LES MISERABLES

Well..it was without doubt a fairly miserable day, even Rowan agreed that in fact it was the best miserable day ever. It was so miserably wet and cold that Paul ( M) left almost before he arrived. Chris left after one Cairn and Brian nearly left except he found the peer pressure just too much .

In fact the only thing that brightened our day was Brian’s revelation that he liked to warm his (cycling) tights in the tumble dryer before cycling ( I nearly wrote before “coming out” there  but it didn’t sound right)

We managed two Cairns and the requisite 1000m plus climbing to keep Mr P happy. Everyone will be glad to hear that Cairnuary will be over next weekend and we can play somewhere else .

Straightforward route  , took a fair portion of the mountain home in my boots . Photos again poor as camera lens hard to keep clear .

Scullion gets his way ( again)

In which

    • We narrowly avoid an international incident in which Brian comments on how “well” Robbie is looking after Christmas.
    • Robbie saves the day with a lightning repost
    • Paul announces his Transalp Bid
    • Cormac tries to carve his face into a rock , the rock lost .
    • An impressive number of clean runs on tunnel mast
    • Liz throws herself off her bike to warn us its slippy .
    • Brian forces change in the route and
    • Paddy is pleased as he is now officially afraid of Fern Gully
    • A couple of sketchy descents of Ballynagelty …out of control doesn’t do it justice.
    • Robbie takes his Cuhulain friends off for early hot chocolate at the thought of another cairn
    • Liz gets dumped by the group
    • Henry looks for a good solicitor …none to be found
    • We get the “Mr Power ” stamp of approval with 1100m climbed

Otherwise an uneventful spin with compulsory Cairns as will be the pattern for January .

Route Here 

Who needs Sunrise when you have Brian Scullion?

Our annual search for the first rays of light of the year was thwarted by cloud today . However BS returned to bring his own personal sunshine into our lives ( yes he paid me to write this). Joined by Peter , New Paul , DOC L , Davy ,Mr O, Herself and COC we headed up to first right ,hairpin , bridge , trails to stone and round the glen to the top of the switchbacks . Peter and Owen were already there when we arrived , and a few minutes later a herd ( or whatever the collective noun is for that species) of Rossi arrived resplendent in the new Gear from the spring collection from the house of McGinn. We must have met another 8 or ten on the way down so it looks like Cairnuary could be busy this year .

Happy New Year to all

and remember

If you’re walking(or cycling) down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking(or cycling) , eventually you’ll make progress.

Barack Obama