Long way to go for bran flakes
Pushed the limits of "sensible" on Thursday again in terms of late-start cycling, and rather wish I hadn't troubled myself. One of those afternoons where I find myself basking in the warmth of the sunlight through the french windows, thinking "nice afternoon for a cycle", and by the time I do... it isn't. Route One to Aherla Cross, side-road not at all pleasant when it's that dark, between dazzling oncoming headlights and massive potholes. Nasty headwind on the way back. Popped into Ballincollig Lidl, then Tesco. Got to the checkout -- and indeed had even scanned my bits and my clubcard -- before I realized, no wallet. And no cards, either (Tesco thing is on my key fob). So, no goodies. And immediately wondering, where'd I left them? I was seized by a Bradburyesque conviction I must have left them outside Lidl when locking up the bike, and went back to check -- no dice. Proceded home as directly as I could (via the back road and the "West" junction onto the bypass) by which time it was also raining. Bleh. Mercifully I'd just left them in the house. Lack of pockets in cycling gear has made me fairly paranoid about locking myself out, to which add the misery of worrying about lost cash, credit/debit cards, and my only real "backup" photoid. (In the excessively long period I was passportless, my only such at all, in fact, but that's another self-pitying post entirely.) Gives one a tiny glimmer of appreciation of How the Other Half Lives (well, to the extent the genderness of putting stuff in pockets still applies).
Interesting bike-tangent on Thursday's Prime Time. Item on rural pubs, and one of the areas featured was our very own Farran, site of two pubs that have been closed for a while, and just recently a cafe/cake shop that's made it onto AÓ's "to investigate" list.. PT was in both Barry Murphy's (seemingly now divorced from its licence, and not likely to reopen as a pub at any point), and The Pantry.
Saturday, decided to brave both the gloomy weather forecast (BBC had "black cloud" all day; RTE alluded to vague possibilities of "sun breaking through"; former had it right) and the rigours of the "long" An Oige route. Not clear what was especially "long" about it, though it was hilly enough to be plausibly the tougher of the two options, as the other was out the harbour. Thought I'd outundersmarted myself by trying to "intercept" them at Marymount, on the basis that it was where the two routes I'd take to Waterfall intersected, but no sign of anyone for 15m after I got there, which was far from early, so I feared I'd missed them. Texted the route leader, and headed off up the hill anyway. As it turned out, though, they were just a bit behind me, and after a sort pause outside the pub (outside, I say!) the group trundled along. Good turnout for late November (IIRC something like 25), especially given the "split" into two routes, though the ferry one wasn't so large, I was told. So not only had I trimmed 5k or so off the start, I'd had two breathers more than the rest! (Or three if you count stopping to take the return phone call, to avoid crashing under one-handed braking on the plummet back down into W.) Off into off-off-off-Broadway routes shortly after that point. Two newbies (I think, unless they'd just always been on the "other" cycle) were keen to press ahead on the downhill, and I tagged along. Recognised the road, not by the traditional church or pub, but by equine. At the bottom got to do the bit where I "Scotsplain" local geography to the Irish -- hadn't been out Ballinhassig way before, evidently. Sidebar about where "Halfway" is "halfway" between -- I'm assuming Cork and Bandon, but not putting any money on it. Under the N71, then off out a real goat-track of a sideroad a little past BH. After wheezing to the top, regrouped again, then trundled along the top to Carrigaline. Later part is decided steep down again, and loose-surfaced, twisty, and poorly-sighted with it. Reminded me to adjust my brakes -- which naturally I've yet to do. Farmer picket/protest outside the Coveney office -- one understands this is a regular thing.
Beverage and snack break in the Ó Crualaoí (boy did I struggle with that spelling, there!) shop -- wasn't sure the "long" people even did that! Didn't partake myself, except I did get fed a corner of someone's enormous scone with seedless raspberry jam -- a further topic of converse, perhaps even controversy. Real "to your scattered routes home go" on the return leg. I think the newcomers were a little bemused by this (wondering if everyone would make it back to the Opera House... I think generally actually no-one does), and truth to tell it doesn't normally seem to be anything like so extreme as this. I think about six of us went the main road as far as the Maryborough route -- others had, I think, variously gone off towards Ballygarvan, the coast route, and maybe even off the other side, to Ballinrea. And we lost another two of those going on straight (not a pleasant route in my judgement, as not only is it a busy road, there's a distinct lack of hard shoulder, too), and another "back" before we hit the descent into Douglas. Our lost Maryborougher also turned up in Douglas at some sort of 96FM/Santa type event. After that, shopping frenzy. Reccied three different Aldis, in fit of "has the cycle gear been re-reduced?", and popping into PC World and Mahon Point Tesco, too.
Slightly less terrible start today; went slightly further, to Crookstown. Bike computer seems to have packed up yet again, which is annoying as I'm not really understanding why and when this is happening, and it keeps "getting better" just as I've provisionally decided to replace it. Three-supermarket stop strategy on the way back -- Ballincollig Aldi remarkably cleared out of bike gear, but at least I rmanaged to remember to buy breakfast cereal, at the fourth time (and different such store!) of asking. Lots and lots of Christmas lights at the Guide Dogs place on MFR. Pretty!