22nd June 2013, Margaret Discovers the Highs and Lows of Loop Routes to Ballincollig

The Brightness of Summer Days Lives on in Bike Talk

Margaret writes: 

 It was another wonderful day -weather wise; So, we cycled to the far end of Ballincollig to visit friends.  
Journeying out via the Model Farm Road, we took a short detour to look at St Peter's Church in Carrigrohane. 

The photographs copied here show the intriguing gravestones and mausoleums to be found by anyone wandering through St. Peter's Church grounds.

Many of the inscriptions bear impressively decorous names and tell tales of the times and lives of those who lie beneath..Both photos are from the website of: Councillor Kieran McCarthy.

There was lots of talk about the bikes at our friends house; They were all very interested about hearing about bike week.

Do Margaret and John have bikes on the brain? 
Image on Left: The writer of this blog reckons she does: http://www.save-janos.net/?cat=11 and 
Image on Right: People who want to tell the world about the bicycle like machinations of their brain wear this intricate drawing on a t-shirt from: http://www.cycologygear.com/bike-brain
We cycled home via the Straight Road; 
There is a cycle path all the way, but we diverted back through the Lee Fields again.  

The cycle was 7km each way, but on the flat on the return journey, which was a great bonus. :) 

We arrived home at 9.45pm, and it was still bright.  We reminded ourselves that the longest day of the year has now just passed, so the days will be getting shorter from now on!

( The Sunflowers come courtesy of http://www.hobbyfarms.com/hobby-farms-editorial-blogs/farm-inspiration/summers-lease.aspx )

16th June Margaret's Monday Trips

 The Wonderful Feeling of

Cycling along with my Hair

Blowing in the Breeze

Editor's Preface:

Cadbury's Wispa has claimed that while 80% of people feel guilty about taking time out, 60% would like to "mis-spend" more of their time.
To prove the point, TV Presenter George Lamb mis-spent his time making a domino of 500 items plus a mug of tea and a wispa bar to pour some milk into the tea. 


So take some time out for a cycle like Margaret and maybe you too can gratefully enjoy a "wispa with tea" at the end of it!

Margaret  Writes:

Monday Morning
 
Another beautiful sunny morning, perfect for a cycle.  I got on my bike early and cycled to work, a great way to wake up on a Monday.  I decided to cycle home for lunch, as normally I stay in work, but, the sunshine beckoned me.  A great feeling cycling along with my hair blowing in the light breeze.

 I had my lunch in the back garden and reluctantly dragged myself out of the garden and cycled back to work.  As I was cycling home around 6.00pm it was still really sunny and a great evening for a cycle.

 The sun was still shining at 9.00pm so we headed off on our bikes again, this time to the lovely Lee Fields.  What a great amenity for the city.  This was my first time cycling in the Lee Fields, even though I run there 7 days a week in the early morning.  Much easier on the bike!

 Photos of the Lee fields.


The one above is from: http://corkheritage.ie and the aerial shot opposite is from:

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy » Blog Archive » Kieran's Our City, Our Town ... kieranmccarthy.ie

Inchigaggin Bridge over the Curraheen river.
This is where the riverside trail begins.

We then crossed the road, at the far end of the Lee Fields and cycled along the lovely walk near the Curraheen River, this is a lovely secluded spot and we could have been anywhere.  We arrived out by the side of MacCarthy's (still known locally as the Tennis Village).  Then, what a hill to climb, but, there was a guy jogging up that hill and when we told him that he was going 11 km an hour, he was delighted.

McCarthy's bistro-site of the former Tennis Village
-a landmark long after it was replaced!

 Home to a cup of tea and a lovely Wispa bar.  Cycling is hungry work, but, any excuse for chocolate!  At this stage, I think I have earned the choc.