First day of March and I started my training today with a cycle around Killiney. Batteries low in the camera so I had to depend on my mobile to record the trip...The sun was shining as I headed out the coast road past Seapoint to DunLaoghaire Harbour. You notice much more on a bike than in a car and today I noticed what appears to be a luxury 'speed boat' Aquasports depot in MGM Boats The Old Coastguard Station, in Coal Harbour. Entrepreneurs were up early in Dún Laoghaire this March morning with stalls in the People Park up and running at around 9am. A large group of scuba divers where busy getting ready for a 'dive' in Sandycove as I headed for the forty foot. Early morning bathers were a plenty but I didn't stop.
Onto Bullock Harbour and Coliemore Harbour opposite Dalkey Island. I stopped here to take a photo of the ISLAND an watch a fisherman checking his lobster pots. As I head up to Vico road I wondered would I be ready for the annual snorkel around Dalkey island this St Patricks Day.
Onward up Vico Road to the viewing point overlooking Killiney Bay. As I parked my bike for a breather I notice the kerbside was littered with heaps of cigarette butts emptied from kerbside krawlers who drive to Killiney for the kicks. Pity they didn't take their rubbish home with them. More kerbside rubbish was evident strewn down the hill from The Druids Chair towards Enya's castle home. It must be the Saturday night revellers on their way home to their cosy 'cottages'. Litter louts are everywhere it appears.
The downward hill from the Druids Chair is exhilarating after the climb from Coliemore. Free wheeled almost as far as the roundabout beyond Killiney village then turned back on myself towards the coast beach road past the Dart station. Then is is down to the lowest gears as I turn the corner towards the hill up past the Canadian Ambassadors eucalyptus scented grounds towards Bono's pad. Wow !Bono 'bulbs' are blooming. A couple of strollers hold hands to help each up other up the hill and pause at Bonos to admire the 'bulbs'. "Mornin' great day to be alive ", well almost! It has been a good week for Bono and his 'bulbs'.The hill is pretty steep outside the U2 leaders pad. But is a beautiful road lined with stone walls which wind back towards Killiney and down hill to Dalkey.
It is gone 10am and Dalkey is coming to life with locals getting the Sunday supplies for breakfast . Last night must have been a good night in the local taverns with the celebrations following the Irish rugby teams victory over Na Sasanach. Other codes were in full flight in the Cuala grounds. The wind was rising as I left Dalkey for Monkstown. Decided to take the inland road past Harolds and into Monkstown past St Johns Church on Mountown Rd. I paused outside the church to learn that it has all its masses in Latin. It is along time since I heard Latin spoken but it would have to wait for another day.
The twin towers of the Monkstown churches brought me back to reality as I noticed a small group of what appeared to be homeless people tidying themselves and having a coffee from the local shops. The doorways of the local churches appear to provide shelter and 'home' to these folks who are down on their luck in these tough times. Their misfortune was on my mind for the rest to the journey back towards Blackrock. Wasn't I blessed to be alive on this sunny Sunday morning and looking forwards to many more Sunday cycles on the road to fitness for the next six months.
My spin ended with an encounter with another entrepreneur out 'Walking the Dog' or training a whole herd of 'mutts'' in my local park. Not all of them like cyclists!!!!!...
The downward hill from the Druids Chair is exhilarating after the climb from Coliemore. Free wheeled almost as far as the roundabout beyond Killiney village then turned back on myself towards the coast beach road past the Dart station. Then is is down to the lowest gears as I turn the corner towards the hill up past the Canadian Ambassadors eucalyptus scented grounds towards Bono's pad. Wow !Bono 'bulbs' are blooming. A couple of strollers hold hands to help each up other up the hill and pause at Bonos to admire the 'bulbs'. "Mornin' great day to be alive ", well almost! It has been a good week for Bono and his 'bulbs'.The hill is pretty steep outside the U2 leaders pad. But is a beautiful road lined with stone walls which wind back towards Killiney and down hill to Dalkey.
It is gone 10am and Dalkey is coming to life with locals getting the Sunday supplies for breakfast . Last night must have been a good night in the local taverns with the celebrations following the Irish rugby teams victory over Na Sasanach. Other codes were in full flight in the Cuala grounds. The wind was rising as I left Dalkey for Monkstown. Decided to take the inland road past Harolds and into Monkstown past St Johns Church on Mountown Rd. I paused outside the church to learn that it has all its masses in Latin. It is along time since I heard Latin spoken but it would have to wait for another day.
The twin towers of the Monkstown churches brought me back to reality as I noticed a small group of what appeared to be homeless people tidying themselves and having a coffee from the local shops. The doorways of the local churches appear to provide shelter and 'home' to these folks who are down on their luck in these tough times. Their misfortune was on my mind for the rest to the journey back towards Blackrock. Wasn't I blessed to be alive on this sunny Sunday morning and looking forwards to many more Sunday cycles on the road to fitness for the next six months.
My spin ended with an encounter with another entrepreneur out 'Walking the Dog' or training a whole herd of 'mutts'' in my local park. Not all of them like cyclists!!!!!...
