Maldwyn, Peter, Shawn, Martin and Clyde met this evening at the Flowerpot to discuss some initial details of next year's ride. It will probably be late May/early June, midweek to midweek, avoiding bank holidays, and last 7 days. The idea is to start on the Atlantic coast, possibly at La Dune du Pilat (at 107 m, the tallest dune in Europe) and, riding the Mios to Bazas greenway, followed by minor roads to Castets en Dorthe, we will ride the towpaths of the Garonne Canal and the Canal du Midi, stopping at (approximately) Castets, Agen, Toulouse, the wonderful canal basin of Castelnaudary, the fairy-tale city of Carcassonne, Béziers and Sète on the Mediterranean. Distance is about 560 km. There is a lot to see and sample on this ride, including the famous three-way circular lock at Agde, the aqueduct at Agen and the delicious cassoulet of the Lauragais region and perhaps a glass of Noilly Prat at Marseillan. And our route takes us right through a motorway service station!
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Dune_of_Pyla
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=68
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=17
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=240
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=188
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=197
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=5
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=6
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=26
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=39
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=280
Friday, 14 October 2011
Thursday, 15 September 2011
A proposal for the 2012 Dragon Ride
Clyde has proposed that we do the French equivalent of the C2C (Coast to Coast). In brief, this would be on a Greenway from the Bassin d'Arcachon (Atlantic coast, not too far from La Rochelle) to the Garonne Canal, then along the canal to Toulouse, finally following the Canal du Midi to Sete on the Mediterranean Coast. Clyde reports that he has 2 booklets on the route, including places to stay, assuming a start from Bordeaux (via two different routes). There is a third way, in many ways more obvious, starting from the Atlantic: a greenway from Mios to just before Bazas (76 km)
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=17
There is an extension to this, taking the rider to Roaillan. Then it's only a few km by minor road to Langon and Castets en Dorthe, where the Canal de Garonne begins. Almost all the rest is by towpath.
When Clyde is back in GB a meeting will be held on a suitable Thursday evening in the Flower Pot pub in Derby to assess demand for this ride and to consider any other suggestions. Please watch this blog for an announcement from Clyde.
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=17
There is an extension to this, taking the rider to Roaillan. Then it's only a few km by minor road to Langon and Castets en Dorthe, where the Canal de Garonne begins. Almost all the rest is by towpath.
When Clyde is back in GB a meeting will be held on a suitable Thursday evening in the Flower Pot pub in Derby to assess demand for this ride and to consider any other suggestions. Please watch this blog for an announcement from Clyde.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Day 7
Maldwyn and Clyde took the straightforward road to Sligo, the N15, while the others took the official cycleroute (part of the North-west Trail). This proved to be quite arduous for, although there were no serious hills, we were riding into a relentless headwind for most of the journey. This beautiful mountain is Benbulben, seen shortly before Sligo. Other pics: our bikes on the train to Dublin; O'Connell's statue, Dublin; the Spire of Dublin, O'Connell Street; Ryanair HQ, Dublin Airport. 
Day 5
Only a short ride today, to a brand new, purpose-built An Óige hostel, Errigal, also in County Donegal. Just as well: it rained much of the time and we were riding into the wind a lot. Photo-opportunity somewhere on the road, before the rain, and a picture of the Errigal mountain, after the rain.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Day 4
A political relic from the twentieth century and cannon from the seventeenth century, defending the city of Derry. We saw this loco on the Foyle Valley Railway as we left Derry on NCR92. This sandy bay was at Downies on the Rosghuill peninsular, where we had a wonderful meal with a glass of wine. Finally, our hostel for the night, a building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and donated to An Óige (Irish equivalent of the YHA), situated in a remote and windswept corner of the north Donegal coast.
Day 3
Day 3 was when three of us got punctures, riding on the pavement into Coleraine, next to a recently clipped hawthorn hedge. But we didn't mind because earlier in the day we had visited the Bushmills distillery and were suitably fortified! This beautiful seascape is on the north Antrim coast. The Peace Bridge across the 
Foyle is not quite ready.
Foyle is not quite ready.Thursday, 26 May 2011
Day 2
Excellent breakfast to start us off.
Then proceeding through the wind, rain and hail to Bushmills for a look at the Giants Causeway. It became apparent to me that all the photos of the causeway I'd seen in the past used a clever camera angle to make the Stones seem larger than they are. Good to see though.
Stayed in Bushmills which must be one of most rundown places I've seen. The Sportsman pub offers "good fun" and "cold drinks" as its selling points. I'd have thought cold drinks was the minimum you expect from a pub so we decided not to test the fun.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Day one
Three of us set off at 10 from the palatial Paddys Palace in Belfast. 1 mile later we were stopped for a coffee break!
Exceptional gale force winds meant loads of trees down and VERY hard work cycling SW.
Eventually reached Lough Neagh where the waves were breaking. Stayed at the excellent Bay Cottage B&B.
Friday, 20 May 2011
Weather
Looks like Monday will be the most challenging weather - strong wind generally in our faces and rain - but longer term forecast looks reasonable although a little cold.
My main concern is strong winds (against us) which makes the distances much, much harder. Current forecast seems to imply this should be okay (apart from Monday).
My main concern is strong winds (against us) which makes the distances much, much harder. Current forecast seems to imply this should be okay (apart from Monday).
Giant's Causeway
There is a small element of truth in the legend of Finn McCool, who is said to have built the causeway to fight a much larger giant in Scotland, in that the causeway was formed in the Scottish Midland Valley which extends to Northern Ireland. The Midland Valley developed some 400 million years ago as a consequence of the collision between two land masses containing the Northern and Southern fragments that formed the British Isles. About 60 million years ago, as America and Europe separated, several million years of basaltic magmatism covered the whole area; leaving the remnants seen today.
There is much speculation about the processes which formed these unusual basalt columns. They are often said to be hexagonal but in fact various polygonal shapes are present. Several papers have been published on the formation of such patterns. The formation of the columns is associated with the cooling process but only a very few flood basalts cool in this way. An interesting mystery.
However other natural structures sometimes cool in a similar fashion:
Ice flows in Arctic Canada.
There is much speculation about the processes which formed these unusual basalt columns. They are often said to be hexagonal but in fact various polygonal shapes are present. Several papers have been published on the formation of such patterns. The formation of the columns is associated with the cooling process but only a very few flood basalts cool in this way. An interesting mystery.
However other natural structures sometimes cool in a similar fashion:
Ice flows in Arctic Canada.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Hostels at Tra na Rosann and Errigal
All,
First my apologies for misleading you over sheet sleeping bags. Re -reading the notes with the booking confirmation clarifies that it is ordinary sleeping bags which are banned - the YHA type sheet sleeping bags are OK. Otherwise one can hire sheets and pillows at 2 euros per night. This in any case only applies at Tra na Rosann as bed linen IS included in the price at Errigal.
The hostel at Errigal, which is miles from anywhere, offers a 2 course evening meal at 14 euros for groups and a 5 euro continental breakfast, if prebooked. Do you wish me to pursue this and/or make a booking. I dont know the definition of a group but would hope we would be acceptable.
Update 16th May:
Further to above, the Hostel Manager advises that a group is 15 to 20 strong so a party of 6 does not count. Its just not our day - see first comment.
There is, however, a shop next to the Hostel which sells a range of food sufficient to make an evening meal. Even so, we'd better have some emergency rations just in case.
First my apologies for misleading you over sheet sleeping bags. Re -reading the notes with the booking confirmation clarifies that it is ordinary sleeping bags which are banned - the YHA type sheet sleeping bags are OK. Otherwise one can hire sheets and pillows at 2 euros per night. This in any case only applies at Tra na Rosann as bed linen IS included in the price at Errigal.
The hostel at Errigal, which is miles from anywhere, offers a 2 course evening meal at 14 euros for groups and a 5 euro continental breakfast, if prebooked. Do you wish me to pursue this and/or make a booking. I dont know the definition of a group but would hope we would be acceptable.
Update 16th May:
Further to above, the Hostel Manager advises that a group is 15 to 20 strong so a party of 6 does not count. Its just not our day - see first comment.
There is, however, a shop next to the Hostel which sells a range of food sufficient to make an evening meal. Even so, we'd better have some emergency rations just in case.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Irish Trip - Accomodation.
Hi all,
I have made a booking request through An Oige (Irish YHA to us) for 6 places each at Tra-na-Rosann (26/5) and Errigal (27/5) and am promised a reply within 3 working days by phone or e-mail. The website seemed quite keen to get hold of my money, booking or not so we will have to wait and see. The An Oige hostel for Donegal Town is not actually in Donegal at all but 5 miles out in the middle of nowhere. I have therefore booked a 6 bed dorm in the Donegal Independant Hostel (which IS in Donegal Town) for Sat 28/5 through Hostelworld and I have a booking confirmation for that. It has good write ups on the Hotelworld website. I have also booked a quarter of a (MIXED) 4 bed dorm at Paddy's Palace, Belfast for the Monday night 23/5 so expect that I may fall off the train on the Tuesday morning unable to put one pedal in front of the other. (I wish!!).
Look out for an update to this entry some time next week.
UPDATED 14/3
An e-mail from Bridget (who else?) confirms our bookings at Tra-na-Rosann and Errigal. Sheets are NOT included and the standard YHA sheet sleeping bag is not permitted. Bring your own or pay 2 euros per night. They do issue blankets/pillows however. Also we are warned that they are "remote" so we will need to be self sufficient. There is food to be had nearish to TnR and I may contact the establishments to confirm exact details of provision. At Errigal we may need to go prepared to cook.
I have made a booking request through An Oige (Irish YHA to us) for 6 places each at Tra-na-Rosann (26/5) and Errigal (27/5) and am promised a reply within 3 working days by phone or e-mail. The website seemed quite keen to get hold of my money, booking or not so we will have to wait and see. The An Oige hostel for Donegal Town is not actually in Donegal at all but 5 miles out in the middle of nowhere. I have therefore booked a 6 bed dorm in the Donegal Independant Hostel (which IS in Donegal Town) for Sat 28/5 through Hostelworld and I have a booking confirmation for that. It has good write ups on the Hotelworld website. I have also booked a quarter of a (MIXED) 4 bed dorm at Paddy's Palace, Belfast for the Monday night 23/5 so expect that I may fall off the train on the Tuesday morning unable to put one pedal in front of the other. (I wish!!).
Look out for an update to this entry some time next week.
UPDATED 14/3
An e-mail from Bridget (who else?) confirms our bookings at Tra-na-Rosann and Errigal. Sheets are NOT included and the standard YHA sheet sleeping bag is not permitted. Bring your own or pay 2 euros per night. They do issue blankets/pillows however. Also we are warned that they are "remote" so we will need to be self sufficient. There is food to be had nearish to TnR and I may contact the establishments to confirm exact details of provision. At Errigal we may need to go prepared to cook.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Irish Ride 2011 - route ideas.
Further to the meeting we had at the Flowerpot I have been firming up ideas on routes/stopovers - without total success. The first 3 days seem OK. They are:
Day 1: Belfast via Lagan Valley and Loughshore Trail to Antrim - about 60 miles
Day 2: Antrim to Portglenone on R94 thence "overland" to Balleymoney and Bushmills (nearest town to Giants Causeway). This is also about 60 miles. I have not checked but there is sure to be accomodation around here and Coleraine is a further 16 miles which may be a little too far allowing time to properly visit the Giants Causeway.
Day 3: Bushmills to Castlerock on R94 thence to Magilligan Point for the Ferry to Greencastle and down the west side of Lough Foyle (the Republic side) to Derry. This is another about 60 miles.
After there I am unable to make my mind up. We need to be in the vicinity of Knock Airport by the end of day 7. Being in Ireland, Knock Airport is not at Knock but nearer Charlestown but it is 30 miles south of Sligo on the N17 road. There is a late afternoon flight from Knock to East Mids so Sligo or Carrick-on-Shannon could be stopover points. Carrick to Knock is about 35 miles. Sligo is reachable comfortably in a day from Donegal which is itself within a day's ride of Derry so we have two days ; one cycling day and one non cycling day. As I have not cycled in Donegal my personal preference would be to take 2 or even 2 and a half days between Derry and Donegal; say a short hop to Strabane (20 miles) after a morning exploring Derry, stop there on day 4 then to somewhere like Dunglow for day 5 overnight and finally via Killybegs to Donegal for day 6. Both these latter 2 days would be in the 45 to 50 miles range.
There are Youth Hostels (An Oige) at both Donegal and Sligo, and "Paddy's Palace" Hostels in Belfast and Derry. I do not know of accomodation possibilites in the other potential overnight stops.
Comments welcome!
UPDATED 20th February
This is my latest suggestion for the second half of the tour, from Londonderry onwards. The route has been determined in part by the lack of accomodation (other than hostels) for a group of 5 or 6 of us without resorting to splitting up each night or paying a large sum at a hotel.
Day 4. Londonderry to Buncrana - 15 miles - on the east shore of Lough Swilly. We are now in the Republic. Cross Lough Swilly on the ferry to Rathmullan and then cycle the 20 or so miles to the Tra-na-Rosan Irish YHA Hostel on the Rosguill peninsula near Downies. Overnight stop.
Day 5 Tra-na-Rosan to Errigal Hostel. The most direct route is about 27 miles, while going more coastward via Dunfanaghy still makes it less than 35.
Day 6 Errigal to Donegal via Dunglow and Glenties. Total 43 miles
Day 7 Donegal to Sligo via the North West Cycle Trail - around 40 miles.
This would mean we were in Sligo by Monday night, 30th May and homeward bound on the 31st. One or two comments suggest this may be a day too long and, if so, we could cut out the Tra-na-Rosan stop and go direct Londonderry to Errigal on day 4 and so arrive in Sligo on day 6 (29th ). This would make day 4 distance around about 50 miles if we went the direct route. I have to say that I would prefer not to miss this trip to N Donegal but will be guided by the majority.
I attach the link to An Oige, the Irish YH organisation for you to view the hostels at Tra-n-Rosan, Errigal, Donegal City and Sligo.
http://www.anoige.ie/
What do you think?
Day 1: Belfast via Lagan Valley and Loughshore Trail to Antrim - about 60 miles
Day 2: Antrim to Portglenone on R94 thence "overland" to Balleymoney and Bushmills (nearest town to Giants Causeway). This is also about 60 miles. I have not checked but there is sure to be accomodation around here and Coleraine is a further 16 miles which may be a little too far allowing time to properly visit the Giants Causeway.
Day 3: Bushmills to Castlerock on R94 thence to Magilligan Point for the Ferry to Greencastle and down the west side of Lough Foyle (the Republic side) to Derry. This is another about 60 miles.
After there I am unable to make my mind up. We need to be in the vicinity of Knock Airport by the end of day 7. Being in Ireland, Knock Airport is not at Knock but nearer Charlestown but it is 30 miles south of Sligo on the N17 road. There is a late afternoon flight from Knock to East Mids so Sligo or Carrick-on-Shannon could be stopover points. Carrick to Knock is about 35 miles. Sligo is reachable comfortably in a day from Donegal which is itself within a day's ride of Derry so we have two days ; one cycling day and one non cycling day. As I have not cycled in Donegal my personal preference would be to take 2 or even 2 and a half days between Derry and Donegal; say a short hop to Strabane (20 miles) after a morning exploring Derry, stop there on day 4 then to somewhere like Dunglow for day 5 overnight and finally via Killybegs to Donegal for day 6. Both these latter 2 days would be in the 45 to 50 miles range.
There are Youth Hostels (An Oige) at both Donegal and Sligo, and "Paddy's Palace" Hostels in Belfast and Derry. I do not know of accomodation possibilites in the other potential overnight stops.
Comments welcome!
UPDATED 20th February
This is my latest suggestion for the second half of the tour, from Londonderry onwards. The route has been determined in part by the lack of accomodation (other than hostels) for a group of 5 or 6 of us without resorting to splitting up each night or paying a large sum at a hotel.
Day 4. Londonderry to Buncrana - 15 miles - on the east shore of Lough Swilly. We are now in the Republic. Cross Lough Swilly on the ferry to Rathmullan and then cycle the 20 or so miles to the Tra-na-Rosan Irish YHA Hostel on the Rosguill peninsula near Downies. Overnight stop.
Day 5 Tra-na-Rosan to Errigal Hostel. The most direct route is about 27 miles, while going more coastward via Dunfanaghy still makes it less than 35.
Day 6 Errigal to Donegal via Dunglow and Glenties. Total 43 miles
Day 7 Donegal to Sligo via the North West Cycle Trail - around 40 miles.
This would mean we were in Sligo by Monday night, 30th May and homeward bound on the 31st. One or two comments suggest this may be a day too long and, if so, we could cut out the Tra-na-Rosan stop and go direct Londonderry to Errigal on day 4 and so arrive in Sligo on day 6 (29th ). This would make day 4 distance around about 50 miles if we went the direct route. I have to say that I would prefer not to miss this trip to N Donegal but will be guided by the majority.
I attach the link to An Oige, the Irish YH organisation for you to view the hostels at Tra-n-Rosan, Errigal, Donegal City and Sligo.
http://www.anoige.ie/
What do you think?
Friday, 4 February 2011
Hostels,Flights and Bike Shops!
Hi All
Some Findings on Logistics of getting to Belfast (24/7/11) ,places to stay and where to get bike fixed or indeed purchased if necessary.
BMIbaby flys from EM to Belfast City Airport early doors on the 24th for around £30.00 and bike travels for an extra £25, flying time 1hr 10mins.
If they happen to have lost or left your bike behind then all is not lost as there is a brand new Decathalon Store on the airport road no more than 400m from the terminal where you can pick up a highly rated (Gadget Show says so) Rockrider MTB for £99. I kid you not!!
Return flights from Knock in the Republic are currently available on 30/05/11 and 01/06/11 for around £20 with Mr O'Learys happy irish outfit ( although bike will cost £45 to bring back)
One of my younger staff (ahm lets say 22 yrs old) recommends a group of hostels called 'Paddys Palace' that are located in both Derry and Belfast (also Cork & Dublin) and provide clean,comfy accommodation on a budget. Check em out and give me your opinion. Weatherspoons and 'Old mens pubs, handy walking distance I am assured.
Some Findings on Logistics of getting to Belfast (24/7/11) ,places to stay and where to get bike fixed or indeed purchased if necessary.
BMIbaby flys from EM to Belfast City Airport early doors on the 24th for around £30.00 and bike travels for an extra £25, flying time 1hr 10mins.
If they happen to have lost or left your bike behind then all is not lost as there is a brand new Decathalon Store on the airport road no more than 400m from the terminal where you can pick up a highly rated (Gadget Show says so) Rockrider MTB for £99. I kid you not!!
Return flights from Knock in the Republic are currently available on 30/05/11 and 01/06/11 for around £20 with Mr O'Learys happy irish outfit ( although bike will cost £45 to bring back)
One of my younger staff (ahm lets say 22 yrs old) recommends a group of hostels called 'Paddys Palace' that are located in both Derry and Belfast (also Cork & Dublin) and provide clean,comfy accommodation on a budget. Check em out and give me your opinion. Weatherspoons and 'Old mens pubs, handy walking distance I am assured.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Dates
Hi folks. Happy New Year! I thought I'd get in early with my preferred dates for the Ireland trip. Could we maybe have the ride on much the same week as last year's ride, ie week beginning Mon 23 May 2011? Failing that, the week before, Mon 16 May, plus or minus a few days on either side of those two weeks (for me a Monday start is not essential). Did anyone have any ideas which differ vastly from these dates? Has anyone had any new thoughts about where we are going?
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