Just a quick note as I head out the door to sunnier climes - the Justgiving.com/dublin2dingle page has just summited the £4000 peak.

Well done again all you donors out there in cyberworld.

THANK YOU

LLL

Jonty on his return from the Gates of Hell

This is just a quick update to inform you all that the "Big Lad" made it back home today and is looking forward to the reunion in The Lake Hotel, Killarney since he missed the union the first time round. As you can see, he appears to be in fine fettle, but he will be attending the hospital for some time before he is back to normal. Sure, the Big Man was never normal, I hear you say, but then, who in our company is?

He was quite adamant, however, about never sharing a tent with Stuart again saying that he would prefer to room with Andy, Gary, Jim, Adrian, Al, Noel or even Pauline all at once or individually. Apparently sleeping with Stuey is a "near death experience" that is not on the agenda in the immediate future. He also expressed huge gratitude to the staff at Tralee Hospital especially the foxy nurse who applied the gel before his first ultrasound scan...........

Finally, anyone who has not donated or feels compelled to help us reach that £4000 target, we are getting close. Check out www.justgiving.com/dublin2dingle and encourage your friends to do so.

And they all lived happily ever after.

LLL

WE DID IT!

Here are a few photos that have yet to be published here.........................

The Pecker and Ronne Drew

The Best Pub in Ireland

That's an Italian flag isn't it?

The road to Kerry (between showers)





Big Al stands next to the Sean Kelly shrine in Carrick on Suir - the King of Cycling



Stuey and Big Al chill after a good soaking coming over Glenmalure







The Blues Bros en route to KIllarney

Regular readers, friends and supporters will know that we finished the cycle on Saturday, and yes, we did have bums like baboons, but we were well satisfied that we had completed the trip. A celebratory libation in John Benny's before heading back to the campsite was just the ticket.

Now, you will also know that Sunday was the ascent of Carrauntoohil which we had intended to scale via the Devil's Ladder. However, we had to shelve this plan as a result of an unforeseen casualty of the the challenge, and here I am again back in serious mode. Big Jonty, the man who would eat the head of a scaby wee'un was admitted to Kerry Hospital in Tralee in the early hours of Sunday morning and he is still there today, Tuesday. He will not be released until his condition shows some signs of improvement.

In the middle of Saturday night/Sunday morning it would appear that Jonty suffered from a pulmonary embolism which to you and me is a blood clot on the lungs. In Jonty's case they have identified two clots (one on each lung) and, in reality, the situation could have been a lot (lot) worse had it not been for the fact that he was sharing a room and his pain was taken seriously by a room mate who contacted the emergency services. In Dingle, that means getting yourself to hospital, but getting a local doctor to phone ahead and let them know you are coming. Fortunately, he got there on time to avoid any further complications and is now making some sort of a recovery.

It was an awful end to the week for the big lad, but he is in great spirits and is enjoying the company of several Father Jacks in his ward in Tralee. I know that you will all be thinking about Jonty and hope that he makes it home soon. The whole episode has given us another chance to re-evaluate what is really important in life. Carrauntoohil can wait for another day.

Get well soon Big Jonty, and we forgot to tell you that you won the bracelet jaune on Sunday for making the rest of us sweat like criminals.

I will post a final tour diary when the Big Lad gets home.

LLL



Eileen, the proprietor of the South Pole Inn in Annascaul

Front Wheels in Dingle Bay

And Thank you for watching!!

Today was the last cycling day and in keeping with the rest of the week it started off wet. Jonty, the bollix (sic) faffed around for so long that he managed to get himself lost before we left Killarney. Consequently Big Al was less than impressed since we had to wait in Milltown for the rambling man. Adrian thought that Jonty had caught up when a hearse went slowly by but no such luck. He eventually put in an appearance before we sauntered on down to Castlemaine.

About 20 miles later we got to Annascaul where the South Pole Inn, famously owned by the legend that was Tom Crean, provided us with lunch. This is one place that has been on my bucket list for a year or two and I suggest that you visit too. Eileen the owner was most hospitable and is a wealth of knowledge on the subject of Tom Crean. A very pleasant stop. Thank you Eileen, I will be back.

Back on the bikes for the last stretch into Dingle and one more hill. Team leader for the last section, Jimi, mowed down two dogs and one hedgehog to add to the road kill which was ubiquitous. Arriving in town to the strains of Into the Valley by the Skids prompted Jonty to decorate his new cycling shorts with his own personal version. There is a video of this that I promise to share next week when I will post a tour diary.

Thank you for keeping a watchful eye on our progress. It is true that the cycling is complete but there will be more to report tomorrow when we tackle Carrauntoohil. I should also mention the fundraising total which is at £3276. Outstanding!!

I am typing this up from the kitchen of the Rainbow Hostel in Dingle whe we are camping tonight, surrounded by young Europeans. We are thinking of broadening our horizons next year with a wee European venture. It's a teenage dream!

So hard to beat!

LLL

Well readers, we have made it to Killarney so only one final stage to Dingle. On arrival in Killarney this afternoon, Stuart made a wrong turn and ended up in the campsite on his own while we found a cosy little bar in downtown Killarney to watch the end of today's TdeF stage and spend the rest of the kitty.

Charlie Foley was a pleasant respite from the road and it was with shock and surprise that we left the bowels of the hostelry to find that the Irish summer had returned. Consequently it was another soaking for us on the short hop to the campsite but at least we didn't need a shower after a good drenching on the last leg of the cycle. Unlike Stuart who regained the bracelet jaune after another sweaty day on the bike. He loves to sweat. Well done again Stuart. You are an inspiration to us all with that pheromone perfume!

Tomorrow is the last cycling leg of the trip. It has flown by and we have a few stories to tell. Unfortunately the censor prevents me from putting it on here so you will have to attend the reunion and hear in person why Big Al moved his tent from Tipperary to Kilkenny or why Andy chose not to sleep in the dry dorm!

In the fullness of time............

LLL

We have stopped in a place called Rathmore for lunch al fresco. Yes, you read that correctly, the sun is almost shining and it is not raining. Le soigneur is on the phone to charity fundraising coordinator Michele la belle de Laurelhill to get the top up from her big bucket to keep pushing that total skyward.

More photos later and keep the faith. We're nearly there.

LLL

A good night's sleep has set us up for the penultimate day of cycling. Look out Killarney, the Northerners are coming!!

LLL