mizen-malin.org
2002 REPORT, Day 2
Thursday 8 August 2002
Limerick to Claremorris / Knock
This was a very bad morning, we woke to hear the rain bouncing of the roof of the B&B we were staying in. It was also very cold. Rather than load up the minibus and be in and out of the rainwe thought it better to cycle out from the B&B. But we headed on we were not very long out before we all were wet through, even Robert was wet through and he had his bicycle with mud guards on it.As we cycled on it continued to lash, through Newmarket-on-Fergus and Ennis, where the car pulled off to get supplies for our stop later on. Our first stop was planned for near Gort. The car had rejoined and went on to Gort and have the food ready for the stop. Coming near our first stop, going through Gort Joe hit a pothole in the road and with his hands being so cold and wet his grip was not as it should have been, and he fell off. After that it was time for our break, we all got into the van we were glad to feel the heat again we stopped for quit along time, hoping that the rain would ease, but it didn't.
As we started off again it was then I wondered if all our team would stay and even complete the day. We were drenched through, the wind and rain beating into us. Not long after we started on our journey again, Manny got a puncture, I give him one of my spare wheels he was amazed how easy his bicycle was to paddle with my wheel on, (so it pay’s to keep everything thing on the bicycle well maintained).
So we headed on it did not get any warmer just out side Galway we had another break down it was Joe’s cycle his rear wheel had been slightly buckled and had become very buckled, it needed changed so he got Roberts spare wheel, a few adjustments for the gears and we were off again. All these stops was having price on the team, as thje rain and wind did not cease. we were getting warm / cooled with these short stops.
We went on to Tuam were we stopped for our planned second main food stop of the day. In a small cafe getting something warm and looking out at the rain, and getting dried out before going again.
When we started of again I dropped the mouth piece of my water bottle I told the rest of the guy’s to go on and I would catch up on them. After searcing I could not find it, I got the bit of another bottle and went on. This was the first time up to then that I was able to get a bit of heat built up in my self by the time I caught up on them. It the rain stopped about ¾ miles out of Claremorris, and after it the road was drier. It had started to brighten up but the head wind was still very bad, but we all made to the end that day stopping on the road to Knock, 100 miles completed.
We were glad to get to our B&B that evening, a hot shower need to warm up and then get dried out properly. We washed our gear out and left it to dry.
We went out for a good dinner that night the crack was good, --what was ahead of us tomorrow weather wise? I hope it would be a lot better than today as we had even further to g
Joe
had to go to a wedding (not his own), so he would not be with us tomorrow, we
were not to sure if he would show up on Saturday in Omagh as he said, a good bit
of banter.