Day 7 - Malin Head

In a tranquil valley below, Phil, Simon and Ryan where making swift progress despite the driving rain that swept the valley. They reached Malin Head for 12.45pm and enjoyed the final push up to the castle and assorted shelters that some heartless Joker had decided to position at the top of a ruddy big hill. The rain was horrendous the winds gale force of the sea and there was a cold wait until Dave The Van and his beleagured parrot arrived to rescue them.
Meanwhile back in a small village 15 miles away, the Scandanavian party had met up with the hill ramblers and they were sharing stories of their treck through the Irish wilderness whilst they dried their clothes and defrosted their appendages. It would be some time before they too found there way to Malin Head but find it they did. All done. Mizen Head to Malin Head. 7 days 4 provinces, 390 well earnt miles and thousands for the British Heart Foundation

Muff

A picture of the lads 4 miles North of Derry in the picturesque village of Muff. We'd been slowed on our passage into town by a funeral procession. A sad occassion but at least he was being buried in Muff. Could there be a better place to be burried?
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Day 7 - Part 1

An easy 35 miles to finish off the tour...or was it? Dark clouds and sheets of rain followed the group from the outset as the river Foyle led them towards the Malin peninsula. The group soon split when Ryan got a puncture, a fateful event that was to prove very fortunate for the young hero and his helpers Phil and Simon. Ahead Mark had formed a Scandanavian group on his own and the middle ground was occupied by Elliot, Jonny, Chris and his trusty GPS device that ensured he always stayed on route. Even if the route was wrong. Even if the route was very wrong. Even if the route took them over the top of a mountain on a sheep track full of boulders. Even if the track meant they had to dismantle a barbed wire fence in order to continue on it. At the top of the mountain it was cold and gales whistled through the barren landscape, littered with dead sheep and strewn with the bones of deceased cyclists who had naively ventured on to the mountains without a GPS system. The boys dismounted and weaved their bikes through the boulder field for the next mile and a half. Closer to Hypothermia than Malin Head. Meanwhile on the newly tarmaced R234 Phil, Ryan and Simon where enjoying the level terrain and marvelled at the majesty of the storm crested mountains that encircled them for mile after mile as they cruised though the valley bed. Somewhere North of all this the Great Dane had decided to create his own route through the less frequently traversed Northern glacier. It was after all a more picturesque route and despite being 20 miles longer it offered beautiful views of the valley bed, some 830 feet below!
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Day 6

We heard on the news that Whitley Bay was under water and it was no different in Enniskillen as the lads emerged with thick heads from a nights beer mat flipping in the town. Rain was torrential and stayed that way until lunch as we climbed in to the pine forested hills around Castlederg. We passed a local farmer who bid us good morning and added "yer fken mad you lads, fken mad". We had some sympathy for his position. Lunch of Irish stew and a hot drink was enough to get us on our way again. We heeded the advice of Mr O'Brien the Bantry photocopy man and avoided the main busy road from Strabane to Derry. The pace was brisk as we flicked in and out of Northern Ireland and The Republic. Derry and the river Foye that we'd follow to the tip of Ireland were soon in sight and as it was Dave "The Van's" night of entertainment, it had to be GoKarting but there were rumours that The Stig was in town!
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Pugilists!

They're a tough lot in the gypsy belt. Even the licensees have to scrap!
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Why are we bothering?

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Tour Bus Ornaments

Our bus along with Paddy Parrot, Lenny the Leprechaun and a tricolor.
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More Umpalumpa antics

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Injury Time

DIY hero Elliot Ross receives some attention to a troublesome ankle from Dr Barrett. Not that an ankle injury will stop our Ell.
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Swedish Umpalumpa?

No Danish actually. That's powerhouse Mark Kro with a new hairdo.
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Flipper at The Bush Bar

Alison Manageress at The Bush managed 6 beermats.
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Jane and the Didsbury Ladies

We had wonderful news last night when Elliots wife rang to tell us about the surprise fundraising she'd arranged. In our absence Jane and 20 of the Ladies of Didsbury (think Desperate Housewives meet TOWIE) seem to have had a sponsored piss up that also included some gambling and have raised an incredible £350 for the BHF. Thanks ladies, you're all fantastic. Our total fundraising is now beyond £5k
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Day 5

Today was Chris's day. Instead of bringing up the rear he was thrust to the front of the pelaton and set the pace for the ride across the border in to Northern Ireland and County Fermanagh. Stopping at Ballianmore there was no sign of Shergar although Dave asured us that this was were he was kept during the troubles. The news had been full of stories about floods and torrential rain in Northern Ireland overnight but whilst we caught some rain we escaped the worst of it. We didn't however; escape the worst of the dogs! Throughout Ireland we've encountered hoards of the angry little buggers at every gatepost. Mark has kindly taken to bating them and as he's usually at the front he'll whistle in the hope that the bounding beasts will emerge in time to eat whoever's at the back. The award for finest angry dog goes to fluffy, the black labrador that hurtled fully 200yds from his kennel before chasing us for 3 whole fields whilst he desperately searched for a hole in the fence through which he could get at us. Enniskillen is our first stop in NI. The UK road signs and Union Jacks make us feel closer to home. Tomorrow to Derry but time tonight for a little more vitamin G.
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Longford - Macs Bar

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Cork Airport

The forward party arrive at Cork Airport, Saturday 23rd June 2012
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Birr Entertainment

Aquarobics is quite a big thing amongst the "silvered" community in Birr. Or so it seemed when we arrived at the Birr recreation centre for a workout after our 70 mile ride. News of our imminent arrival had spread like irish butter in the weeks prior to our arrival and attendance was up 4 fold. 30 of the communities most glamorous grannies were waiting to say hello and manager Miriam gave us the full treatment as she came poolside to introduce the English octet. Cheers echoed around the pool as we emerged from the changing room and the lovely Yvonne our trainer for the night looked resplendent in her BHF t-shirt, just as the lads did in their swimming caps. And we don those caps to the silver ladies who showed us that Aquarobics was a tough old sport. Their generous applause for our efforts at the end of the hour session was testimony to their recognition of our supreme athleticism. Thanks ladies we'll always remember you x

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-----Original Message-----
From: My Email <jonny.leslie@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:12:59
To: Phil McMahon<Phil.Mcmahon@ellisonsage.co.uk>

Day 4

From now on the days get shorter and the terrain flatter. We're well on our way to Malin Head. As we wound the pedals towards Longford, Ryan said that if he knew it was going to be a time trial he'd have worn a different bloody jersey! A couple of brief stops on route but we were all keen to finish and were tucking in to a pint at the Longford Arms by 3.30pm. We're all getting fitter but perhaps it was last nights entertainment that helped!
Tonight it's Marks choice of entertainment...a bit of bowling should fit the bill.

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Look at the arse on that bird!

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Simon inspires the youth of Ballymahon

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The Green Bar

Assorted athletes pictured here in Boriskane with Peggy and Mary of The Green Bar. Despite Peggy's swearing for which she was regularly apologetic, these girls are surely two of the loveliest ladies in the whole of the Emerald Isles. They'll probably never read this but ...we love you girls and thanks for the 20 Euros for the cause and the fruit pastilles xxx
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