I would like to acknowledge those that helped witht the cycle. Sincere thanks is expressed to the following.

• All those who sponsored me. It looks like we will end up with 2k raised. I am so grateful to everyone for their donations. I know that there is a lot of competition for fundraising particularly at present and in light of this I think 2k is a great achievement. A particular thanks to the people I met along the journey who donated money spontaenously.
• Josephine Daly from Cloughereen Cottage B&B, Kenmare. Josephine was the only BnB along the route to allow me free board and she even donated to the cause. All the other B&B’s charged me the full price even though they knew what I was trying to do.  Sincere thanks Josephine.
• Tristan Goodfellow and Mike Higgins for taking time out of their lives to drive me to Mizen Head. Also to Tristan for driving all the way to Killybegs to collect me a week later. Not only that, they also endured costs such as B&B in Schull, Food along the way etc. Guys – I’m forever grateful.
• Kevin Carey for all the help, food, for putting me up in Dinegal and for helping me with rearranging schedules. Thanks a million Kev.
• SVP for their support. They provided me with promotional materials such as t-shirts. They took time out to meet with me and made their PR company available to me.  The biggest thanks of all for the work they do and for what they did for my Mom in her last few years.
• To Kerry radio, Mid-West radio and Clare FM for the publicity and interviews.
• Eimear and Jim for collecting me and looking after me for a couple of days in Killybegs. Sincere thanks for all the hospitality and amazing boat trips. 
• To those who communicated with me via sms, twitter and the website. Especially Blaithin, Eimear, Niamh P, Niamh C, David, Mike, Tris,, Michael C, Aisling Noirin and others. Getting comments and feedback from people was a huge boost and I never felt alone.
• Aaron and Joseph from California for letting me cycle as far a Lehinch with them. Made the day and the spin very short. Many thanks to you both for all the great advice.
• Kearney’s in Galway for their help with the bike.
• To all the people who made the time to stop and chat with me along the way. Too numerous to mention but you all know who you are, you made the journey very special.
• To Michael Carroll for plugging me with the GAA and on the web.

As always, there is a danger that I forget someone from the above list. If I think of anyone else, I will immediately edit this post or indeed if you think I have left anyone out, feel free to contact me and I will be glad to amend as appropriate.

Right, that’s about it, the bike is quiet and I’m off to Sandyford. I am dreaming of cycling the Pan-am highway (Alaska to Argentina, some 25000km) in a few years. It might never happen but if I tell enough people about it, it has the effect of keeping the idea alive and keeping the pressure up on myself to make it happen. If anyone wants to join me feel free, but you need to start training now ……..life is good.

Sunday morning – I had time to kill in Buncrana so I went for a walk around the town before setting off at 11am. Eimear was now enroute from Killibegs to meet me. As it happened, the last short stint across Innisowen had a few small climbs but once I got up into the hills the views were breathtaking. When I reached Carndonagh, I met up with Eimear. We decided to carry on and meet up down the road in Malin village for coffee.

Malin village is really beautiful and always reminds me of Kinnity, Co. Offaly. We both met up at the hotel for soup, coffee and much chat. As we were there a massive thunderstorm struck. After about half an hour of torrential rain, the flat roof over the hotel bar started to leak water in about 20 places. The drains up on the roof must have become blocked and I have never seen a place flood like this – it was crazy and I hope the owner is well insured. We waited out the storm for about an hour and as the rain eased I decided to carry on. I had 14k to go and took the coast road. After the massive storm I was once again heading out into brilliant sunshine and blue skies.

Malin head was a magnificant place yesterday. As it happens, just after I got in, along came two more groups, riders and vintage car enthusiasts who had done the same trek as me for different causes including MS. When the other cyclists rode in, I recognised one of them as Lynn Temple whom I used to know when boating off Mountcharles pier near Donegal Town. We had some great conversation with all of them, routes were recounted, achievements admired and many photos were taken. Being in Malin head on such a buzzin afternoon really added to the day. The atmosphere up there was magic.

I guess we spent over two hours at Malin head before packin up old betsy and heading off for Killybegs. All over now bar the shouting. I have a lot of people to thank and I think I will leave that to a seperate post during the week. It was a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone. It’s not that difficult and its a great way to see and experience a place and meet people.

It was great to be back in Donegal town last night. It’s been a while. It was even better to have had the opportunity to spend some time with my old neighbours in Ballyshannon. They are all wonderful people and I was lucky enough to have lived amongst them for about four years or so. I miss Legaltan and lazy days spent on Creevy pier with Sal.

I had a great night’s sleep at my bro-in-law’s place. This morning we both went to the Krusty Kitchen for a slap up full Irish breakfast (not the kinda thing to be eating before a cycle but I just couldn’t resist). I set off from Donegal at around 12 midday with the intention of going as far as Lettekenny. I stopped off in Ballybofey to buy a t-shirt as the two SVP shirts I have been wearing all week have now shrunk beyond any size that could possibly fit me. I had a cup of coffee while there and then set out for Letterkenny. As it happens I am enjoying a great southerly breeze in my back so I made LK is very quick time reaching 60kph several times on the down hill stretches. When I got to LK it was only just after 2pm so I decided to stay going to Buncrana. Kev very kindly reschduled bnb’s for me and helped with the admin side of things from his place in Donegal town.

When I got to Newtownhamilton the fun started. Thunder storm no. 1 struck and I got soaked before finding a garage to pull in to for shelter. There was thunder, sheet and fork lightening and monsoon rain. It was actually very spectacular and I was in awe of the fork lightening as I had not seen it in years (always reminds me of the cover of Dire Straits – Love over gold album). I waited in that garage for a good 40 minutes before deciding that the rain was light enough to continue. I turned off for Buncrana and headed along Swilly to Fahan. I knew another sorm was abut to hit so I took a few quick photos before finding an old bridge to wait out the storm under. I stood under that bridge for over an hour as the rain pumbled and flooded the place. I got very cold under there and had to keep jogging on the spot and what have you to keep warm. Finally the skies brightened up and I hightailed it out of there and on along the shores of the mighty Lough Swilly to Buncrana.

I am now in the bnb where Nora and Charlie are being very kind to me. Not only have they fed me but they are allowing me to use their laptop to post this blog.

So I am almost there, I just have a very quick stint tomorrow and should be in Malin around lunchtime. I am already reflecting on this amazing journey. It’s been a multi faceted device for me. It allowed me some space and time on my own to think. It certainly helped me in my dealings with my mother’s tragic death. It gave me a way to process that in the positive for the very first time. I spent a lot of time thinking about her and chatting to her. Then I remember all the people I met. Some old friends and some new. I ran into enormous kindness time and time again. I saw Ireland at it’s best, I got fit and healthy and I raised 2k for St. Vincent De Paul. I cannot imagine wanting to spend a week any other way. I’m gonna be sad when it’s all over, I’ll almost miss the road and I’ll certainly miss the people. Tonight I consider myself one of the luckiest people alive.

I left Charlestown this morning just after 9 to rain, wind and drudge. Not to worry, seal up the cycling jacket and off ya go. I hit the back road into Bunanaddan (near Ballymote) and just got the head down and battled the weather. I had intended to stop off at Ballymote and try to look up some relations but the weather put paid to any excursions. I ended up at the filling station by the Collooney roundabout where I met Tina Egan who had a great chat with me and donated to the cause, many thanks Tina.

I then headed up the dual carriageway towards Sligo and had a great wind at my back so I flew. I kept going on through Sligo as the traffic was bad. I stopped off again at Drumcliff. Struck me that the last time a Stafford stopped off there on a bike was my Dad back in the 1950’s. Just outsde the tea room I got another puncture so I had to do some repairs. Half an hour later I was off. Stopped off at Cissie Macs (the new one) for dinner and stayed going through Grange. I battled with heavy traffic along this stretch.

I was glad to see Bundoran as it meant I got a break from the traffic. Then on to Ballyshannon. I used to live nearby so I took time to head out to Legaltan to see my old neighbours. I met with Angela Bannigan, Margaret Fox and some of the Fox girls – Christine and Linda. I also stopped by to see Tommy and Margaret Geraghty. Folks if your listening, it was great to see you all. I stayed talking with Angela for about 2 hours and she sent me on the rad with loads of goodies. It was lovely to see Legaltan again, I often think of the place with fond memories.

I headed on for Donegal town around 7pm and am now settled in Kevin’s place. Just had a great dinner and a decent shower. The laundry is on and  life is once again civilisd and comfortable. Big thanks to Kev for the hospitality. Tomorrow is probably the shortest stint from Donegal to Letterknny so I will take my time and may have a bit of a lie in.

Leaving my own apartment in Athenry this morning was a little strange. I kept asking mysef, am I really going round the country on a bike? It’s very odd to wake up in your own place/bed when you are in the middle of a road trip.

I headed out for Tuam and from the off I had sunshine and a sidewind which mostly favoured me. The problem now is that I am making too much headway and arriving at places too early. I rode on through Tuam and headed for Dunmore taking the quiet N83 instead of the N17. On arriving in Dunmore I rang my old buddy Joe Mulally to see if he wanted to meet for lunch.
Joe is the Bank Manager in Dunmore. He said he could meet me at 12:30 so I had 40 minutes to kill before then. I stopped into the church (I stopped into a church, I passed along the way) and had a quiet few minutes in there. I am not a religious person at all but I do love empty churches, I find them very effecting places. I spoke to my Mom in there and lit a few candles for her and others (I am ashamed to admit that I did so without paying but I figure I am paying with the cycle anyways). Finally I cycled down to the bank and met up with Joe. We went into Supervalu and had a mighty bowl of soup and a roll and would you believe, Joe paid for it. Good man Joe, first time for everything huh. He spoke to me over lunch about his addiction to ice cream cones which he blames on his childhood (remember Mullally’s shop in Main St, Roscrea, and Mrs Mullally pouring the cones – magic)

We have always called Joe ‘Sally’ and he even refered to himself using this nickname. Joe used to be in London with me years ago, he worked in construction for a while and did a stint at Alexandra Palace known locally as ‘Ally Pally’. When workers went to the clerk on a Friday evening to get paid, they would walk up to the window and shout their name and construction site. So our Joe goes up to the window and shouts to the clerk – ‘Sally Mullally – Ally Pally’. She turned to him and said "are you takin the piss mate?" To this day we still laugh about that. Anyway I digress.

I left Joe at about 1pm and headed on for Ballyhaunis. Again no stopping there, just on through. Out the road I came across Glaune Pet farm and stopped in. I spent about half an hour looking at pigs, sheep, goats, llamas, peacocks, puppies, cats, hens, hamsters, guinea pigs etc. I then sat down with the owner and had a cup of coffee and great chat with her. We put the world to rights in terms of kids, pets, money and the old Irish ways.

I set off again and got lost in my own world as I cycled through the bog in the blistering heat on a nearly deserted road. Reminded me of my childhood bursting tar bubbles on the road as we would head off swimming. I stopped a few times and sat in the heather with a fig roll and some cool water – listening to the streams and the wildlife all around me. I think if you take a journey at a snails pace, the journey becomes the destination and the prize. So many people miss out on that as they whizz past.

I eventually hit the dam N17 a few miles south of Charlestown but was determind to try and stay off it so I shot straight across it and headed up the hills round the back of Knock Airport. It was glorious up there and I had it all to myself in the sunshine. I stopped again and sat a while in the meadow with my water bottle, lord it really did bring me back to my childhood, simpler quieter times and not a car in sight nor sound.

I got to Charlestown sickeningly early (5pm) and write this post from Clocan b&b where the lovely Claire is looking after me in a beautiful house. Sun still splitting the stones and I will probably head out for a walk and get even more burned.

Beautiful day today, I am starting to like this cycling biz. After all the climbing I did in Cork and Kerry, Galway and Mayo are as flat as Holland and the breeze is more or less helping me right now so its gettin almost too easy. Tomorrow is another day though, I have a long stint to do and the forecast is for a lot of rain. Again bring it on baby.

Today was great, just great great great. I started out from the b&b at Doolin at 10am and immediately stopped off in the internet café to edit my previous night’s post about the place to make it suitable for the listeners of Clare FM to read. Once political correctness had been applied, off I went. I knew I wanted to see the coast and the Burren so I took the coast road and boy was I glad I did. For most of the morning I had it to myself. I had peace there, real peace. On my bike I heard every bird, saw every animal in every field and overdosed on the Atlantic Ocean which was glass calm. I spent a lot of time thinking along that stretch, so much so that I did not notice the cycling nor the rolling climbs. Before I knew it I was in Ballyvaughan.

I stopped into the tea room there at the pier. It is run by three great women and one absolute babe. They make all their own cakes, scones, tarts – you name it. In the tea room they place all the goodies out on a table so when you order a cuppa and a cake, you are looking at these confections and getting high on the smell of home baking before you ever take a bite. The place is magic. As it turns out, one of the women cycles and had a great chat with me. She gave me the entry form for the forth coming Burren tour cycle which I may well do. I left the tea shop after homemade cheesecake and tea and hopped up on the bike but hark!!! (please imagine the music from Psycho here). I got my first puncture.

The all important back wheel was half flat so I stopped, hopped off and set about removing the wheel, changing the tube and trying to feel the inside of the tyre for the culprit. It was a piece of glass embedded in the tyre, it was just barely nicking the tube but enough to do the damage. So I put on the new tube, went to the garage and blew both tyres up to 110psi (they are built for that). By now it was nearly 2pm and time for a live interview with Clare FM.
I decided not to wait around in Ballyvaughan but rather to head on towards Kinvara and at about 1:50 I would get myself into a good Vodafone reception spot to take the interview. I found a lane that went in through a field to a paddock, silage pit and crush. So down I went in glorious sunshine and waited for the station to ring which they duly did. I did a great interview and was really getting into it when down the lane comes a jeep – it was the farmer who owned the paddock. He pulled up beside me, smiled and shouted “I’m listening to you on the radio”. It was hilarious. After the interview I spoke to him and we shook hands.

I hit the road after that and as soon as I changed direction on the north coast of Clare, I got my first tail wind. I literally rocketed along and was hitting villages faster than a speeding bullet. Kinvara, Kilcolgan. Lots of motorists were blowing their horns at me after the Clare FM stint. They had obviously heard the interview and the yellow ‘Mizen to Malin for SVP’ t-shirt also helped identify me. At Kilcolgan I stopped for a bowl of soup and as I was ordering, I got chatting to a very nice fella called Tom Keary who donated a fiver to the cause. Many thanks Tom.  I made it back to Athenry for 5pm (2 hours quicker than expected). I got back to my place and had to wait outside until 6:30 when Mary (my landlady) arrived with a spare key. (Tris has my car / house keys and we forgot to arrange a drop off).  I did not mind the wait at all though, the sun shone and I used the time to mend the puncture in tube one.
So I sit at home in my own place tonight, it feels great to be in my big red recliner, with my own laptop, my own TV, my own laundry, my own Chinese takeaway and whatever yer havin yerself. Tomorrow is along stint all the way up to Charlestown, but I have just watched the weather forecast on RTE1 and the lovely Evelyn speaks of a southerly breeze! Yes!!! Yes yes yes!! The wind is changing, and she’s talking about temperatures in the twenties with lots of sunshine and some thundery showers. The best news I’ve had all week. Man I tell you, I suffered from that constant headwind for the past three days. Seriously I am due a break. Bring it on baby.

On each and every day of this trip, I spend a lot of time thinking about Mom and her last couple of years. I find myself saying the odd few words to her and visualising her, particularly the way she used to wave goodbye to me at her door, old, frail, weak but yet insistent on the gesture. I spent my life saying goodbye to her and missing her. Never got to say goodbye when it mattered though. I am doing this cycle for her. Maybe it’s a cheap attempt at atonement or a cheap attempt at attention seeking. Really I don’t care; the upshot is about getting money in. I want to help the people that helped my Mom in her dying years.  Good night Mom, here’s to you!

Doolin is a funny old place, I have always been amazed by it. It’s the Irish tourist industry on a speed. No internet available at the b&b so I write this article from an Internet Cafe in this slightly over developed  expanding village – but enough whinging.

Today was interesting. I left Jim and Nora at 11am in Listowel and went straight for the ferry. When I got to Tarbert I ran into two other cyclists from California – Aaron and Joseph. We got chatting and it happened that we were all headed for Lehinch so we decided to travel together. After lunch in Kilrush we headed out the back road into Cooraclare and onto Lehinch itself. The road was great, low traffic and the breeze even let up a little, and of course being with people really helps. I left the guys in Lehinch where Joseph made me a present of a decent water bottle, thanks a million for that J.

I headed out to the Cliffs of Moher and decided to stop in to see if I could do a tour and have my bike safe. They were kind to me there, there is no charge for pedestrians / cyclists and they let you stash all your bags/panniers in the visitors centre. I spent a while looking out on the cliffs and remembering being there with my mom and dad when I was a child. Last time I was there was about ten years ago and back then it was much more free in terms of where you could roam. We used to crawl out to the edge and look straight down. You are not allowed to do that any more.

During my time around Lehinch I had been dazzled by the Clare coast, the scenery, the sounds, the smells and the silver Atlantic ocean. I was reminded of a camping trip myself and two freinds from Roscrea took to Lehinch when we were teenagers, always makes me smile.

A great day today, I love meeting people and travelling. The weather was kind enough, a few light showers but man that goddam headwind is really starting to get to me. 

Oh and by the way, I was supposed to do the Clare FM interview today but it was pushed out to tomorrow (10th June). If any of you can get Clare FM, tune in just after 2pm and hopefully you’ll hear me then.

Now let’s see, oh yea – porridge for breakfast – I can’t wait.

I left Kenmare this morning with a smile on my face. Josephine had not charged me for the B&B and indeed she even made a generous donation as did her other guests. If you are ever in Kenmare, stay at Cloghereen Cottage, Josephine is one of life’s good people.

Out from Kenmare I headed for Killarney over the MacGillycuddy’s. When you do these type of journey’s on foot or on a bike, you really realise how beautiful this place really is. The scenery up in those mountains kept my mind in the clouds and away from the physical pain that I was enduring trying to push that bike up 9 miles of a climb. Coming down the other side I stopped at Lady’s view for coffee and a chat with some tourists, I even pursuaded one of them to take my picture.

I got to Killarney and cycled a little through the National Park, went down to Muckross House and then the Abbey and drove the jaunty’s mad cycling on their trails. Anyway it was too touristy in there for my liking so I hightailed it through the town and headed on for Farranfore. It was here that Mid-West radio rang me and did a slot recording with me which they are airing throughout the day – very cool and very good of them.

I tried to get off the main roads today because I was being murdered by the non stop traffic and today was my first day to battle the lorries, sweet jesus the lorries!!! They mow you down at speed, so dangerous, especially on Ireland’s main roads with no hard shoulders. At Castleisland I decided to go cross country to Listowel. On the map I noticed a backroad route that took me more or less straight to Listowel, the map had a small hill drawn along the route so I was expecting some minor climbing – that aint what I got though. What followed were the three single most horrific climbs that I have ever cycled – ever! (Later at Jim and Nora’s in Listowel, Jims son told me that the hill is known locally as Lyracrumpane and the first climb is classed as a professional cycling grade 1 climb. Anyheeeeww, I did not cycle the dam thing. I aint got no racer, I have a big heavy bike with big heavy panniers so I pushed the bike for some of it – even trying to walk the climb nearly killed me. I cycled the other two climbs though in "air" gear.

The weather caught up with me today, I met thunder and hail coming out of Killarney and when I was up in Lyracrumpane, I ran into two heavy showers. I invested in a new cycle jacket last week and it was tested today. It works well, totally waterproof and fully breathable. Well worth the money.

I’m at Jim and Nora’s in Listowel now for the evening. Just had a shower and rejoined civilisation. God it feels great, and wouldn’t you know it the sun has not stopped shining since I got myself indoors. I’m gonna walk into town later for some food, need high protien nosh as I am burning 1500 calories each day according to my cycle computer. Bye bye spare tyre – hopefully. Weather forecast for tomorrow is awful and I am still plagued with that head wind, but hey – I’m happy singing along there to myself on that bike.

Today I set out from Mizen head on this cycle for St Vincent De Paul. We stayed in Schull, West Cork last night and it was more or less stormy down there, wind battered and freezing cold. I went to bed fearing the worst but as I woke this morning, the sun was shining and the wind had settled down into a stiff breeze.
After breakfast, we set off down to Mizen, When I got out of the car there, it was blowing gale force again (alomost) and right in my face. So we had a last coffee, said our goodbyes and off I set on my bike.
I am hauling a heavy bike and two heavy panniers on the back so the hills and climbs are real tough. In particular coming out of Ballydehob and then the Caha pass. Dear sweet jesus I thought my heart was gonna explode. I will admit (happily) to jumping off the bike at one stage and walking for about 1km. So far, for the entire journey, the wind is in my face and it’s killing me. It’s like cycling with the brakes on constantly.
For every up there is a down and coming down the other side into Kenmare, I reached 62.7km per hour on the bike (40 mph). It terrified the living crap out of me and I froze. Had to stop and put on cycling jacket and stop shaking
I got to Kenmare around 6pm and my cycle computer tells me I covered 105km today, its pretty accurate so I believe it.
I am now snug, showered and returning to humanity in the good company of Josephine Daly at her beautiful abode – Cloughereen Cottage in Kenmare. Just been down the town for a lamb shank dinner and am exhausted. Tomorrow I have to climb to Lady’s view, and then down into Killarney before heading on to Listowel to my old friends John and Nora Sheehan for the night.

I’m hoping to kick-off on 7th June.

I pray to god that the weather is kind. Rain is a problem but the biggest issue is any kind of head wind. A stiff breeze in your face can literally double the effort required to get form a to b. When I decided to go from north to south, I did so based on  information from the met office about prevailing winds. It seems that the averages suggest south westerly breezes but you can be unlucy. The  planned route is ….

• June 7th – Mizen Hd to Kenmare
• June 8th – Kenmare to Listowel
• June 9th – Listowel to Cliffs of Moher
• June 10th – Cliffs of Moher to Galway
• June 11th – Galway to Charlestown
• June 12th – Charlestown to Ballyshannon
• June 13th – Ballyshannon to Letterkennny
• June 14th – Letterkenny to Malin Hd

Fundraising is going ok and currently standing at around €600. SVP are now fully behind the event and have engaged their PR company (Walsh PR) who will arrange some publicity along the lines of print media and radio etc. I will hopefully be doing some live radio interviews along the route.

Right now I’m in the process of organising accomodation. I have been in touch with several b&b’s and hostels. Some of them are kindly offering to help which is great they’ll definately be getting a good old plug on any radio interview I do not to mention full credit on the blog.

I need to start thinking about the kit I’ll need to bring. I want to keep weight to a minimum so no luxuries such as changes of clothes etc. I may have to invest in panniers for the bike and a decent weather proof jacket.

Ways to sponsor me

1. Online with credit/debit card here
   
2. Pledge funds via my contact form here
   
3. Post cheque/PO to
   Kieran Stafford
   C/O Mary Delaney
   Park,
   Athenry,
   Co. Galway