Day 4

Tuesday, August 8th
Malahide to Courtown
129km

Today was a tough day.  Ryan had to bow out after 40km and Jenn went with him back to Dublin.  I'll meet them in Cork in two days.  They are both fine...just a bit sore...so no need to worry.

The day started off with a bang when Ryan found his front tire flat at the B&B and the replacement tube he put in exploded as Jenn pumped it up.  Sounded like a gunshot, and poor Jenn had her ear about a foot away.

With the tube replaced...a second time...we were off.  Ryan finally found a pharmacy that was open.  He picked up a second tension bandage, and rode with one on each ankle. He aso picked up another pain killer.  This one had codine in it.

New drugs in hand, we set out...again.  We rode along a nice bike path along the coast into Dublin.  Our speed was barely at 15km/h on a dead flat road...which was the first real sign of trouble.

Dublin was a real pain in the butt.  Lots of traffic, potholed roads and dozens of little one way streets everywhere.  We had to ask for directions a few times before we found a tourist info centre and got a street map.

From there we made a quick stop at a bike shop for Ryan to get his derraliers adjusted.  We grabbed lunch and set off out of the city.  Even with the map, we needed to ask for directions.  The two old Irishmen on the street described started with the Irish standard, " you want to go to Glencree?  I wouldn't start from here.". They then gave us about 5 possible routes...in excruciating detail...all at the same time.  At the end of the day, we were a block south of the road we wanted, and we were soon back on track.

Leaving Dublin, we rode up gradual hills for 3km before starting what Lonely Planted called a "15.5km moderate/hard climb".  I thought it might be a typo.  It wasn't.

After 1.5km of steep climbing, Ryan was walking up the hill.  The tendanitous in his ankles was really hurting and he had to call it quits.  Given his busy schedule and subsequent lack of training, it was impressive that he made it this far.  It typical Ryan style, he rode well farther than he should have been capable...and only stopped when continuing was impossible.  Hopefully he'll heal a bit in the next 4 days and will be able to ride again once we meet up with the Bike Adventures group.

The final 14km of the climb were pretty tough.  The climb took me through the Wicklow Mountains, past Glenclee, over the Sally Gap and past the Glenmacnass waterfall.  I met another cyclist on the climb, who said that Sally Gap was the highest pass in Ireland.  I can believe it.  It was really steep at the top.

The views were stunning.  First were views of Dublin...with thousands of little houses stretching into the heart of the city.  Next were vast moors where short brown shrubs filled giant valleys between mountain peaks.  There was just nothing around for miles and miles.  Finally, was a mossy forrest and little lake below a rocky peak.  I was stopping every kilometer to snap photos.

The decent was thrilling.  It went right beside a rocky waterfall before plumeting into a wooded valley.  The mossy green trees formed a tunnel around the road, which rose and fell and twisted and curved like a rollercoaster.  So much fun!!! I was flying down the whole way.

By the time I reached Arklow I was pretty tired.  It was 6:30pm, and I had been realing pushing myself for the past 70km and the last 20km were slower and gruelling and the coastal road to Courtown was undulating the whole way.

Looking forward to a goo night sleep.  Hope the weather stays good.  Today was a bit cloudy, but there was no rain and the temperature was perfect.  Ideal weather for tough climbing.