Martina (who drove the team down to Cork and supported them on days 1-4 of the cycle) has put together a little fun video about the trip from Mizen to Malin. See what you think of it!

The triumphant trio celebrate at Malin Head!

Mission completed. Victoria Bridge just outside Sion Mills was the starting point of our last day on a memorable and never to be forgotten adventure from Mizen to Malin. 3 became 4 with Barry joining us along with 5 out invaluable out riders, Trevor Alan Colin John and Glenn. with gusto we pace through the stubborn,early morning fog as we add to our 5 day tally of 435 miles. Rosie takes a heavy fall at Prehen but with typical determination and never say die attitude she is straight on the saddle and we arrive at Harry’s Restaurant Bridgend an hour and a half ahead of schedule.
More wonderful hospitality from Harry’s staff, (Colin had a special surprise!) as we relaxed before our numbers increased even further with riders from Omagh Belfast Letterkenny and locally, to support us to the end. The North Pole Bar was the next stop and again ahead of schedule as the sun burnt away the fog to release a most glorious day. Fitting for the end of a wonderful week of cycling.

Hilda, manager of the North Pole Bar, met us with even more hospitality and refreshments as our numbers swelled including to over 20 young and old. Photos, now a compulsory part of each day completed, we left behind the flat roads from Harry’s to face the hills of Donegal. I feel a song coming on!

The rise out of Dunree was challenging but the freewheel into Carndonagh was a joy. Outriders marking our route although Lisa did feel the need to checkout the road for Moville for some reason. Malin Town and 13 km to go pointed the sign. But the road planners did not account for Rosie’s dog leg and scenic route. Left after the Five Finger Strand and up a spectacular climb, piece of cake it definitely was not! Standing on first gear, zig-zagging the climbs were conquered. Closing in on almost 500 miles we met 3km from Malin Head. Rosie, Patrick, Martina and Chris moved to the front and escorted by the motorbikes set off for the final 3km: emotions were high. As we rounded the final corner 1km from the finish we could see the glint off the cars and feel the anticipation from those waiting. Rosie led the charge Patrick and Chris decided to do it in slow motion! Families friends and colleagues covered the embankments and with cheers whistles and horns resounding across the Inishowen hills we completed the challenge we set ourselves 6 days ago. An amazing finish to amazing week.

Celebrations were the order of the day, A proud moment for all involved.

Rosie, Patrick and Chris extended their thanks to everyone who supported them along the route, families and friends who provided refreshments on the day, those that have contributed to date, and to our 5 outriders who kept us safe to the end. A final thanks to out Editor for the great work on developing this site.

No one took Chris up on his offer to sell / give away his bicycle so we were so taken by this experience that we have decided to cycle across America next year…. sorry that was obviously the effect of too much sun. until the next event ……..

Rosie heads to Nigeria next weekend so look out for further fund-raising event and encourage further donations.

Day 5 and we waken to see the early morning fog caress the gardens of John and Olivia’s home. Greeted with a hearty full breakfast and the now compulsory photo shoot (including grandchild Jack). Their hospitality really sets us in good heart as we face yet another 80+ milies through lakeland and rolling hill. John not only escorts us out to the outskirts of Boyle but takes pity on our need to carry our bags and takes us right to Enniskillen. Truly wonderful man.

Patrick’s middle set is beginning to give him bother (gears that is) but we make great speed through some amazing lakes and waterways and the customary odd hill – another piece of cake!!

Lunch is purchased from a local deli where we bump into Brendan a friend of Rosie’s who is off to France to cycle next week. And a welcome surprise in the deli is our C.E. Elaine and Director John -more fotos and banter.

We have lunch by the lakeland forum. Patrick gets his middle set sorted but not before making an impromptu visit to ward 8 at the Erne to show off the new uniform for staff!!

Of to face the climb from Ederney with 67 miles behind us for the day. 4.50 comes the call from Radio Foyle and we get a short time to give an update on the Mark Patterson Show.

Castlederg beckons and there is a wonderful “Derg Welcomes Rosie Patrick and Chris Mizen to Malin Vision 2020″ just wonderful feeling to see that. Lets us know who placed this massive banner A BIG THANKS for lifting our hearts

Just the boost to speed to Victoria Bridge and meet our families and off to our homes before the Final Frontier in the morning.

Thanks again for all the support Rosie Patrick and Chris

I want to ride my buy-c-cal. I want to ride my bike. I want to ride my BICYCLE. I want to ride it where I like…..

Misty start along the road to Portumna. Rode down to look at Lough Derg. There was a quiet sense of endless summer by the still waters edge. Then up we went past the little fields with dry stone walls to Ballinasloe and then Roscommon town. Had our morning tea break at Clontuskert Abbey. Site of St Baetan’s original monastry. Later stopped at Tulsk for hot chocolate. Our waiter gave us a lecture in local and national archeology. Cruachan we were convinced was of greater significance than Tara. The N5 was built on eskers left by the glaciers.
Patrick and I were competing for the reddest nose on this day 2 of unrelenting sunshine. I had only packed factor 15 reckoning factor 50 would not be required.

Chris, a most considerate cyclist, had had plenty of opportunity to do a sinuous dance one arm dropping down alternatively to point out potholes as we spun down regional and third class roads. Dreaming of shiny, smooth tarmac we opted for a National road for the last 25 miles.
This was our last day of being looked after by Martina. It was a real luxury to have unlimited drinks, hot and cold plus any amount of necessary and unnecessary luggage. On her way home, she generously dropped our bags at our destination – the Kellys house in Boyle. As strangers we were received there as friends, and wined and dined before sinking gratefully into our beds to relive in our dreams the 91 miles we’d just covered.
Rosie

DAY 3 AND WHAT A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER – SUNSHINE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS HERE IN THE WEST. LEFT KILRUSH BEHIND. JOE, SON-IN-LAW OF KATY O CONNOR (HOSTEL) DONATED TO OUR FUNDS. CHECK OUT PHOTO.

SCENIC ROUTE TO LEHINCH VIA THE SPANISH POINT – GLORIOUS SIGHTS. MET WTH A KILDARE COUPLE AND IN LEHINCH.  LUNCH AT THE BEACH AND THEN ONTO THE CLIMBS OF THE BURREN,” A PIECE OF CAKE” -NOT!!  PHOTO SHOOTS AT THE BURREN AND A CHAT WITH AN AMERICAN WHOSE WIFE WAS FROM ROSTREVOR “BEEN HERE FOR 2 MONTHS AND ONLY 3 GOOD DAYS”!

42 MILES AT THIS STAGE AND ONTO KENVARA FOR THE BIGGEST 99′S EVER. A WALK TO HARBOUR WHERE WE CAME ACROSS A  LOVELY HOOKER – ITS A BOAT!  THREE LOVELY LADYS FROM DERRYBRIEN/”LONDON”   WHO WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT, TOOK THE WEB SITE TO DONATE, MORE PHOTOS TO FOLLOW

60 MILES AND NOW FOR THE CLIMBS TO OUR OVERNIGHT STAY AT WWW.CARTRON HOUSE FARM. CHECK THIS ON TO WEB REALLY WORTH A VISIT

87 MILES TODAY AND APROX 260 FOR THE 3 DAYS. ALL WORTH WHILE IF THE DONATIONS KEEP COMING IN THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

Chris

Woke up – spirits damp as the weather was wet and windy, but everything changed with crispy bacon and microwaved scrambled eggs. We set off for the South Pole. Fresh in the minds of Chris and Patrick were the men in the Stretford End Bar and John the Barman. We’d had some mighty craic – well worth a visit if you’re down that way. As always we were behind Rosie, wind in our faces, rain in our socks – heading to the South Pole bar in Anascaul. Sadly, not open until mid-day. Head for a cuppa in a restaurant – but not again nothing open. [Finally, tongues hanging out with thirst] they found a pub run by James and his wife – lovely Kerry folk in their 80s. Tea and gingernuts arrive and then Martina pulls in – what a stalwart on this journey. Rain stops, wind on our backs and off at pace toward Tralee.
We stopped off at the windmill at Blennerville, but 6€ to get in! Had a quick lunch then off to Listowel. The pace was fast and weather picking up as well. Lynch’s cafe and bakery – took a hot choc – Rosie had two! Lovely town but no time to hang about.
Rosie’s on the charge as we’re off to catch the ferry. Great cycle, see stoats enroute. Then short ferry journey and then straight into a headwind for the next 8 miles. Worth it in the end for Martina’s Chilli Con Carne and a good rest in Kate O’Connor’s hotel.
Day two ends wtih a session in O’Grotty’s pub where Aine (Patrick’s friend joins us. Have you ever heard 3 Frenchmen snoring in your ear all night? Ask Chris.

Ed: this was scribbled on the back of an envelope (or something) by Chris and Martina bravely attempted to read it to me over the phone. Please excuse the ropey editing, but the guys have no access to computers (or twitter, for that matter!).

Awoke to no rain. Yippee. No wind. Yeehaw. Poured a bottle of water over my mobile phone to ensure holiday inaccessibility. Martina then punctured her back car wheel. Men sailed through with no problems. Sorting out the puncture cost us a couple of hours but got to Mizen, unloaded the bikes, lashed through a chocolate fudge cake and we were away. The terrain was magnificent – surf at Barley cove, hills with heather, gorse and exposed rock, hedgerows of fuschia and montbresha, sea/land/sea/land vistas. Patrick and Chris worked on composing a song as they toiled along. Think Ballylickey will get a mention. Had a gentle southerly to push us up the Caha pass. Of course it did rain for the climb up the Magillycuddy reeks so the descent from Molls gap ensured our brakes got a work out. Found the only Kerry man in Killarney, hidden amidst all the blow ins, to direct us to our hostel. Day one and 120km sorted!
Rosie