Training Log: SarahD

Bit of a wander down to Lough Corrib, then later in Glencar.

TdeC day 4 Croagh Patrick - Cong. Everyone talking of dire weather but actually the forecast looked ok - rain showers much of the day and getting windier, but importantly for us a tail wind from the NW. Some faffing with route finding early on as we only had a small scale map, and ended up with longer on the main road than planned. Eventually left it to start the climb over a 280m (wow!) pass to Toormakeady. Grass growing up the middle and no cars except a farmer driving his rams along the middle of the road. From Toormakeady along the side of Lough Mask before heading into the wind for a few km with some unpleasant squalls at times. Plenty of sun in between and once we were over to Finny we had a tail wind all the way back to Cong. Tougher day than the previous ones but I reckon we got one over the weather gods today.

TdeC Stage 3 Letterfrack - Croagh Patrick. Dry morning with plenty of brightness. Pleasant ride over the (low) pass to Lough Killary and Ireland’s only fjord. Planned a pit stop at Leenane which turned out to be more of a happening place than we anticipated with the annual ram fair in full swing (village full of pick-up trucks each containing a few sheep, lots of ageing farmers and an overflowing grill cafe and pub). On up to the end of the fjord then a long way back down the other side again. Short climb to Doo Lough (not as impressive as the Deeside version) then some very bleak moorland up to Louisburgh. Stopped for a cuppa and to shop, which may have been a mistake as the predecessor to Storm Brian came in, and by the time we set off again it was lashing with rain and blowing a hoolie into our faces. Last 13km to the hostel was grim and took forever.

Shortened stage 2. Clifden to Letterfrack via the Sky Road. Didn’t look too bad when we set out along the Sky Road from Clifden, but the rain steadily set in. No views to be had and there was an easy cop out for the day by heading straight up the main road to Letterfrack. Hoped it might dry up so that we could do another loop later in the afternoon, but it wasn’t to be. Not looking great for the next couple of days either....

Tour de Connemara day 1. Cong - Clifden. Bright morning once the mist cleared and not too much wind. Set off from Cong on the fringes of the Mayo plains, then into Lake District style terrain around Lough Corrib. Landscape got more west highlands by Maam Cross before turning into pure Irish peat bog. Some nice bits of Hebridean style coast too, then the peat road and another bog road to finish. Great day. Short shower in the middle but dry the rest of the time. Somewhat further than my 60km estimate, but easy riding throughout.

Travelling. Long way to western Ireland and delayed by ferry.

Last of the adult sessions in Braemar, hanging and collecting controls in the birkwood. Thoroughly unpleasant morning and had to decamp to the Bothy to warm up. Thanks to E for his help.