COVID Slaughter 2020

Covid -Slaughter 2020

Apologies to those of you who might have wanted to do this but in view of COVID we though it better not to advertise the event.

As far as my failing memory tells me this was the 12th Slieve Martin Slaughter. Four ascents of said peak by four different routes. About 47 K with over 2200 metres of elevation. The weather had been pre-booked and I even arranged for the tide to be in at the end for a swim.

The route can be found here for those who might want to try it .

Ann, Eamon attended for the first loop as did 100%, Tim had a sick note as did herself, Peter had a work note. John (SCO), PS , the two Brian’s , Michael, Shane , Kenny and COC . The legal eagle turned up ON TIME probably only as BG dragged him and his bike remained whole for the entire event. BG had the only mechanical and no punctures.

Fabulous weather with the mountain dry, too many clean rounds to mention. I’m told we will have to do it again this year to facilitate herself and Tim 😮

Some nice photos…. this music says it all .

Corona Saturday

Only the gruesome twosome today with some off on a “gentle 120mile spin” with Doc L , good luck with that . Others in isolation perhaps or more likely in bed .

So no need to impose the Corona rules :

1 No sharing Jelly Babies which will please Kenny immensely

2. No sharing water bottles ( as if we every did)

3. Snot to the rear please

4. 2 metres separation: I have to say I never had. any trouble with this rule where most cyclists are concerned , my problem is keeping within 200m

Today a simple lap of the Red trails , met NO cyclists ( unless you count the Rossi Technical Director) and only one or two walkers.

Keep safe all

New Year Resolutions

We were delighted to welcome Ross today , whether he will ever come back again is another matter as we did a reasonable ( 920m) climbing , although I can hear Mr Power tutting even as I type. The off piste was challenging also as John (SCO) and PS discovered . John seemed to be attempting to customize his hip and Paul went for full flight mode. Peter returned from his winter break so perhaps those annoying photos of snow and skiing etc will stop now. It was a beautiful day even if a bit nippy with some ice . There was much talk of weight loss , training and plans for the year ahead , Mizen-Malin , and WAW amongst them

Route was Burma , Sallys , reverse post , Cairn (#cairnuary) , Knockshee , Fallow corner , tunnel , mast , Cairn again , and home by Glen. Peter and Paddy headed off for more punishment as expected.

Perfect Day

After the exertions of the Gravel Grinder and the Slaughter it was nice to take the pace back a bit and visit somewhere other than Slieve Martin . Brian was suitably late as usual , Doc Lewis and Peter were straining at the leash as usual , Herself and the COC remained restrained at the rear of affairs as usual .

Burma , Sallys , to post where the sun appeared to brighten our day but too late to dry the mountain which was mostly a mud bath . Visited Knockshee where we paused to gaze at a large buzzard circling effortlessly overhead , the antithesis of our efforts! Drooped down past the bath and without Rowan to get us lost found the gully . The river was in high spirits and we were entertained as Brian demonstrated various yoga poses during his crossing. Up towards fallow corner with no sightings of the long lost Garmin unfortunately. Home from here for all but the youngsters who headed over Slieve Meel.
As Christmas approaches ,the calendar is nearly ready and the Spectre of Cairnuary looms in the middle distance.All we need is a nice bit of snow.

COC

Give me a G …..

For Ghastly , Gully and Garmin!

An octet of NTSR’s left the glen this morning in reasonable conditions . PS, Doc ,100% ,Herself , Scullion , Peter , COC and John (SCO). Burma , Sallys and turning right at the post for Knockshee where I demonstrated a perfect over the handlebar dismount, much to Brians amusement . No view on the top of Knockshee with thick mist . The plan was then to head for the Gully which would take us across the river and follow the river bank to Fallow . However Rowan headed for the correct gully and Doc headed for the other one ( on the mast to fallow corner route) . Very soon Rowan was lost in the mist and by the time we located his homing beacon we were too far to drop down to the river . So we broke a new trail to Fallow corner which was I must say quite pleasant and the mist even lifted momentarily .

From Fallow corner we headed to Slievemeel and across the trenches again to Red Bog . The plan now was to do reverse castle bog which involved a fair bit of hike a bike in driving rain . Just as we arrived at the wall for the descent HERSELF declared she had lost her garmin , bloody marvellous! So we retraced our tracks all the way back to Slievemeel but no sign was found . At least Santa will know what to get her for Xmas!

By the time we got home we were mud monsters , I hope weather better for next weeks Gravel Grinder as Rowan has us all up to high doh about how hard it is !

Oh and a note to the absent Mr Power … we failed again on the elevation with sub 1000 🙁