Day 43. Skerries - Dublin. 23.5 miles. 2 hours 14

I made it at 1315 today. Oliver, Alison, Graham & Alison and Eily, Conor, Murray & Polly were there to see me arrive. Cried like a baby for a few minutes then found a pub. Glorious sunshine. Don't know quite what I think about it all. notIt's great to be me again and wear some jeans and shoes without SPD cleats in the soles and NOT be the guy on the stupid bike anymore. Just off for a pizza now.

Don't forget the Criterion next Saturday the 16th for beers and pizza and laughing at my bizarre tan...

Oh, I'll fill the other days in later, but I guess old news is no news...

Rob, the Rothar Aird rider...

Day 5. Youghal to Cork 42.5 miles, 3 Hours 52

Leaving Youghal, the only place in Ireland where you drive on the right for sections, I hope, and I kid you not, I was in really good spirits. My knee was feeling MUCH better for all the ice, and, well, it's in such a lovely spot. Sadly, tho, the scenery wasn't to last long as after Midleton, there's just no way to Cork without using the N25, which is a bit like riding along the A14, Vanessa.

In Midleton, I realised my complete inability to give road directions is genetic, as everyone I asked made me want to scream and ride away.

I just took the motorway, where Andy the truckdriver stopped me for a chat and bunged me a tenner! Nice guy, too. Earlier in the day I extorted €2 out of two foxy Polish girls to pump a flat tyre on one of their bikes. Maybe I should set up shop?

When I get home, I extend the challenge to all comers: The Tallbike ten mile time-trial. Riding along a dual carriageway certainly gets your legs spinning, and dull as it is, it reminded me of time-trialling. Who wants a race? Anyway, the N25 turns into a 3 lane motorway, and then i gets REALLY scary... I just stuck it out and rode into the middle of Cork, where I realised that big city types are just as capable of staring agog as country folk...

Found the Travelodge and checked in and set about finding a new seatpost for my bike as the one I have keeps slipping down and upsetting my knee. I phone around, or rather the helpful Reception manager Hannah does, and I find one... I'm into a taxi and off to Douglas Cycles like a kid at Christmas.

If I lived in Cork, Brian at the shop would know me well... what a great shop! Tiny, but full of trick racing bikes, any of which I'd swap the monstrously heavy tallbike for in a second...

he refuses to take the €20 for the post, and wishes me well. I take a last longing look at the sexy Cinelli Unica in the window and jump into my taxi.

In Cork I realise I'm walking around like one of those tourists who looks so naive they're almost inviting a mugging, so I look for a bar to hopefully watch United lose...

I settle on Clancy's as I like the menu, and nobody in there resembles Cork boy, Roy Keane. Good so far...

I plonk myself down and get chatting to Heath, the Australian barman, who, like me, is ecstatic Chelsea are out, wants United to lose, then Milan to beat Liverpool. This level of bitterness can only come from an Arsenal fan, so I'm in good company...

I stuff my face with a huge chicken curry with chips & rice, which the boys at the bar said was on the house! Excellent!

United get thrashed, I met an Irishman with a Sicilian dad called Salvatore Toscana who told me why Irish Pizzas aren't great. No wood-fired ovens, apparently. Shame...

Anyhow, Heath's girlfriend Maeve comes in, and we have a chat and it turn out she knows one of my new mates from Dublin, Catherine. Spooky. I introduce the Irish to the word 'Chav', and hear about the young men of cork taking to the roads in their cars to complain about unreasonable car insurance only to end up in loads of crashes and upsetting the Gardai, which cheers me up after the Tramore incident. I cadge a lift back to the Travelodge and get a nice bit of sponsorship from Heath & Maeve, too. A really nice night.

Day 4. Waterford to Youghal 53. 5 miles. 5 hours 15

Bit of a mixed day today. Paid for all my own meals and accomodation, but was glad my knee held out, despite it being excrutiating at times. Started the day with a McDonalds. Nasty, but hey ho... and set off with the intention of getting as close to Cork as possible so I could tweak the bike and take a rest day at the Travelodge (thanks again Richard and Paul).

I headed to Tramore, which is a beautiful spot, but I had my most scary moment of the trip so far as some spotty little eejit in a japanese sports car decided to practice his 'drifting' on a roundabout with me on it. Sadly my extensive vocabulary of insults has no power at all in Eire as you can say the F word on morning radio here. Cheers, mate. Hope your insurance goes up. A lot.

Despite a horrible hill out of Tramore, I was in good spirits as the scenery was getting really stunning. The Copper Coast is like Cornwall, without all the annoying rich kids, especially Annestown. My Knee started gipping me BADLY as I limped into Dungarvan. I went to a chemist, and took advice from Niamh at Connels. She really knew her stuff and gave me some great cycling specific advice, which did NOT include the word 'stop'.

I met some kids in the town square as I was stuffing my face with the second meal I paid for in Ireland. Sample question. 'What's that?'
Me: 'A radio'. 'Is it for songs?' Me: 'Yes'. 'Give me it Mister'. Me: 'No. Go away...' Or something similar.

I also got my only sponsorship of the day in Dunvargan. €3. Joy.

The 2 mile dual carriageway climb out of the town was possibly my lowest ebb. Pain, dejection, sunburn on my thighs, and not knowing where to stay.

I found somewhere in Youghal, it was pretty cosy with a GREAT shower and the landlady gave me an icepack. The curry house closes on tuesdays, so I went for a pizza at Bella Casa, and not because I paid for it I say this, it was average. The staff were lovely, though, and Youghal, is such a pretty port I'd love to go back.

Watched Liverpool beat Chelsea when I got in. Deep Joy!

Day 1... Dublin to Brittas Bay

Last night could be described as a Big Night... Eileen and her friends and Mike & Lara all made sure I was shown a good night in Dublin...

This morning I felt distinctly worse for wear and, yes, I know whose fault that is...

The first job was to pick up Eileen's new bike from the UCD bike shop. There I met Rob, possibly the most entertaining man I've ever met in the bike trade. Just go and buy something from him and you'll know why. Especially if he sees your mobile phone and doesn't like it...

Anyhow, Eileen led me through the insane one-way systems of Dublin on her new bike to our start point at St. Stephen's Green. Eileen's friend Catherine was to ride off with us, and Mike came to see me off... so far so good.

A guy from Chicago came up to me and asked me how long I had the tallbike... There's a big tallbike culture there apparently, and he knows some of the guys who ride them...

Anyway... Catherine is a force of nature and no mistake. What a star... If she were doing the ride she'd raise about 1000 Euros a day. She got me a free SIM card from the o2 shop, a free lunch from IN in Dalkey (which was really VERY good) and has been trying to drum up sponsorship and places to stay all over the place... Thanks! Shame she won't be in Dublin on my return, I reckon I owe her a beer...

So, after spending ages pootling out of Dublin and around Dalkey, I set off on my own... After being warned that the coast road was VERY hilly, I set off only to find I was in my easiest gear within 3 minutes. I spent a lot of time in that gear, if truth be told... The Hill out of Wicklow was the toughest today. I'm sure there is MUCH worse to come!

However... I have to say I couldn't have been luckier with my second hosts! Eily & Conor live in a beautiful extended cottage in Brittas Bay and, well, I'm living in complete luxury here. Really comfortable and I could easily get used to their lifestyle! I cannot thank them enough for their 'nothing is too much trouble' hospitality... they're drumming up sponsorship from their friends as I sit at there computer with my kit in their washing machine and a beer by my side. Amazing!

I'm very tired after my 46.5 miles. As if it needs saying...

I do feel a little bad that I didn't stop and talk to the family at Wicklow Head. I got a big round of applause and the offer of a drink, but I was completely exhausted and just wanted to finish the day's ride. Loads of folk have been waving, hooting, talking and just generally making me feel really welcome, and the drivers have been really patient too. I like it here.

Oh, one thing... the coast road? It's a LONG way from the coast in places... Short day to Enniscorthy tomorrow to see my aunt and uncle...

Dublin!

well, I'm in Ireland for the first time in 37 years! Simon and Anita made sure I got to the ferry port on time this morning after we had a really relaxing night with Simon's Aunt & Uncle in Shropshire. Thanks Elisabeth and Maurice!

The wittiest comment I've had so far on the bike was from the harbour gaurd at Holyhead: 'Not another one', which is a huge improvement on 'that's a quare bike'.

After getting lost within 5 minutes of leaving the port (the road signs are not good) I realised that Dublin is not really that cycle-friendly. I don't think turning right is something the Dubliners ever get to do. Seriously...

I met Eileen, my first host on the famous Ha'penny Bridge. It's then I realised just how heavy the bike is when pushing it up the steps. I reckon about 60 kg fully loaded. About the same as a small woman! Eek. It also wobbles a bit fully loaded and for the first time I'm actually really nervous on the thing...

So, we wandered up to the Focus Ireland office where Sinead took us for a sandwich and a coffee. Anyone who knows me realises you should NEVER give me cappucino...

Nice to get a bit of a reception rather than just roll up... I couldn't get any of the Focus people to ride the bike, tho. Shame!

Great news... I was on Ray D'Arcy's radio show in Ireland yesterday and he's done me a massive favour! I've been offered accomodation from Arklow to Connemara and it seems to keep rolling in... thanks to everyone.

I've also had my first Irish sponsorship which is brilliant, and I'm just about to break the £2000 barrier in the UK :-)

Also, my old mate from London from way back in the day, Mike Dolan heard me on the radio and got in touch... We lost touch a few years back, and I'm meeting up with him tonight... So far so good! just going to sort out my second night's accomodation now, and then have my first taste of the so-called Craic!

It starts tomorrow!

4 days to go...

In four days time, about now, I'll be wobbling around the streets of Dublin heading south toward Arklow. If I'm honest, I'm not at all nervous, even tho everytime I climb onto the tallbike it feels very weird. I don't think I'll ever get used to the staring, gawping and pointing. To be honest I'll be glad to get going... I'm starting to bore myself with saying 'I'm going to do this...' I just want to get on and do it.

Since my last post, my computer got attacked with a virus pretty much putting me out of touch with lots of people. Bad timing... A huge thank-you goes to Mr B for getting me out of a hole in time to read aand send my emails... Still. the Tallbike's had all it's woes remedied, and it's ready to roll again... so not much to report other than I'll be in Dublin about 3pm on Friday and I'll be riding around trying to get my bearings.