june adventures on a bike....

[azfiddle]

I started the bike adventure in Ireland on Tuesday. We got the bikes and all of the information for the routes and set off from Ennis to the seaside town of Kilkee. The route took us on a lot of quiet back roads for the most part- and we only had one bit of confusion over a turn off. We have been mostly using kilometers- but the first day was about 36 miles. It us almost four hours, between picture stops , route checks and the chain on my husband's bike coming off and getting stuck for a while.

Weds we rode south of Kilkee in a 23 mile loop that ended with spectacular scenery, on cliffs above the ocean. It was our second day in a row with clear, sunny weather and the colors were brilliant. We then rode 23 miles north to finish in Miltown Malbay.

Thursday we did a loop back inland to see a "tower castle" by the town of Corofin. It was supposed to be an easy day but ended up being 40 miles and 2000 feet of climbing in the end.

This morning we're going north to Doolin, via the cliffs of Moher. It is so easy having our stuff transported to each destination. We get to the towns, have dinner and have found trad music sessions on 3 of the first 4 nights.

[BikeDutchess]

Now that sounds like a fabulous trip! Hope you'll post some pictures.

[Crankin]

We had a great bike rally today. Thought it might rain, but instead we had 75-85 degrees and sun. DH led our group quite fast, but it was OK; as the sweep, I would say this is the most together group we've had. I hung at the back with a few people and all was well, until one guy, who had been near the front got slower and slower, until it was only me and him. Finally I asked if he was OK, and he said "no." Gee, you've been slowing and acting weird for 20 minutes and you'll barely admit it now?? We stopped, I gave him Nuun and a Shot Block, and then I had to tell him to actually drink the water with the Nuun, so it would work. He decided to stop at a park and wait for the slightly slower group, doing the same ride. I took off, thinking I'd be alone for the rest of the ride, but the group was waiting for me. Then, all of a sudden, we saw the guy, just as we were taking off. So, he didn't rest and didn't wait for the slower group. He didn't catch up, though. When we drove home to shower, before the dinner, he was standing in the middle of the road with his bike, just before the end. We didn't stop and he did make it back (they had to sign in). Despite the stopping and slowing, my average was faster than it usually is for a sweep. 29 miles.
Showered, went back to Verrill Farm, where we had drinks and dinner under the tent, with live music for happy hour. Very nice. Went out for ice cream with our friends afterwards, and now I am going to rest!

[Catrin]

Sounds like fun Crankin! Hopefully the guy will learn to listen to his body, that is a lesson we all must learn at some point.

Azfiddle - sounds like a fantastic trip! Pictures would be lovely

[Sky King]

Scary just curious, do they have to sign a waiver to do these rides. that could have ended quite badly. Hope he is okay. We have a group that I do the announcing of the ride calendar for but we aren't an organized group. I may need to check with an attorney about our legal obligation should someone end up in distress or get hurt when we are on a ride. We are very group minded, like you. I can see why you left him as he said he'd wait for another group but in hindsight, sounds like he was beyond his ability to think clearly. Of course our group has no claims of being a racing style ride but we do knock out some miles upon occasion.

We had a great bike rally today. Thought it might rain, but instead we had 75-85 degrees and sun. DH led our group quite fast, but it was OK; as the sweep, I would say this is the most together group we've had. I hung at the back with a few people and all was well, until one guy, who had been near the front got slower and slower, until it was only me and him. Finally I asked if he was OK, and he said "no." Gee, you've been slowing and acting weird for 20 minutes and you'll barely admit it now?? We stopped, I gave him Nuun and a Shot Block, and then I had to tell him to actually drink the water with the Nuun, so it would work. He decided to stop at a park and wait for the slightly slower group, doing the same ride. I took off, thinking I'd be alone for the rest of the ride, but the group was waiting for me. Then, all of a sudden, we saw the guy, just as we were taking off. So, he didn't rest and didn't wait for the slower group. He didn't catch up, though. When we drove home to shower, before the dinner, he was standing in the middle of the road with his bike, just before the end. We didn't stop and he did make it back (they had to sign in). Despite the stopping and slowing, my average was faster than it usually is for a sweep. 29 miles.
Showered, went back to Verrill Farm, where we had drinks and dinner under the tent, with live music for happy hour. Very nice. Went out for ice cream with our friends afterwards, and now I am going to rest!