Christmas Fun Fun Fun
Me on Mt Uetliberg hill- running in Zurich
For all non-religous adventure lovers, Christmas should be embraced as an opportunity to get out there and use all of that free time to catch up on fun in the outdoors. So far so good, I battled through a hangover (Brandy and Bailey’s compliments of my cousins) on St Stephen’s Day, to endure a fabulously quiet bike ride from Killorglin to the Gap of Dunloe and a run down Striucín to the bemuesement of a few turkey trotters.
Caher and The Windy Gap
My objective over the holidays is to get in some needed mileage. On a day out I decided to try a bike ride up Caher in the Mac Gillicuddy Reeks from the Glencar hydro track. On the bits which weren’t iced over, I managed to stay in the saddle, although its a serious lung buster, bringing back memories of the last time I was there, for the IMRA hill run. Then came a little hike a bike section over the bog, which although nicely frozen, still wet my feet! Then in the saddle again until the foot of the spur at which point I had no option but to push, the gradient got me! It was so cool to reach the top, I met some hill walkers and had a little rest before tackling one of the most exhilirating open-mountain downhills I’ve done to date! A bit bone shakey but so much fun! When I reached the bottom I decided to tag on some more mileage and headed towards Glencar, the Rowantree, with the intention of returning along Caragh Lake, but with the Windy Gap in sight and the temptation to rack yet another new off road ride to the list, I took the detour and headed over the Windy Gap in the setting sun. At this stage with no food, I was beginning to feel a bit woosey, but I knew that it was only a matter of getting over the top and into Glenbeigh where I promised myself a chocolate bar! Another super downhill, this time smoother than Caher. Unfortunately the Windy Gap is part of The Kerry Way and bikes aren’t really allowed. What a shame, there is so much potential there for a lovely single track route. The only downside to my day out was the horrible headwind which nearly had me in the ditch on the way from Glenbeigh to Killorglin. You know that feeling, when you think you will NEVER get home. By the time I did, I had two red, frozen feet and was so happy yet tired that I fell asleep in the bath.
Annascaul, Dingle
Tomorrow will see another great ride as a gang of us head out in Dingle to re-run the route marked by Brian Galvin for The Turas. Its such a beautiful spin along the ridge overlooking Peddlar’s Lake, a breathtaking coom nestled in the Dingle mountains under Mt Brandon’s watchful eye. Can’t wait!
Switzerland
The next 3 months I will be in Zurich, Switzerland. I have decided to take an internship there. PR is thin on the ground in Ireland at the moment and I feel seizing this internship opportunity abroad will open doors for me in the long run. It will also be the perfect training ground for the Trans Alpes for which I got an entry race in the Outsider IRL jersey. So expect to see posts from Switzerland as I getting better at skiing and mountain running until the snow melts and my wheels can hit the hills!
