Take snapshot into the light...
Was slightly in two minds about cycling last Saturday (a whole week ago now, eep).Forecast was for distinctly cold, and I was a little paranoid I'd push the envelope on having avoided cycling crud (and concert crud, and gaming crud...) thus far, and have a major meltdown. But as I'd been checking my mailbox rather disconsolately when there was no initial mailing list mention of one, perhaps not that undecided after all. Cold all right -- actual frost and even a little ice on the ground. Had likely been below zero, but therm didn't go below 0.3. Second thoughts seemed to happened elsewhere, though: just five people turned up. Having passed the trip leader en route to the Opera House, and with the group organiser trailing in last, was for once the exact median person to arrive... (And maybe just about technicallynonlate.com.) Maybe people were worried about the conditions undertyre, were busy with Christmas stuff, had "checked out" the previous week with the big weekend thing. Or it was just too cold... But for me, pretty gloriously clear and sunny. Give me nippy with some sun over mild and gloomy anytime. We'd a nose around the Christmas market stalls, then eventually off.
Avoiding the Marina-Mahon cycle path out of lingering slipperiness concerns, we went out by Blackrock Castle, then the coastal path. Frosty in sheltered spots, though the main hazard to navigation was a big lump of a dog that almost took out someone with a sudden swerve in front. Over the ferry, then around the island to Cobh. Rather posher venue than usual for the ritual hot beverage and scone (which I partook of, this time), in a hotel with a rather nice harbour view. Certainly got my money's worth in terms of tea refills. Not actually very dear at all, though a couple of my companions seemed slightly miffed we'd not got what practically seems to be the cycling cartel rate of €4. Afterwards, the others seemed very keen to be photographed with me and the harbour tug, For Some Mysterious Reason.
Back around the coast, over the bridge back to the mainland, then along the Glanmire road to the last turnoff, back to the main, then the city centre. 55k, av of 18.5. Felt pretty leisurely for once, as it was distinctly flat by An Óige standards. I think I was even accused at one point of making it look too easy, which is a bit different from wheezing up Spur Hill and wishing for a lower gear.
Doesn't feel like I've got much done since. Usual panic over travel back to Scotland for the holidays. Mixture of airport-logistics anxieties and the feeling that who-knows-what might happen in the yawning-seeming gap I'll be away. Still, any trip you walk away from the aircraft on...