Alarm was set for 06.00h but wasn´t required. I found it impossible to sleep 🙄
The nervous excitement was getting the better of me and I couldn´t wait to get to Celtic Park.
As I was dropping my bags of with the support crew from Greenrock I was greeted by Celtic legend and club ambassador Tom Boyd with the shout "where´s Grace?". After I explained about the wheel transplant we decided to decorate the new wheel with the names of the players from Seville 😊 I´ll sort that out once I get home.
We were very fortunate to be allowed to cycle a couple of laps inside Paradise (Celtic Park) because the 1st team were on their way to train there ahead of the chance to secure the League title at Hearts on Sunday 🤞
Many partners, friends and family had turned out to see us off including my brother Kevin and his wife Gail. Kevin was chuffed when I gave him Grace´s old wheel to decorate his home Bar 🛞
He was even happier when the manager Ange Postecoglu surprised us with a visit to wish us well.
For people like us who are steeped in the Celtic tradition it was a fantastic and memorable morning 🍀
We set off at 08.30h in small groups to navigate the south side of Glasgow. The all day rain that was forecast hadn´t started yet but it was cold. It was stop start with every traffic light we approached turning red. Eventually we got south of Clarkston and into the countryside.
First stop was Galston at 45km where after topping up the drinks bottles I set about the rolling hills of Ayrshire. It was wonderful cycling, the weather was holding and the road surfaces much better than I was expecting.
Then it happened, coming out of Dalrymple heading to Kirkmichael for lunch the road started to rise and rise. I wasn´t expecting such steep climbing and it seemed to go on and on 🤦♂️.
I kept looking up for a Church (Kirk) they normally build them at the highest points "nearer my God to thee" and all that but I couldn´t see anything.
Then out of nowhere Kirkmichael just appeared after a glorious descent, I was happy, I was hungry and I needed a rest.
I was 84km in now and over half way to Cairnryan, next stop was by the side of the road a further 38km away and I was assured that it was more rolling hills all the way. There was still a big climb to come to finish the day and avoid a busy main road though. I really enjoyed the run to Colmonell but time was against us and Joe from Greenrock was ever so slightly agitated. We had to be at the ferry terminal to check in at 18.00h latest. I topped up the drinks and headed off without delay knowing that tackling the big climb when already tired would be a struggle.
They were right, it was steep and the road surface full of gravel. It was tough and not very pleasant but I suppose we will encounter lots of variety on this trip. I just gritted my teeth and ground it out at my own pace, I had managed my time well and if I didn´t stop turning the wheels I would make Cairnryan around 17.45h so the pressure was off.
Although I was delighted to arrive in good time, waiting in a line for over an hour stationary was exactly what I didn´t need after the exertion of the day. I was seizing up 😫 There was nowhere to stretch but at least the weather was nice and the sea calm. We talked about how lucky we had all been to stay dry.
The ferry left right on time and I headed straight for the restaurant on board, I was hungry again.
The crossing was very smooth and after my Fish & Chips I walked around the boat to ease the pain in my legs.
As soon as we docked in Belfast it was lights on and an 8km ride to the hotel.
It was a long day, I hit the shower immediately and noticed that it was already 22.55h 😮
It´s 00.55h now as I post this Blog, I´ll sleep tonight but need to be up at 06.30h again.
Distance covered 155.3 Km
Climbing 1,769 M
Moving time 07h 59m 58s
Summary:
Long day with a mix of brutal climbs and rolling hills complicated by having a ferry deadline to meet and then cycling in the dark to the hotel.
Difficulty rating 8/10
💚 Thank you to everyone who has donated so far I´m at 79% of my target 💚
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