Four months later and I'm finally ready to write up my Pan Celtic blog!
It will be split over various parts, as its quite simply too epic an adventure to put in one post!
In Part 1, I'll be covering from the night before to Checkpoint 1 at the top of Mount Gabriel!
So without further-ado lets crack on!
It's early July and a heatwave is on the way, what better time than to set off and do your first ultra-endurance race! After months of training, we were off. I say we, as for this first event I was doing as a pair. My partner in adventure, my good buddy Aston Byfield. Together we would take on the 1600mile challenge with the aim to be back for the finishing party on the 10th day. The starting point Celtic Camping, Pembrokeshire. So after a mad dash to Reading train station, which nearly resulted in smashing through the height barrier with bikes on the roof (the cars brakes work!) we were on our way to Haverfordwest, via Swansea aboard the GWR! The great thing about getting the train was we met a lot of other like minded crazy people along the way, The Clan was already forming! A quick group ride from Haverfordwest in the afternoon sun to Celtic Camping was a great time to get to know them better!
The night was spent eating Pizza and getting to know the other "competitors" The Clan, as the PanCeltic call it, was certainly starting to form - was this really a race or a massive group ride?!
Briefing over, everyone took to the start line. A neutral jaunt through the Welsh countryside down to Pembroke dock.
A misty start that soon cleared to gorgeous blue skies and yet another chance to chat to more intrepid travellers. With the ferry not until 3pm there was no rush, with most taking advantage of the nearby supermarket to fuel and fill any spare load capacity with food to get them through the night. Aboard the ferry and greeted with a free pint of Ireland's finest, we settled in to get some shut eye, knowing we'd have to cycle into the night to make good ground.
We were up early (4am), packed up and headed on our way hoping to reach Cork. With the sun rising it was clear the broken spoke was become more of an issue, so a bike shop was in order! 300km with a broken spoke, not bad at all. Finding a shop with the right parts, quite a mission! 4 shops later, ranging from really helpful without the parts, to downright rude we found a shop that was willing to help in the shape of a set of wheels. It was either buy these or go home 1 day in. Going home was not an option. So armed with a brand new set of DT Swiss wheels we were off again. All thanks to the guys at McCarthy Cycles, they even sent my broken wheels back to my house!
This diversion and fixing meant we had lost about 4 hours, so fuelled with a McDonalds we pressed on hoping to make up the lost time. After a cheeky pub dinner near Old Head, frequented by none other than Will Ferrell that day, we nipped round the headland and found a comfy bivvy spot amongst the sanddunes. We were soon joined by other Clan members who also had the same idea!
Good nights kip and we were on our way again with the aim to get to Checkpoint 1 at Mount Gabriel and onwards to Bantry.
That morning we'd received a message to say there had been accident and the route we were supposed to follow was no longer an option. Luckily a diversion was put in place, and with the lightest of drizzle in the air off we set.
Now Mount Gabriel, what a beast! Who's ideal it was to put the checkpoint at the top no idea, but fair play!
Now i could see the observatory when I began the climb and was looking forward to the views across Ireland from the top however. The weather gods on the other hand had other ideas, and half way up the climb the weather moved in. Fog covered the climb and as the gradients hit, at times, 20% we ploughed on up to the top and that all important Brevet Card Stamp!
Here ends my Part 1 of my Pan Celtic journey, lots happened and a lot more was going to, so stay tuned!
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