Anything to do with adrenalin

Today is the first day of 2009, and instead of tearing around Killarney and Torc on my bike as planned, I’m laid up at home with a cold! It isn’t that bad (I think thats the Neurofen Cold and Flu speaking), but its better to rest now than be really sick tomorrow. Yesterday was such a perfect ending to 2008. With a group of friends, Chris, Mags and Niall we clocked up 45km around the Dingle Peninsula.

We mounted our bikes in Dingle town and made our way to Annascaul, turning left at the famous Tom Crean pub, ascending increasingly narrowing roads towards Annascaul Lake. From there, following an old bog road, we made our way up to the saddle overlooking the lake and the magnificent Cathair Chun Rí (Town of The Kings as gaeilge).

What followed was exhileratingly superb! Niall took us over some bumpy bog, maintaining our altitude until we came to the ridge of a valley where we began to descend along the most perfect little single track created by sheep and farmers all the way along the side of the valley until we reached its floor and ribbon lakes. The downhill was perfect although Chris and I both agreed we would like to give it another go and let it rip, now that we know what to expect! I’ll be back again asap.

We then biked up the Conor Pass, a hard slog to the top, not popular with everyone (Niall!) Then from there we headed off-road again, down into Dingle town over the bog, surprisingly fast yet slushingly slowing you down when things started to get out of control! I noticed a few other bike tracks there too. There was the potential for more, to add on the fabulous route included in The Turas World Series, however with none of us being able to decipher if we actually still had toes left or not (brrrr), we decided to call it a day and try some of Dingle’s finest chowder in a warm bar.

The New Year celebrations were more tame than last years Edinburgh escapade. A few drinks with my family in Falvey’s Bar in Killorglin and not an all-night fiasco. Falvey’s was like a cave full of madness with a few regular legends crowd surfing and bar-diving into the arms of very merry locals. All in all, a good way to end 2008 and ring in 2009.
I hope to be able to continue to improve this year and become a better biker and have all the health and happiness supporting me in this mission! Here’s to 2009…bring it on…wishing you happiness and prosperity.