Post by bigfoot on Jan 12, 2014 21:08:58 GMT
Lanterns burned bright on a morning when the cloud hung heavy and scent of rain was in the air.
Bill Lennon, John O'Connor, Dermot Rooney, Catherine McCoubrey, Niall McKeown, Sammy Nixon, Shane the wit Savage, Gerry Morgan, Marty Mullan, Mike O'Sullivan, Dylan McGarry, Johnny the other wit Flynn, Joe yis are all ***** Hanvey,
Adrian Goodman, Trevor Smyth and moi headed out to the coast via Ardilea, waved off by Robin and Tracey who came along to say hello.
We all wish Robin a speedy recovery after his latest setback re his back. We need you out to fix all these punctures Robo!
Flashing lights and hi Vis kit ensured we were well seen as we battled against a brutal howling gale as we past Tyrella and an angry churning grey sea.
At St Johns point we re-grouped as usual, except for Wee Joe, Dermot ,Catherine and Niall who we assumed had gone on to Newcastle for a fry, only to find them at Ardglass on their second Latte and sausage roll. Joe also appeared out of the harbour loos and strafed us with his biggest guns for leaving him out in the wind on his own........... back of Gerrys hair was smokin with the heat!
After the usual banter the posse left town looking forward to a record breaking dash to strangford with the gales on our tails but of course it didn't quite work out like that. Halfway, Mr O Sullivan had his second puncture of the day, quickly followed by his third about three miles further on.
While our resident comedians, Mr Flynn and Mr Savage entertained us with their boundless wit, this epidemic of deflation now required some forensic investigating by Mr Rooney, involving tube and dirty puddle while waving his butt suggestively at any unsuspecting motorist rounding the corner.
No foreign matter having been discovered, it was time to take a punt on another tube and get going. By now the rest of the bunch had done to us what we had apparently done to firebreath Joe and cleared off, only to be found on the strangford/Downpatrick road with............a puncture ;D
It did cross our minds to smile broadly as we sped past, but being the responsible, mature, thoughtful, decent members of the club we resisted and stopped.......again! The bad man this time was Mr Goodman, who was in the process of extensive surgery on his valve, which promptly blew up anyway. Time to invest in yet another tube, with many now longing for a hot toddy in Toolys, as the rain crept ever closer.
So the final lap of what seemed an endless journey, the group gradually dwindling as we ended another epic day, the Rouge lanterns buring bright with laughs aplenty carried on the winds far and wide.
Thanks to all those who gave me their hard earned cash for the Cycling Ireland membership and club membership today. I will sort your membership renewal this week.
For those who have yet to address their Cycling Ireland membership and judging by the couple of near misses I witnessed today, you need to urgently get yer fingers out
Thanks
Niall
Bill Lennon, John O'Connor, Dermot Rooney, Catherine McCoubrey, Niall McKeown, Sammy Nixon, Shane the wit Savage, Gerry Morgan, Marty Mullan, Mike O'Sullivan, Dylan McGarry, Johnny the other wit Flynn, Joe yis are all ***** Hanvey,
Adrian Goodman, Trevor Smyth and moi headed out to the coast via Ardilea, waved off by Robin and Tracey who came along to say hello. We all wish Robin a speedy recovery after his latest setback re his back. We need you out to fix all these punctures Robo!
Flashing lights and hi Vis kit ensured we were well seen as we battled against a brutal howling gale as we past Tyrella and an angry churning grey sea.
At St Johns point we re-grouped as usual, except for Wee Joe, Dermot ,Catherine and Niall who we assumed had gone on to Newcastle for a fry, only to find them at Ardglass on their second Latte and sausage roll. Joe also appeared out of the harbour loos and strafed us with his biggest guns for leaving him out in the wind on his own........... back of Gerrys hair was smokin with the heat!
After the usual banter the posse left town looking forward to a record breaking dash to strangford with the gales on our tails but of course it didn't quite work out like that. Halfway, Mr O Sullivan had his second puncture of the day, quickly followed by his third about three miles further on.
While our resident comedians, Mr Flynn and Mr Savage entertained us with their boundless wit, this epidemic of deflation now required some forensic investigating by Mr Rooney, involving tube and dirty puddle while waving his butt suggestively at any unsuspecting motorist rounding the corner.
No foreign matter having been discovered, it was time to take a punt on another tube and get going. By now the rest of the bunch had done to us what we had apparently done to firebreath Joe and cleared off, only to be found on the strangford/Downpatrick road with............a puncture ;D
It did cross our minds to smile broadly as we sped past, but being the responsible, mature, thoughtful, decent members of the club we resisted and stopped.......again! The bad man this time was Mr Goodman, who was in the process of extensive surgery on his valve, which promptly blew up anyway. Time to invest in yet another tube, with many now longing for a hot toddy in Toolys, as the rain crept ever closer.
So the final lap of what seemed an endless journey, the group gradually dwindling as we ended another epic day, the Rouge lanterns buring bright with laughs aplenty carried on the winds far and wide.
Thanks to all those who gave me their hard earned cash for the Cycling Ireland membership and club membership today. I will sort your membership renewal this week.
For those who have yet to address their Cycling Ireland membership and judging by the couple of near misses I witnessed today, you need to urgently get yer fingers out
Thanks
Niall
