Charleville to Limerick

Guess what?

You’ve got it wet again!

Now I actually don’t mind the rain except it is wrecking my feet.

I’m rapidly losing all the skin off my heel of my right foot, ouch!



That apart today was fun, quiet roads and really enjoyed the crack, couldn’t really see much in terms of scenery as it was quite dark and misty all day. It was mainly flat as I travelled through farm land most of the day, cows rushing to stare as I boarded past.

Thank you to Mora at Innisfree B&B in Charleville for her 10eur donation.

A special thank you to Janine for booking me into the Jury’s hotel in limerick to night.
Great views of the Shannon.

I dictating this to Janine from the bar of the hotel enjoying the first Guinness of the trip!

Kanturk to Charleville

Today was yet another day of wet, dry, wet and up, down, up, down. It was a short day to let my calf recover but a very good day until the head wind I encountered on the run in to Charleville. Still finding the work rate required just to move forward even on a downhill quite incredible.

Thank you to the lady who stopped me out on the road on Freemount and donated her loose change €0.72, every little helps!

Tomorrow will be another short day into Limerick, and after that I will push the mileage back up. Current mileage to date is approx 113 miles, over a quarter distance done. Will be running a day behind schedule by tomorrow night but have days in hand still.

Macroom to Kanturk

OK, so I set off in the morning and it's dry but the skies are grey overhead. I ask a lorry driver "Is this the road to Kanturk?", "Yes" he replies, 20Km later in pouring rain having almost lost it trying to foot break on a river cunningly disguised as a road. I have an epiphany, well not quite. Actually what happens is a passing motorist stops and asks if I'm OK? I ask him if this is the road to Kanturk, he says no that's north your heading west! He turns out to be my saviour getting me back on track and will accept nothing for his trouble. This is typical of the people I have met so far, they are all so incredibly helpful.

So back on track, and from soaked to topping up my sunburn, the sun has made an appearance. It seems I have left the mountains behind, for now, the horizon looks relatively flat, not Cambridge flat, but good enough for now.

The day ended much better than it started and all is well with the world.

To top it all off the Arigle Lodge B&B in Kanturk donate €10.00, thanks Helen!

Drimoleague to Macroom

Today was much like yesterday in terms of scenery. I have never seen so much gorse as I have in the last three days and the lake full of dead tree stumps was a most peculiar sight. Weather was good found myself with sun burnt legs after a misty start.

The roads are hard work, even on the flat you need to work very hard to keep moving. As a consequence my right calf suffered today so I will slow my schedule for the next few days into Limerick to give it time to recover.

Big thank you to the guys at Dormey's bar who stopped me out on the road and between them stumped up €100.00 before sending me on my way. They did offer to buy me a pint but didn't want to get caught boarding under the influence.

I cannot fault the welcome I have received, or the way people have reacted to me, most motorists give me a wave although a passing motorist did stop to give me an L plate...

Goleen to Drimoleague

Today was long, lots of ups and downs, tried to rain on and off all day but never seriously. Again the scenery was amazing. Had a nice pub lunch, Cajun salmon, to break up the day. I never realised there was so much water in Ireland, Dave get over here with your kayak. Left the peninsular behind today so 'No Sea 'til Malin Head'

Thanks to the woman in the white Nissan Micra who stopped and told me she had read of my journey and proceeded to donate €20.00.

I think Ireland might be the only country in the world where you have to push your board downhill, forget foot breaking just head for a rough patch and before you know it you have not teeth let alone fillings left and you have rolled to a stand still.

Mizen Head to Goleen

Hail showers en route to Mizen Head had me wondering what skateboarding on marbles would be like. Luckily by the time I reached Mizen Head the sun was out, then in, then out...you get the idea! This becomes a theme!

So my first six miles on Irish soil, and yes I do mean soil, those roads sure were muddy, least I think it was mud. It was up and down and I'm glad I was only doing six miles (due to the 2.00pm start). Not because wasn't enjoying it but because it would have taken me too long as I couldn't help stopping every ten minutes to stare at the stunning scenery.

Thanks to the ladies in the Mizen Head visitor center cafe who kindly bought my lunch for me.

Thanks also to David and Pauline, members of ther Oxford Fiddle Group, and fellow guests at the White House B&B, they donated €10.00

7th April 2009

Hi I'm Janine and I will be updating Alan's Blog throughout his trip.
I look forward to updating you soon.
Bye for now