At home - Tuesday 5th May

Some thoughts on my journey...

Thanks to the kind family who bandaged my hands an Malin Head and donated €10.00 as well.

Thanks to Ronnie Newell for his £20.00 donation.

Thanks to Mrs Quin for her £20.00 donation.

Huge thanks to my Aunt and Uncle for all their priceless help, the trip would have been far harder without their support, and their very kind donation of £50.00.

Thanks to Janine for putting up with me moaning about my feet, the weather, my ankles, the weather, the roads, the weather, my knees, the weather, the cars, the weather, my calves...

Some press...

Cambridge News

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_video/displayarticle.asp?id=405627

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=413861

Mention on Johnnie Walkers morning radio show on BBC Radio 2, fast forward to about 49 minutes, kick back and listen...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00k57jr/Wake_Up_to_Wogan_05_05_2009/

After 15 days and 408 miles I'm still smiling!

Quigley's Point to Malin Head - Sunday 26th April

The final push, about 22 miles, weather looks unsettled but is dry as I leave in the morning. The roads are very good, some of the best yet. The scenery gets more beautiful by the mile. I'm happy and grinning as cars flash and people wave at me. Word is out having been interviewed on a local community radio station on Friday morning. Once I near Malin the Atlantic comes into view and scenery takes my breath away.

With less than a mile to go to Malin Head on a short steep downhill, I come off, making a mess of my hands and (as I now know) breaking the little finger on my left hand. My helmet has some nice deep scratches too, don't leave home without one!

I call in at the nearest house and they let me wash and help me bandage my hands with kitchen roll. I'm back on my way as my Aunt and Uncle pass me stopping to say "Hi" before leaving to wait for me at Malin Head.

At about 1.00pm I reach Malin Head to be greeted by my Aunt and Uncle. I stand with hands throbbing, blisters burning and legs aching and look out over the Atlantic, it doesn't sink in what I've done. I can't quite believe I have made it, approximately 408 miles in 15 days.

Derry to Quigley's Point - Saturday 25th April

So all caught up I boarded through Derry under grey skies, going through the walled city and along the banks of the Foyle. The scenery was great today as I headed out along the River Foyle and then the banks of Lough Foyle. I unfortunately had to cut short my day, just as I was heading inland, when the sole of my right trainer started to fall off! So I found a B&B, Clunelly House, and grabbed a taxi back into Derry. where I hobbled round on my very painful left ankle and purchased some new trainers!

Thanks to Clunelly House B&B for their €5.00 donation.

Omagh to Derry - Friday 24th April

Today can be summed up in one word...WET! It rained all day. The roads were good for the first 20 miles then turning bad for the last 20 as I boarded up the west side of the River Foyle. It was a hard day. The highlight being a stop at Tony Currys Barbers in Strabane, for a cuppa, a donation and a supply of Dragon Tiger Balm! That came in very useful in what was my longest day on the board, helping my tired muscles recover overnight.

As I approached Derry the rain became torrential and a very kind soul picked me up, delivering me to the B&B Janine had booked for me earlier in the day. I would have a little back tracking to do in the morning.

Two days left and 40(ish) miles to go, should be good for a finish on Sunday!

Clones to Omagh - Thursday 23rd April

Today was sunny to start with but clouded over as the day wore on. It's now raining as I sit in the pub with my pint of Guiness.

It was a day of two huge climbs that were hard but resulted in two nice long descents. The last third into Omagh was just perfect, especially the part where the road was closed as it was being resurfaced. It was smooth and quiet a little bit of boarding heaven!

In Omagh it took me a good hour to find a B&B, including a visit to a hostel for alchoholics, I was lucky they believed my story about skateboarding Ireland for charity and that I honestly hadn't been hitting the bottle! Was getting worried I might actually have to break the tent out.

Mrs Douglas my landlady was a star, running me to one of her friends for navigation advice for the following day, then driving me round to show me where the various options were. She also donated £5.00, so a big thank you to her for everything.

Rest Day - Wednesday 22nd April

Well having had to take a days enforced rest, I made good use of my time!

My Uncle ran me into Belfast to pick up some new bearings and then took me on a miny tour of Belfast, showing me the place my Dad was born.

I also got a chance to see my 98 year old Granny Smyth which was great, she is still so sharp!

Thanks to Rodney Slane for his £20.00 donation