14km to go but that was easy now. One more brief stop at the Rosscor viaduct bridge and shortly after, at 5pm and 94km, I arrived at the Loughshore B&B. John was already there. The owner Ann kindly gave me a cup of tea and showed great interest in my adventure! John had to travel back to Dublin that night so we packed my bike and cycling equipment into his car, for him to send to Limerick when he got back to Dublin. I waved goodbye to John, disappointed to see him go, and knowing full well that this disappointment would get worse as the evening wore on and I was left alone. Oh NO!!!! I just remembered ….. I left my credit card and cash in my cycling bag …… a dash upstairs to my phone …… and John was back a few minutes later. Credit card and cash retrieved, I waved goodbye again! Imagine the trouble if I didn't have phone coverage just then ….. John would have gone back to Dublin, and I would have been severely stuck without any means of payment for the following days! Marvellous mobiles!
Ann in Loughshore B&B (on the A46 between Belleek and Enniskillen) made a wonderful salad for me that evening. She offered to make a bigger meal for me but I don't eat much in the evenings! It's a great B&B, if you're ever passing. And I needed a nice salad. John had been with me through all this new adventure for the past two full days. His assistance and company was terrific. Now the country got very very quiet. A bit too quiet. I watched telly and went to bed early. I was thinking of the following day. I was looking forward to what the walking might bring. The plan was for four days of walking up the cliffs of Magho, along the Ulster Way across Lough Navar Forest, through Big Dog, Carrigan and Ballintempo Forests, followed by the entire Cavan Way to Dowra. From now on I didn't have any accommodation booked. I was to carry my tent and hope for the best. But my first challenge was something that had been playing on my mind for about a week. When I had been up this way about a week earlier to leave my walking gear in this Loughshore B&B, I had seen a sign at the start of the walk up the Magho cliffs. It said "PATH CLOSED due to landslide. NO ENTRY".
If I couldn't get up those cliffs, looking at the map and not knowing the area, I might have an extra day's walking to get around the problem. I went to sleep pondering over the morning's predicament, wondering if I would take heed of the warning sign …….. All will be revealed, next week!
3 comments:
Oh you brat! I just know that gate is going to be crossed. See John, you can't let him out of your sight!!
Oh my aching chest! I laughed so much at this account it did my heart good. Poor dog! Poor Seamus: I've never see anyone use so much of the road going up a hill...I began to feel that perhaps I could give him a run for his money along with 10 years. Did not realise till now that it was Fearn Hill: well named. Well done the GPS: Irene and Richie did well in ensuring you had it in time for your ... 40th (I hope you told Mother Superior her present worked a treat?). A great weekend, a pleasure to have been part of it. Looking forward to next week.
Oh yes, the sign. I saw it as I drove past and though, tut tut, waste of time and effort putting that up - might as well have read: Bit of a Challenge ahead - Just Do It.
What a tease you are Seamus, keeping us at the edge of our seats for a whole week! Great writing...which makes for great reading. Richie would probably say, next time leave the GPS and the mobile behind. But I totally agree with you that these modern miracles are fantastic.
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