I just need a cycling project.

Not a year for going abroad on exotic cycles. I hadn’t planned anything trans-continental this year, just one nearer to home.

 

The idea was to cycle at the end of June from Land’s End in Cornwall right up to John O Groats at the top of Scotland, LeJog as it’s referred to in the cycling and walking community. That would be a two-week expedition. My plan was to do it solo and I had accommodation booked all the way. Fortunately I booked with Free Cancellation so when Covid struck all could be undone with the minimum of hassle. Also my flight to Cornwall was refunded (with vouchers) so no big financial hit. I had the full route planned out in detail and it’ll stand to me if I ever get the opportunity ‘when we get back to normal’.

 

So now it was a matter of ‘thinking inside the box’ for a change. It gives my cycling a boost when I have a project in mind.

 

Initially I hoped to do a recon on both canals (Royal and Grand) with a view to both of us doing sections at some stage. The acorn grew and grew. Both canals link to the Shannon. Right. Then from perusing maps (local ones especially) I noted that we live very close to the divide between the Shannon and Suir watersheds.

Just 5 km north of here I discovered a location where one river/stream (Cuteen) rises and flows west to the Shannon while just a few hundred metres away another river (the Multeen) flows east to the Suir. I had the makings of a project.

 

I’ll follow that Cuteen River from Ballyrobin as it makes its way across Tipperary and Limerick feeding into the Dead River and the Mulkear river and entering the Shannon at Annacotty just above Limerick City (42 km).

Then I’ll cycle 200km upstream to Clondara (Co Longford) where the Royal Canal meets the Shannon. Then its 146 km by the canal to central Dublin, cross over the Liffey and pick up the Grand Canal. The Grand also goes to the Shannon but I’ll just go to Robertstown in Co Kildare (51 km), turn left onto the Barrow Link Canal (20 km) and continue on the Barrow Towpath down to St Mullins in Co Carlow (90 km). That’s the end of a waterside path so it’s back onto the roads heading to New Ross and Waterford keeping  the Barrow/Nore in close proximity (47 km). In Waterford I’ll start pedalling against the current of the Suir up to Clonmel and Cahir ond onwards to Golden to meet the Multeen just above the village. Back now to bye-roads as I make my way to that spot just metres away from where I started in Ballyrobin.(117 km). Thus completing the circuit (almost) in just over 700 km.

 Looking forward to it.

 

I may not do all the sections on consecutive days but they will be done in order. When I set out depends on weather….waiting till the rain supply above has been exhausted.

 

Do join me on this trip and feel free to add comments. I welcome them.