Day 28 Enniscrone - Grange. 55.8 miles 5 hours 11

So much happened today. most of it in the evening.

I'll be brief and fill it in later...

after riding through Strandhill,which does have an incredible surfing beach, and passed WB Yeats' resting place and the worst cycle lane that Andy Salkeld wasn't involved in laying out (hi mate... can you ask the Sustrans guy tor NI to get in touch again, I've been talking to Claire Lundy at Derry council and she's after sorting something out with him, so she is.)

Met Paul and his sons David & Dermot in Grange and got taken back to his house to meet his wife Mary and their wee daughter Anna, who thankfully is too young to be a Liverpool fan like the men of the house. Turns out my host for day 29 in Mary's brother Brendan in Donegal. And the host for the next night is Paul's colleague. Result. Brendan's taking me under his wing for a big weekend, which includes a night out and a ticket to Armagh v Donegal in GAA football on sunday. Can't say no to hospitality like this... will flesh this out when I get time.

Got fed really well, taken to the pub with NO women that used to be a shop, met some great characters and a really unbeleivable Scot, called, of course, Jim, and then to a house of a nother jim where the whole kitchen table was covered in booze. I'm late setting off today.

To Donegal & Ulster. my 4th province! all the way round to Lenster again and I'm done! 2 weeks today...

Day 27. Ballina - Enniscrone 8 miles 48 mins

Short day to a posh hotel to take a rest and a long bath. Much needed after a few long days and the big night in Belmullet. Escaped some truly evil dogs today, but they caught Aiden and ripped his panniers open. You really think I exaggerate stuff to make this more interesting than the reality, don't you?

Diamond Coast Hotel gave me a huge room, after Fiona who works there heard me on Ray D'Arcy's show, did my laundry and fed me... Many thanks... I read nearly all of A Short Histroy of Tractors in Ukrainian in the bath... Luxury!

Better get a move on tomorrow...

Day 26. Belmullet - Ballina. 48.6 miles 4 hours 20

We left the B&B at about 12. Sleeping in was inevitable after last night! Maureen's son Kieran drove us into town to pick our bikes up and we desided to eat at The Anchor again as we were both struck with the munchies. Some club sandwichhes hit the spot and Tom Talbot the owner turned up just nin time to tell us again our money was no good in his bar. Thanks Tom! The boys in the rib had set off at 10 so they're made of tougher stuff than me, but then fireman are probably well used to getting woken up when they really should be sleeping.

A largerly un-eventful ride save for getting blown up-hill again, seeing all the anti-Shell protesters east of Belmullet, and stopping at some truly vertical cliffs at Ceide Fields, we really pushed hard for the last 18 miles. After all this wind resistance training, I can really get a wiggle on now on this bike. Also, after swapping for a mile or so with Aiden, I realised how safe you feel on a tallbike and how small a normal bike is. Bizarre.

Anyway. We're in Ballina, Liverpool lost so I'm happy, its bedtime...zzz. Sligo tomorrow!

Day 25. Westport - Belmullet. 55 miles 5 Hours 30

I asked Mikey to post on my behalf yesterday. I was all set to use my tent for the first time on this trip in a field near the sea in Belmullet.

We were both absolutely knackered after a long day with a big old climb into a nasty headwind towars the end. Aiden's knees were giving him serious gip, too. I remember how that feels...

Aiden found the campsite, and we'd agreed on it and rode back into town to what looked like the best bet pub for food. The Anchor, or An Cheib as it's correctly called. The pasta was lovely and we were all set to traipse out the door dejectedly for a windy night under canvas (yes, I know everything sounds like a double entendre) when a woman on a neighbouring table, who we later gound out is called Geraldine said something along the lines of "I don't want anything off the menu, I want those" and I turned round to catch her pointing at my legs. Blushing, We got chatting, and five minutes later, her friend Maureen had given Aiden & I free beds for the night at her plush B&B Kemar House. Result. After deciding to have a pint, a guy at the bar asked me if I'd fallen off the bike again. Neil Rooney, one of the most generous men I've ever met, had heard me on the Ray D'Arcy show the day earlier and paid for our pints. He then introduced us to the bar's owner, and it turns out he was quite happy that his bar had been mentioned on national radio, and between the two of them, they made sure Aiden & I had a great night.

After a few beers, our bikes were locked at the pub and we were dropped at the B&B and told to be ready for 10pm... it was raining by now, and personally, I was more than happy not to be under canvas.

we were picked up by Tom and taken to the Broadhaven Bay Hotel in Belmullet to meet some truly brave guys. 3 firemen from bedfordshire and their support crew are circumnavigating Ireland in a rib, which is an inflatable speedboat. It was dead easy to spot the guys who were afloat, as they were windblown and tired.

In common with me, they were inspired by guys who'd been around Britain. I have to say, I take my hat off to thses guys. It's one thing being on a bike in gale force 8 winds, but being at sea and being battered by waves must be terrifying. Oh, and if anyone thinks I was exaggerating about the weather, the guys confirmed the wind was gusting to Severe Gale force 9 on friday & saturday and they were harbour-bound. There. I'm double-hard, or double stupid. after many pints, Tom had called us a taxi, which when we tried to pay for, we found they wouldn't take our money. Thanks Belmullet! it was a blast... follow the guys in the boat at www.uk-challenge.co.uk