The finest sights are those earned. When sitting in Sydney harbour during the Lions tour I couldn’t help being overawed by the iconic Opera House and Bridge; not to mention the third test and all that entailed in the ANZ Stadium, Sydney.
That was before my conversation with Paul Wallace, who has put huge work into the Malin Head to Mizen Head Cross Rugby Legends cycle, supporting cancer research.
Having been introduced to my new compadres, my new bike (first ever racer!) and the fancy racing shoes for the first time at Malin Head, I cleeted into the pedals for the very first time and off we went.
Five hundred metres later I was upon my father’s family home in the Isle of Doagh which was once rented from Harvey of Harvey Bristol cream. The recently found rent book dates a Toland back to 1745.
The map tells me Malin to Mizen is 670km but Paul tells me, one hour in, that we’re not going directly so it’ll be more like 900km.
I’m currently sitting in Killarney with 712kms on my bike.
The most amazing sight has been Chamois Cream. Believe me I would beg, borrow or steel this cream; having developed a John Wayne walk I’m now wearing two pairs of cycle shorts to protect my bottom.
Ten miles short of Letterkenny we were joined by the 24/7 Cycle Club where I paired up with Letterkenny Rugby Club 11-year-old Niall Moyne.
Although only cycling three weeks he was delighted to discover he had 20 days’ more experience.
What an old school rugby welcome Letterkenny chairman Michael MacGinty, Boyd Robinson and Letterkenny Rugby Club gave us.
Founded in 1973, the club has strong ties with All Black Dave Gallaher, best known as the captain of “The Originals”.
Boyd presented a cheque to Paul Wallace for €1250.
Ballina RFC were no different, nor Listowel rugby club and I’ll be forever grateful to Ennis RFC for their chicken curry.
Miles slowly slip by
It's amazing what you notice on a bike as the miles slowly slip by; Corkscrew Hill deep in the Burren; cattle coming over to the hedge to look at 100 bikes flying by; a man in Tarbert waving a skirting board paint roller at us with total joy on his face; the frenzied waving throughout every town and village we travelled to. An unbridled Irish welcome at the sight of the bikers under great stress.
I noticed too the first Connacht flag waving proudly from Muddy Byrnes pub in Castleconnor. I’ve since discovered this is Gavin Duffy’s home parish.
Nothing quite prepared me for the sight of Lion and Scottish international Rob Wainwright sharing the diving board in Blackrock, Salthill with the three Wallace brothers. What athletes!
But then we arrived into the Ritz in Lisdoonvarna for a midday tea break where the match-making was in full flight. All Black Anton Oliver had never seen such a sight.
After yet another phenomenal welcome, this time in Limerick’s Strand Hotel, we headed out to Frank Hogan’s where the tour got serious.
Conor Murray presented a signed Lions jersey to Donal Walsh’s dad Fionbarr with a great boost for Donal’s chosen charities. Donal cycled a stage from Moll’s Gap to Tralee in last year’s cycle and led the event into his home town with Mick Galwey, Colin Charvis and Scott Hastings.
Probably the biggest welcome we received was arriving into Donal’s school, CBS The Green in Tralee yesterday. It was a dog rough journey along the West Limerick coast given the south westerly winds, so for the first time I sat in behind the lead car, flanked by Mick Galwey as an added buffer.
Exhausted, I handed my beautiful Lapierre bike to CBS student Maldrit Xhemaili who kindly cycled it into the car park as I stuffed myself with buns.
Today’s final leg is the special “Cross Donal’s Mountain” stage. Fionbarr will bring us over Moll’s Gap in what will be a truly special experience.
Ideal sport
Cycling is the ideal sport for the retired rugby player: there's no impact. However, I marvelled at Galwey discussing training techniques with the greatest legend of them all, David Campese, as "Campo" cautiously jumped on board his bike in Limerick. David said he had completed many hours of spinning classes to get ready. Only Gaillimh could retort: "You won't see any mirrors on Moll's Gap."
This week we’ve travelled by bike from Donegal, the current All Ireland champions and through Sligo into Mayo (the next All Ireland champions), on through Galway ( All Ireland under-21 champions), into my home county Clare (next All Ireland hurling champions), and into Kerry (next year’s All Ireland champions) and finally today into Cork (who’ve won enough).
What a journey you have given us all Paul; I loved every mile but my bottom will never forgive you!
Tomorrow I’ll be climbing into a Skoda Yeti to head home with the memories of a life time, with thousands raised for Cross (fellow cyclist Noel McCarthy is hitting close to €20,000) and all here in our own little isle.
Forget Sydney, there's far too much to be earned here!
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