to newbies like me, the mystery of Wicklow mountains goes beyond its myth and legend. for the novice, it's the baptism of fire, a rite of passage, for to explore its hills and valleys, climb its steeps, ride the undulating endless roads, probe the hidden gorges, serene lakes and meadows, is a test of stamina and strength befitting a cyclist, if only to give justice to the thousands of euros spent on piece of equipment that was once a toy of childhood.
i've been to the Wicklow mountains before, in two occasions in fact - to Glendalough and Vale of Cara on a family affair. I was using an automobile then, a modern invention of man. on those occasions i was always fascinated by the scenery the mountains offer. what a sight! and all along i always envy the cyclists we passed along the way, and can't help wondering the strength these Olympians possess to be able to explore the wide expanse of the mountains at will. i did thought that maybe someday i'll do it, but not seriously as i don't have then the will of Nike to 'just do it'.
having finally acquired a road bike two days earlier, i look forward to the adventure with apprehension and excitement. the lads have been to the mountains the day before, and are planning to go back again later today. i did not signify intention to join the group, aware that i may only slow them down, being a newbie and way beyond in age to compete with their youth. i planned my route getting hints from the posts of Gerard Melvin last Sat, and inform a couple of lads of my plan. Dan A T was concerned enough to remind me to bring sufficient supply of food and water for the spin i planned to do, as i also trade with him my secret concoction of energy drink.
and packed enough off I go, the sun not so bright like a week ago in Navan, but promises to be free of hail storm and sleet. the air was cool, no sunblock necessary, and the road bike is a whole lot different from the one i used in earlier conquests in Navan - much smoother and a lot lighter.
surprisingly, i found the route i was following a lot merciful and kind compared to the unforgiving climb via the Kilakee road where i surrender more than halfway through a month before using my previous bike that was stolen by the bastards, scrooges, crooks and criminals along Parnell st at the city center. i thought maybe i could have made it using a road bike rather than a city bike that weighs 16kgs!
i followed the N81 road up to junction R114 where I'm suppose to veer left back to the city as planned. but it's only 12:30 in the morning, the environ is just getting warmer and i've been on the saddle for barely 2 hours! so i decided to go on towards Blessington (Baile Coimín in Irish, meaning "common home") as the road sign indicated 10 kms further south. up to this point the gradient is very gentle, where have all those steeps gone? reaching Blessington with still plenty of time to spare, i continued forward to Baltinglass (Bealach Conglais, meaning "Road of Cúglas") for 30kms more, the road sign shows, soaking in all the splendor of the Irish countryside, basking in the late spring sun. or has summer finally arrived?
about 5kms leaving Blessington I was treated with a view of a lake along the road. the serenity of the surrounding and the calmness of the lake add beauty to it all. it's very tempting to sit back and relax (and enjoy the flight) watching the world go by. the lake was the result of a dam built for hydroelectric power, the sign says. it covers 500 acres and has a number of amenities to offer including boat rides, picnics, dinners. i went into a nook by the roadside looking for the entrance into the lake but was met by barking of dogs. apparently, they are not yet open at this time of the year to take in customers as the owner of the place wave his hands to me. i took photos as a reminder to come back to explore this place more in the coming days.
further down the road was another point of interest in the county - the Russmore house. often referred to as the most beautiful house in Ireland, the palladium style architecture is said to be with the longest front line at 210 meters. that indeed is long. apparently you can stay in one of the apartments of the house for the night for a few thousand euros. that's cheap, compared to the bikes the lads use that costs way more than that. another heritage site to mark in the list, more reason to come back cycling in the mountains of Wicklow.
a few kms down i read a brown colored sign that said Pipers Stone, another historic site of Wicklow. the stones are arranged in a circle, its countenance bears semblance to the stonehenge. legend has it that whoever caught dancing on a Sunday will turn into stone forever in mid dance, that i know now. luckily, there's no piper present while i wander around, else i can not forgive myself losing another bike into stone. that would be three in a row!
as the sun is getting hotter, i decided to turn back so not to miss church attendance in the evening, and leave something for the days ahead. there'll be plenty of time to explore the mountains of Wicklow with my allux Fuji, much lighter than stone. all the time along N81 fumes from automobiles spoiled the fresh mountain air, and my lungs are now taking its toll. i'm now fuming mad from all the toxic emissions these modern machines are throwing at me, cursing those mindless callous drivers to turn into stone, or have a banquet with the devil at the end of the road. if only they are cyclists, then maybe the world is cleaner, healthier and safer place to live. that's what bicycles are meant to do.
a short distance after i turned right into R114 on my way back towards Rathfarnham (Ráth Fearnáin, meaning "Fearnán's ringfort"). immediately i was confronted with a steep climb, testing my mettle being now a fulfilled cyclist. it's a hard climb, and i noticed that when faced with such an obstacle, it's better to fight the battle in stages. after i rested for a couple of minutes, i suddenly found the remaining round as easy as a whistle, refreshed by the mountain breeze that can comfort any tired body and soul.
since what goes up goes down, the downhill leg of the journey is as exhilarating as dangerous, you will find your fingers clutching tightly the brake levers as you speed down the winding road. just as well, since it is outright madness and dangerous to try some stunts in this unfamiliar terrain.
i was back home after a little less than 6 hours on the saddle, about a 100clicks return trip, but still wanting for more, and i swear I'll never heed the advise of Dan again. I carried with me more supply of food and beverages than necessary for the trip, while i only consumed a few sips of my concoction. on the bright side, the heavy luggage could just as well be part of the exercise. or better be with more than less, for more adventures to come.
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i woke up today having a sore throat, probably from smoke inhalations i accumulated while traversing N81 yesterday back and forth. not a good idea to use that route again. fight for more bikes than cars on the road!
unfortunately, it seems that Deputy McGrath is in favor of automobile users than cyclists since the former contribute more to the coffers of the gov't than the later, that's his argument. but as someone pointed out also, most cyclists are automobile owners too, who have seen the wisdom of cycling and the evils of pollution automobiles have done to mother nature. for more info https://www.facebook.com/dublincyclingref: https://www.facebook.com/ejbenz/allactivity?privacy_source=activity_log&log_filter=cluster_11
i've been to the Wicklow mountains before, in two occasions in fact - to Glendalough and Vale of Cara on a family affair. I was using an automobile then, a modern invention of man. on those occasions i was always fascinated by the scenery the mountains offer. what a sight! and all along i always envy the cyclists we passed along the way, and can't help wondering the strength these Olympians possess to be able to explore the wide expanse of the mountains at will. i did thought that maybe someday i'll do it, but not seriously as i don't have then the will of Nike to 'just do it'.
having finally acquired a road bike two days earlier, i look forward to the adventure with apprehension and excitement. the lads have been to the mountains the day before, and are planning to go back again later today. i did not signify intention to join the group, aware that i may only slow them down, being a newbie and way beyond in age to compete with their youth. i planned my route getting hints from the posts of Gerard Melvin last Sat, and inform a couple of lads of my plan. Dan A T was concerned enough to remind me to bring sufficient supply of food and water for the spin i planned to do, as i also trade with him my secret concoction of energy drink.
and packed enough off I go, the sun not so bright like a week ago in Navan, but promises to be free of hail storm and sleet. the air was cool, no sunblock necessary, and the road bike is a whole lot different from the one i used in earlier conquests in Navan - much smoother and a lot lighter.
surprisingly, i found the route i was following a lot merciful and kind compared to the unforgiving climb via the Kilakee road where i surrender more than halfway through a month before using my previous bike that was stolen by the bastards, scrooges, crooks and criminals along Parnell st at the city center. i thought maybe i could have made it using a road bike rather than a city bike that weighs 16kgs!
i followed the N81 road up to junction R114 where I'm suppose to veer left back to the city as planned. but it's only 12:30 in the morning, the environ is just getting warmer and i've been on the saddle for barely 2 hours! so i decided to go on towards Blessington (Baile Coimín in Irish, meaning "common home") as the road sign indicated 10 kms further south. up to this point the gradient is very gentle, where have all those steeps gone? reaching Blessington with still plenty of time to spare, i continued forward to Baltinglass (Bealach Conglais, meaning "Road of Cúglas") for 30kms more, the road sign shows, soaking in all the splendor of the Irish countryside, basking in the late spring sun. or has summer finally arrived?
about 5kms leaving Blessington I was treated with a view of a lake along the road. the serenity of the surrounding and the calmness of the lake add beauty to it all. it's very tempting to sit back and relax (and enjoy the flight) watching the world go by. the lake was the result of a dam built for hydroelectric power, the sign says. it covers 500 acres and has a number of amenities to offer including boat rides, picnics, dinners. i went into a nook by the roadside looking for the entrance into the lake but was met by barking of dogs. apparently, they are not yet open at this time of the year to take in customers as the owner of the place wave his hands to me. i took photos as a reminder to come back to explore this place more in the coming days.
further down the road was another point of interest in the county - the Russmore house. often referred to as the most beautiful house in Ireland, the palladium style architecture is said to be with the longest front line at 210 meters. that indeed is long. apparently you can stay in one of the apartments of the house for the night for a few thousand euros. that's cheap, compared to the bikes the lads use that costs way more than that. another heritage site to mark in the list, more reason to come back cycling in the mountains of Wicklow.
a few kms down i read a brown colored sign that said Pipers Stone, another historic site of Wicklow. the stones are arranged in a circle, its countenance bears semblance to the stonehenge. legend has it that whoever caught dancing on a Sunday will turn into stone forever in mid dance, that i know now. luckily, there's no piper present while i wander around, else i can not forgive myself losing another bike into stone. that would be three in a row!
as the sun is getting hotter, i decided to turn back so not to miss church attendance in the evening, and leave something for the days ahead. there'll be plenty of time to explore the mountains of Wicklow with my allux Fuji, much lighter than stone. all the time along N81 fumes from automobiles spoiled the fresh mountain air, and my lungs are now taking its toll. i'm now fuming mad from all the toxic emissions these modern machines are throwing at me, cursing those mindless callous drivers to turn into stone, or have a banquet with the devil at the end of the road. if only they are cyclists, then maybe the world is cleaner, healthier and safer place to live. that's what bicycles are meant to do.
a short distance after i turned right into R114 on my way back towards Rathfarnham (Ráth Fearnáin, meaning "Fearnán's ringfort"). immediately i was confronted with a steep climb, testing my mettle being now a fulfilled cyclist. it's a hard climb, and i noticed that when faced with such an obstacle, it's better to fight the battle in stages. after i rested for a couple of minutes, i suddenly found the remaining round as easy as a whistle, refreshed by the mountain breeze that can comfort any tired body and soul.
since what goes up goes down, the downhill leg of the journey is as exhilarating as dangerous, you will find your fingers clutching tightly the brake levers as you speed down the winding road. just as well, since it is outright madness and dangerous to try some stunts in this unfamiliar terrain.
i was back home after a little less than 6 hours on the saddle, about a 100clicks return trip, but still wanting for more, and i swear I'll never heed the advise of Dan again. I carried with me more supply of food and beverages than necessary for the trip, while i only consumed a few sips of my concoction. on the bright side, the heavy luggage could just as well be part of the exercise. or better be with more than less, for more adventures to come.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i woke up today having a sore throat, probably from smoke inhalations i accumulated while traversing N81 yesterday back and forth. not a good idea to use that route again. fight for more bikes than cars on the road!
unfortunately, it seems that Deputy McGrath is in favor of automobile users than cyclists since the former contribute more to the coffers of the gov't than the later, that's his argument. but as someone pointed out also, most cyclists are automobile owners too, who have seen the wisdom of cycling and the evils of pollution automobiles have done to mother nature. for more info https://www.facebook.com/dublincyclingref: https://www.facebook.com/ejbenz/allactivity?privacy_source=activity_log&log_filter=cluster_11