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| My welcome to Ireland |
Míle Fáilte 2018
Míle Fáilte translates from Irish into a "thousand welcomes." It might as well mean a million welcomes! The Irish are the most welcoming people that I've ever encountered but we weren't there for a thousand welcomes, we were there for even more. We were there for 1,200 welcoming kilometers of Irish southwest countryside or should I say 1236 to be precise. When things were going well we were enjoying the 2018 Míle Fáilte. When we were suffering it was simply the MF1200.
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| 2018 full course 1,236 km 11,205 m / 768miles 36,753' |
Every ride has its challenges. We knew about the hills from the course profile and we had heard about the rough road surfaces and the midge swarms but there was no thought given to dealing with record high temperatures. They hardly sell sunscreen in Ireland. The Irish claim to have thrown out more sunscreen than they've ever used. My arms are still peeling.
This was the second running of the Míle Fáilte. The route was slightly altered from the 2014 version so that each day was a loop (theoretically) returning to a common overnight in Killarney. The inaugural edition was blessed with 4 rain free days. The 2018 MF topped that by taking place during a heatwave/drought and also was rain free. If this event takes place again, prepare for rain because they are sorely overdue. At the pre-ride dinner we discussed whether Day 2 or Day 3 would be more difficult. On paper Day 2 looked a wee bit harder but Day 3 was scheduled for immediately after Day 2 so in the end it won. The first 3 days were ambitious at 382k, 372k and 358k with 3,048, 3,748, 3,681 m of climbing. The last day was an “easy” roll through the inland county side and only 123k with just over 1,000m of elevation gain. For the record, there was nothing easy about this ride. For the more Imperial inclined of you the event totals were 768 miles with 36,753' of climbing.
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| Bike building and Guinness |
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| Leigh "Rock Star" Paterson |
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| Post pre-ride meeting meeting l to r Simon Maddison, Greg Smith, Eric Peterson, Vinny and Ricky |
The entry fee of €295 included 5 nights of lodging, all meals during the event, a tee shirt and the most glorious finishing medal that ever hung from a rando's sunburnt neck. The control food was more than expected with hot meals at most controls. Lasagna, rice with curry, shepherds pie, ice cream and rice pudding were common offerings. Sandwiches and small candy bars could be taken in pockets from controls but there were plentiful gas stations along the route and most offered a sandwich/hot food bar. I particularly enjoyed the breakfast rolls which traveled well in a jersey pocket. Pubs filled water bottles no bother. Past midnight most options for refueling were closed so we carried snacks accordingly.
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| The sendoff with highly reflective Sarah! |
The second control of Day one was simply listed as “Father Ted’s.” At first I thought we would be stopping into a friendly country priest’s farm kitchen for tea and a crumpet but it turns out that it was a house on the edge of the Burren that served as the ostensible home of a popular tv show character by the same name. We certainly were looking forward to reaching that control and escaping the unrelenting sun but had no idea what we were in for. As we arrived at the driveway our progress was halted by a gaggle of nuns! While they were in habits and dark navy dresses, my Catholic school upbringing sensed something amiss. Perhaps it was the average age of 25. Maybe it was the short skirts. Surely it was the bottles of hard cider that they carried. Turns out it was a “hen party” or as we would say, a bachelorette party. Anyway the nuns were having quite a time and it was a surreal welcoming to a unique location. Inside we found tea and homemade hot scones with butter and jam. We also found Heather and Damon Peacock who had decided to pop over to film the Mile Failte and share in on the glorious weather. Damon even shot drone footage over the house in an attempt to mirror the opening credits of the program.
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| Father Ted's |
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| Welcome to Father Ted's #nunsonthebus |
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| Feel the Burren |
We finished day 1 later than we had planned but early enough that we were still able to secure a Guinness on tap. It was the only day that we would finish during publican open hours. We washed the Guinness down with reheated frozen pizzas. Ricky's reaction to the cardboard like pizza has added one more to Ireland's 40 shades of green. I fell asleep to the retching sounds emanating from the bathroom. #thatsrando
We retreated into the Ross pub out of the midday sun of a very challenging day 2. I was teetering on the edge of a sour stomach and thought a beer might do me well but It would be a very long night and I preferred something non-alcoholic. I inquired to the well seasoned pub master. Did they have any non-alcoholic beer? “Hang the witch!”, may have been his response but instead he belittled me with, “Does this look like a pub that would serve non-alcoholic beer!?” I surveyed the patrons seated at the bar. Some of them may have well been shackled to their chairs. I conceded the point. This did not look like a pub that would serve non-alcoholic beer. I retired to a bench outside and settled for a glass of Guinness with Ricky. Inside we could hear Vinny laughing with the locals as they broke into song.
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Fresh from pub singalong at Ross Pub, Vinny day 2
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| Loads of coastal riding, Vinny and Ricky enjoy the temporary shade |
During the pre-ride meeting the section along the northern shore of the Beara Peninsula on day 2 was highlighted as scenery that would be particularly spectacular. We wound up riding it in the dark and to those who say, “It’s a shame that you didn’t see it in the day”, I say, “it’s a shame that you didn’t see it at night!” We crossed the ridge of the peninsula under a crystal clear sky and a moon so bright that lights were barely required at 1:00am. We then made our way along the northern edge of the peninsula into sleeping Kenmare. We climbed up and over Molls Gap and were met with a surrealist sky of layered red, purple and pink. In addition to the psychedelic light show in the sky we were rewarded with a 20k decent down into Killarney. We were told there would be sheep on the road and there were. There were also deer, mountain goats and fox. It was a veritable wildlife slalom course into the overnight. I use the term "overnight" loosely in this description since our arrival at 6am more coincided with breakfast. We slept for a few hours, ate a late breakfast and got rolling just before 11am for a planned 358k day 3. We knew we wouldn't see Killarney again this day. As Mike Tyson concisely put it, "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth!" Day 2 had punched us in the mouth.
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| Molls Gap, 4:15am reward, #nofilter |
Day 3 had looked every bit as challenging as day 2 on paper. When we rolled out into the heat we had no plan other than ride until we couldn't, and then sleep. The first order of business was to re-climb Molls Gap! Did I read that right? Yes I did! We were about to climb back up that 20k decent from a few hours ago. This is the first time that I desired to discuss the course with the design team.
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| Molls Gap retour, this time in the day light from the Killarney side with Brian McCool |
We made it up and over and then rode the Ring of Kerry counterclockwise. By the time we were heading out onto the Dingle Peninsula, the sun had begun the long process of setting. The sky once again turned orange and red and purple as we made our way out to Dingle. We did not stop at the control when we first arrived since there was still the business of Slea Head.
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| The prolonged Dingle sunset #nofilter |
"Cozy" was not the first word that came to mind as we entered the Dingle control in the wee hours of day 3. Overheard fluorescent lighting, the muggy scent of ripe Randonneurs and a chorus of snores being sung in the round. Ricky and his 100,000k of experience made the call of the ride, sleep outside! We drug blow up mattresses and blankets outside and into a darkened corner overlooking Dingle harbor. Cool breezes and the sounds of dock workers are the last two things that I remember before sinking into deep sleep. It’s one of those moments that I’ll never forget.
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| Ricky climbs Conor Pass for day 4 breakfast |
The first order of business on the final day was climb Conor Pass for breakfast. It was a peaceful 6.6 km climbing 406 meter at 5am rising straight up from Dingle. It was great to see Brain McCool coming down from the top back into Dingle if not a bit surprising since he had told me last night at the control that he was packing it in due to Shermer's neck. Still he decided to climb Conor Pass for his encore! #thatsrando We met Damon at the top and he was playing with his drone capturing our initial decent.
Damon's MF 1200 video I really enjoy Damon's videos. We made it off the peninsula and through Tralee taking a brief roadside nap before reaching Knocknagoshel, final control before our delayed return to Killarney.
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| Too bad this photo doesn't have audio zzzzzzzzzzz |
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| Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down. 1064/1236 k |
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Just before leaving Knocknagoshel, Paul reminds us that the
hardest climb of the ride is in our very near future! |
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| Paul's climb! As Spencer says, "you always have the 24" gear" |
We limped back into Killarney wilting under the midday sun. Ricky had another brilliant idea. Let's eat wings, seafood chowder and then take a two hour nap before heading out to put this big fish into the boat. I mean we had a 124k left and 11 hours to complete that. What was the rush anyway. Eat, sleep and then ride later in the cooler evening temperatures. I was an easy convert to the Ricky modification of day 4.
We headed out for our final 124 k as what had been billed as a relatively easy section of the course. I was however warned that that wasn't actually an accurate description. I remembered that warning as we climbed a section of 18% narrow lane. It was the second time that I wished I could discuss the course with the designer. We were cooked. This was like beating a dead horse, except Ricky was anything but dead. I couldn't hold his wheel. I'm not sure if it was the wings, the nap or one of his many remedy concoctions. Whatever it was I finally caught him at a gas station and begged him to slow down as I ate my dripping ice cream cone. He did just that. Staying with the melting ice cream theme we pulled into the penultimate control and found out that their power was off and they were really pushing the ice cream. We accepted. Mercifully the course did become more friendly as we headed in for the home stretch.
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| Putting the fish in the boat |
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| And, we're in! Let the celebration begin!! #number1 |
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| Liveliest of medal ceremonies despite the hour as only the Irish can do it! Our favorite control worker Paul O'Donoghue presents Ricky with his well deserved MF medal! |
The Míle Fáilte is a fabulous event filled with friendly faces and spectacular scenery. My sincerest thank you to all the many volunteers that worked tirelessly and with a smile to keep us going. The road surfaces, changing conditions and climbing make it harder than your average bear. Of course as our good buddy Mark Thomas says, "the last ride that you did is always your hardest!" The route uses a large portion of the Wild Atlantic Way, 2100k of Irish coastline roads from Kinsale to Malin Head. The next Wild Atlantic Way Audax will be run in 2020 just in case 1200k isn't enough for you.
WAWA2020 Having completed the MF 1200 the WAWA route frightens me, but in a inquisitive kind of way! #thatsrando
Perhaps we'll see you on the road in 2020. #randonesia
During the many hours that I had to rumble around in my mind along the MF1200 it occurred to me that the ride had an overall theme. The theme was a mathematical ratio. The event followed the 80/20 rule. Some examples for you below.
80% Irish riders, 20% other
80% climbing, 20% descending
80% crap road surfaces, 20% perfectly smooth
80% spectacular scenery, 20% transfer stage
80% midges, 20% horse flies
80% Guinness , 20% other
We headed out for our final 124 k as what had been billed as a relatively easy section of the course. I was however warned that that wasn't actually an accurate description. I remembered that warning as we climbed a section of 18% narrow lane. It was the second time that I wished I could discuss the course with the designer. We were cooked. This was like beating a dead horse, except Ricky was anything but dead. I couldn't hold his wheel. I'm not sure if it was the wings, the nap or one of his many remedy concoctions. Whatever it was I finally caught him at a gas station and begged him to slow down as I ate my dripping ice cream cone. He did just that. Staying with the melting ice cream theme we pulled into the penultimate control and found out that their power was off and they were really pushing the ice cream. We accepted. Mercifully the course did become more friendly as we headed in for the home stretch.
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