Wow!!! 1/2 way. Day 6.

It's 6.29pm. and just got a call from a happy Gordy, as he has just hit the 600 mile point on his computer...HALFWAY.!!! He said it's been a tough, but good day (yes, you guessed it..due to the wind!)
Corkscrewhill was hard going (check out the map?) and he liked the ferry from Killimer to Talbert (3miles- which no, he has not counted!) He has taken lots of photos (asked strangers to take them of him standing under/next to sign posts like I instructed, bless him!). He's now on the way to Tralee @ 45mins cycle, where he plans to stop for the night. Tomorrow he's doing the ring of Kerry, which he expects to be tough going ( there seems to be a pattern forming- I'm thinking next time he should try Spain......
did I just say next time?). Oh and incidentally, the seafood place last night was nice...he had a steak!? Well that'll do for our Gastronomic tour of Ireland today! the nice man on the BBC is promising great weather @ Wednesday, for the rest of the week- but as we all know, Ireland has a weather zone of it's own, so who knows what Gordy will get. x

Day 5- A better day

Just left gordy on the phone in great form after a good days cycle. The fist half was tough due to the wind but then he turned a corner and the wind was behind him and made a world of difference and had a good run from Clifden to Galway. He said Connemara was stunning and even took some photos...better than the misery that was Mayo yesterday! He covered 105 miles (512 in total now) and stopped for the night at Kinvara in a nice little guest house run by a pork farmer (I'm guessing the sausages at breakfast should be good!!) after a shower and washing his kit he is heading down to the pier to a nice seafood place that was recommended for dinner (this story just gets better and better). So he said he felt strong and happy and apart from a slight flap involving his bike computer and his big thumbs (being the techy in our family- I talked him through what to do!) it was a good day! Tomorrow is going through Burren country and going on a ferry (is that cheating...should he swim?) Incidentally, if you want to see his actual route then click on the google map to the right and, once you have zoomed in on Ireland, if you drag the wee yellow man to the blue line I have marked, you can actually see the roads he's been cycling on...cool!

Day 4 .Has the wind got it in for him?

7 hours and 52 mins in the saddle! Most of us would have trouble with that amount of time in a car!! Anyway the wind seems to have it in for Gordy as every time he changes direction so does it...to straight in his face. Another gruelling day battling against the wind, only managing between 5 and 12mph and having to stop alot as he was wrecked! I just don't know how much of this he can take?
He seemed in good spirits  though (considering) and did say that why anyone would want to visit let alone live where he cycled today was beyond him as he could only describe it as bleak! He stopped in a nice place called Bangor Erris, though, and had fish and chips in a cafe which was nice...well it was until the man next to him vomitted everywhere (and we all know what a weak stomach Gordy has!) . He finally made it to Westport after having his first PUNCTURE and found a nice B&B (not like the "deliverance" last night!) and is going to dander into Westport town and grab a snack before going to bed. So he covered 95.5 miles today, so that makes a total of 403.5  miles in 4 days so he's on track. He changes direction tomorrow and guess what....so does the wind! Gordy said that it's the morning fry's and red wine that's keeping him going!

Day 3 Dungloe to Sligo

There wasn't much chat from Gordy tonight...needless to say, the cycle was tough again due to head on strong winds and constant rain- just miserable he said. He covered a fantastic 92 miles despite this, but said all in all it was all pretty bleak and he just put his head down and cycled! He stopped 20 miles outside Sligo,in Ballisodare in "a hole of a B&B" with strange owners (he's checked he's locked the door!) and the shower was cold and the radiator no more than 2 degrees-so he hopes his kit dries! He's miles from anywhere (and does not fancy a "quick cycle" to get some dinner, understandably!)so he bought some food to have in his room. He's optomistic about tomorrows weather and is heading on a real round the houses (or lack there of) trip to Westport...while writing this he just called to say the heating's on and his radiato'rs warming up and the shower should too....so things are looking up for our boy!!

day 2 and the weather takes it's toll.

The weather today was still horrendous and Gordy set off in torrential rain and strong winds. He ploughed on with the wind pushing him back and he said it was all he could do to keep the bike straight and on the road and was at times only able to spin at@ 5mph! He was nearly blown off countless times.  All in all he said it was the most horrendous cycle he has ever done, nevertheless he covered 87 miles and stopped in Dungloe. I have just spoken to him and he has washed his kit,had a nice meal and a couple of pints of Guiness and is settling down (with his bike) in his huge, but comfortable, room (complete with yellow leather sofas!) for the night having ordered a full Irish brekky! (well the boy needs those calories!). He said, walking back up a wee hill to his B&B after dinner was agony! Hopefully he'll sleep tonight as he didn't get much last night and will wake up refreshed ready to face yet another day of unforgiving Irish summer weather!!! He hopes to get to Sligo tomorrow, but is 15 miles ahead of schedule so far. Only 10 days to go Gordy! x

The first day over!

Just spoken to Gords (rang while he was sitting in freezing cold bath...good for the leg muscles...don't ask!) He said he had a horrendous cycle due to high winds and rain, plus being on the coastal roads and was nearly blown off the bike at Waterfoot.The words "Miserable" and "Soaked" were uttered. He stopped off for coffee and scone at Ballygally Castle Hotel and carried on to Ballycastle , where he had some lunch and stopped for @ an hour and spoke to me.It was about 2 o'clock and he had covered 78 miles.

Well he was aiming to stop at Portstewart (100 miles) but because the weather is going to be REALLY bad tomorrow, he wanted to cover more ground...so he carried on until Ballykelly ...130 miles in all.7 hours and 49 mins in the saddle (ouch! What can I say, the man is obviously a machine!).So there he is, in a lovely warm B+B and has a nice lady called Joan drying his clothes on her aga for him already (he's a fast worker...you know...the quiet ones and all that!). He's not expecting to do well tomorrow...we shall see. x

time to go!!

Well, looks like Gordy will be off on his challenge tomorrow- Wednesday- the weather has been really bad and unfortunately the wind very strong @ 50-70mph here lately. It does not seem to be improving too much in the next few days which will make his cycle even harder when the wind is against him!!(as if it won't be hard enough!?).Anyway, he has his kit bag all packed and the contents weighed to death, and is also using a very small bag attached to his seat post (as in training the weight of his bag was giving him lower back pain after @ 60 miles). Only the absolute essentials are going! So with the wind behind him tomorrow he will be heading off to Belfast-Carrickfergus-Larne-Ballycastle-Portrush and finally to Portstewart. I am sure you are with me when I wish him a safe journey and the kids and I will really miss him! I will have to resist phoning him as he cannot keep stopping etc, so I have been told I can phone early a.m or after 7pm. But I am sure he will be calling me on his breaks to let me know how it is going and give me the craic! So I will update this blog whenever I hear some news!! Bye for now.
Jules.x

2 weeks to go!

Well only 2 weeks to the off and Gordy's training has gone really well, averaging @ 70 miles a day for a constistent 14 days (he managed that with interruptions like playing with the kids and having some lovely days out over Easter!). He even managed 100 miles one day! So a little way to go yet! Weather has been very windy lately so not been doing too much last 2 days.
The route has been sorted out and I have put it on this page.
So far Gords' had raised a staggering £1657.00!!! just unbelievable- such fanatastic support- thanks guys!!
Jules. x