Inishowen 100    17th August 2014

"That weather would fair clean the mate ave kettle the day."

Mid August means a trip to Donegal and the Inishowen 100.

Today,  there were six of us – Conall, Sean, Aidan, Barney, Adrian and Harry (an honourary Carn man for the day,  who wore the green and black with merit).

To put it mildly, this was a wyle day for a bike – very windy with severe gusts, and heavy showers.   

Today, there were cyclists literally blown of their bikes by the wind.  Luckily, none of us suffered any severe damage/pain and all bikes and bones remained in-tact.

We persevered on with great valantry – sometimes just the six of us together sharing the workload,  sometimes other cyclists would join us for part of the route.

The scenary in Inishowen was spectacular as usual, lovely beachs and really impressive waves and surf at Malin Head, prompting someone to observe that "No need for soap if you were to go for a wash at Malin Head today”.

Mamore and Kinnego aren’t getting any easier for an old dog like me, and its good to see fresh faces taking on the challenge.  It’s also good to have a fresh perspective of the route from the novices – eg observations of farming methods employed in the area compared to home.

Full compliments to the Foyle Cycling club for running this event.  The registration was efficient, the road markings were grand,  there were marshalls at all the hazard spots, and on completion, there was a certificate and Tee-shirt labelled with your name on it for all those who pre-registered.    And the tea-stops were the best I have ever witnessed.   None of your usual cheese on cheap white bread sandwiches today.  No, a full range or tasty sandwiches, PLUS, pasta, bananas, oranges, apples,  Nature Valley oaty bars, java cakes, swish roll, chocolate cake, tea cakes,  plus tea/coffee/water.

I did suffer a bit after both the on-route tea-stops as my belly was too full for normal cycling.

Well done to Foyle.

Although it was a rough day,  and at no time did I ever think that I wanted to quit or to be somewhere else,  that poem by Padraic Colum kept coming to my mind:

…..oh the crying wind and the lonesome gust.

And I am praying to God on high

And I’ve been praying  to him all day

For a little shelter, a wee bit ave shelter

Out of the wind and rain’s way.

Well done to all.