A few times a year I try and get away from it all and pick a location in Ireland to ride to, stay over and ride back from. After a great trip down in the Irish midlands last year, I decided to head towards Athlone again, no small part down to the fantastic greenway that links the town with Mullingar. I had booked my b&b in Athlone months ago and put the trip planning on the back burner. When I came back to putting everything together I ended up adding in a trip to a certain parochial house to give this ride a little more interest than just doing the same thing as last year.
If you're still with me and interested, here's how I rolled..
Monday 29th May 2017
Craggy Island Parochial House
5:30am alarm
Drove from Ballyclare to Belfast and parked my car in work and rode across to the train station.
6:45am - 9am Belfast to Dublin Connolly train - train arrived in a few minutes late, panic stations!
Connolly and Heuston stations 2.1miles apart
9:25 - 11:30am Dublin Heuston to Athenry train - caught this train with >1 minute to spare
Cycle 2 hours Athenry to Fr Ted's for afternoon tea and photos
Cycle 4/5 hours from Fr Teds to Athlone and checked into pre-booked b&b
Did the usual, washed the kit, got cleaned up, bath, something to eat etc
2 ciders and I was out for the count.
Day 1 - 105 miles
Athlone Skyline
Tuesday 30th May 2017
Ate like a horse at breakfast in the b&b and set off at check out time 11:30am
Straight onto the Athlone to Mullingar greenway - 27 miles of the flattest, smoothest, straightest asphalt
Lunch in Mullingar and on my way again
![IMG_20170530_170725305[1].jpg](https://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/img_20170530_170725305-1-jpg.354947/ "IMG_20170530_170725305[1].jpg")
I had booked a train from Dundalk to Belfast for 19:55 and I arrived in Dundalk with around 92 miles for that day, so of course another ton had to be done! I did 2 loops of the town and made the train again with no time to spare.
The train arrived back in Belfast about 21:30 and it was back to work, load the bike in and get home.
Day 2 - 104 miles
It was my first ever consecutive 100+ mile days and I can't imagine how Amanda Coker et al can do serious mileage day after day. As I type this I still have a reminder of those harsh hours in the saddle. I'm hoping I'm feeling a little fresher for the Gran Fondo this Sunday. All in all, it was a great 2 days and I already have most of my next trip planned for just over a months time.
If you're still with me and interested, here's how I rolled..
Monday 29th May 2017
Craggy Island Parochial House
5:30am alarm
Drove from Ballyclare to Belfast and parked my car in work and rode across to the train station.
6:45am - 9am Belfast to Dublin Connolly train - train arrived in a few minutes late, panic stations!
Connolly and Heuston stations 2.1miles apart
9:25 - 11:30am Dublin Heuston to Athenry train - caught this train with >1 minute to spare
Cycle 2 hours Athenry to Fr Ted's for afternoon tea and photos
Cycle 4/5 hours from Fr Teds to Athlone and checked into pre-booked b&b
Did the usual, washed the kit, got cleaned up, bath, something to eat etc
2 ciders and I was out for the count.
Day 1 - 105 miles
Athlone Skyline
Tuesday 30th May 2017
Ate like a horse at breakfast in the b&b and set off at check out time 11:30am
Straight onto the Athlone to Mullingar greenway - 27 miles of the flattest, smoothest, straightest asphalt
Lunch in Mullingar and on my way again
I had booked a train from Dundalk to Belfast for 19:55 and I arrived in Dundalk with around 92 miles for that day, so of course another ton had to be done! I did 2 loops of the town and made the train again with no time to spare.
The train arrived back in Belfast about 21:30 and it was back to work, load the bike in and get home.
Day 2 - 104 miles
It was my first ever consecutive 100+ mile days and I can't imagine how Amanda Coker et al can do serious mileage day after day. As I type this I still have a reminder of those harsh hours in the saddle. I'm hoping I'm feeling a little fresher for the Gran Fondo this Sunday. All in all, it was a great 2 days and I already have most of my next trip planned for just over a months time.
