Day 1 of The Ulster Way
Belfast to Newscastle. via Lisburn, Carryduff, Stormont, Holywood, round the outside of Ards Peninsula to Portaferry, over the ferry to Strangford, then the Lecale Way all the way to Newcastle.
13 hours in the saddle - it was murder. 110 miles, 60 of which was into a stiff sea breeze.
We left Belfast City Hall at 8am, a team of 8 folks, 5 of us destined for Newcastle, and were glad of the company of these and other folks we picked up in Holywood. Good to have Jonny Gallier, Tim Holmes, big John, Paul Kennedy, Rick Monro, and good to see Dusty on the beach, and Terry (start pulling the half-pints, Terry! Funny the way your house happens to be on the new route!)
Highlight was the Lecale Way, particularly the first off-road section, which reminded us of North Antrim coast.
Lowlight was the drag from Murlough Bay to Newcastle along the beach. 5 bedraggled souls completed the day - Davy, me, Mickey, Declan and Mark.
Great chinese and B&B - ready for Day 2 - over the Mournes to start!
3 comments:
Well done, chaps. I hope the saddle sores have been well salved, and you're ready for day 2. They said it couldn't be done. By mortal man, perhaps. But "they" reckoned without the indomitable spirit and dogged dogginess of Tango and Cash! (Or should that be Turner and Hooch?)
Enjoyed our leg of the journey withveryone (alright then, not quite a "leg".... let's call it an upper thigh) - I was proud to have taken on the mantle of 'last man' if only for a short time!
Hope the Mournes and Ring of Gullion (rrrrr) were kind to you today.
Possibly the toughest cycle of my life to date. Might join you on Thursday to see if I can ammend that??
Good luck for the rest of the journey.
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