Wednesday, September 17
So I rode home from dublin airport. took me 40 mins... to re-assemble the bags and bike, pump up the tyres and get going. so i left at 10:50pm. i rode like a machine, averaging 22mph for the first half hour, then slowed down a little. twas kinda exciting to think i was riding to belfast, 100 miles away, at night. how far would i get before i had to stop to sleep?..
i asked for directions at a servo (as i couldn't legally ride on the motorway). the fog started getting dense, and by 2am, when i reached Dundalk (45 miles from the airport), twas so dense i could barely see with or without the torch. at this stage i was also getting tired and wet from the myst, so i decided to find a spot for the tent. i put it up near the entrance of a field and as soon as i got in the bag i was alseep only to wake up to pee a couple of times (i guess i was well hydrated!!). i'd set my alarm for 6(which was really 5 as i hadn't changed it) but twas still dark and foggy so i put it back an hour, then another hour. finally at 8am (7 am??) i got up, quick snack of bread, banana and choc (and a muesli bar my dad gave me 3 and a half weeks ago in france!!), packed up and bolted.
i rode on and got to lisburn, at which point i hit the toe-path, for 10am.
an hour later i was home!
107 miles in all, 6 hours 15 minutes of riding, average of 16.9mph.
i asked for directions at a servo (as i couldn't legally ride on the motorway). the fog started getting dense, and by 2am, when i reached Dundalk (45 miles from the airport), twas so dense i could barely see with or without the torch. at this stage i was also getting tired and wet from the myst, so i decided to find a spot for the tent. i put it up near the entrance of a field and as soon as i got in the bag i was alseep only to wake up to pee a couple of times (i guess i was well hydrated!!). i'd set my alarm for 6(which was really 5 as i hadn't changed it) but twas still dark and foggy so i put it back an hour, then another hour. finally at 8am (7 am??) i got up, quick snack of bread, banana and choc (and a muesli bar my dad gave me 3 and a half weeks ago in france!!), packed up and bolted.
i rode on and got to lisburn, at which point i hit the toe-path, for 10am.
an hour later i was home!
107 miles in all, 6 hours 15 minutes of riding, average of 16.9mph.
