I am so very proud of this team. What we set out to achieve in the 2017 Race Around Ireland was far surpassed by both crew and riders, to an overwhelming point over an epic 72.21hrs.
Category: travel
41s In Barcelona
A GLIMPSE of a weekend city break to Barcelona in Spain – the pair of us competing in the Marnaton eDreams sea swimming race, as well as tapas tasting, architecture pondering, flamenco, and a lot of blue sky.
Here, on the pier
That one day of summer? I got it on film! Seriously, it’s right here, on the pier…pigeons and all.
The Hiking Girl’s Camping Checklist
HIKING is a new thing for me. Camping is not much more familiar. So when my partner and I put the two together for a holiday in Gran Canaria I needed help.
The result was an 8kg pack full of everything I actually needed and nothing at all that went unused, with much thanks to Snarky Nomad.
Now I’m sharing this packing genius in The Hiking Girl’s Camping Checklist.
Hanging with clouds
One weekend in January, we took to the hills. Here is what we found.
GRAN CANARIA’S mountains are alive with mountain runners, with weekend campers, orienteering competitors, and barbecuers.
Everything moves, nothing is ever silent, but everything is harmonious. It’s a vibrant place to be, and we came for free.
Sligo’s Shelly Valley
Sea birds make the loveliest messes
BEHIND the gigantic sand dunes on Strandhill beach in Sligo is an otherworldly place, littered with the shells of eaten snails and sea creatures.
It’s a sandy valley carpeted with colour and flanked by long, thick green grass. Crushed shells in this graveyard catch the evening light, shaking off their deathly feel and beaming out pretty pastels – pink, green, blue, purple.
Tread lightly though. Slimy slow coaches still living trudge on in the grasses in their hundreds.
In Yellow
How much yellow can you cram in to one weekend in Paris for the race up the Champs Elysee on the final day of Le Tour De France?
Turns out, quite a bit. It was my first visit to Paris and my number one recommendation to fellow first-timers is to meet Antonio Montani’s Velib bike tour – he’s big on wine and cheese, and picnics too, and he’ll gladly take you with him: Find Anto.
Remora, Dolphin or Shark?
In an open sea race there are remoras, dolphins and sharks. In high wind in Mullaghmore Bay, swimmers can experience all three; at least I did.
It’s dark and raining. You can’t see any bodies, but you can feel the water around them moving. Those bubbles are the only connection you have with human life in a swelly 5km sea race.
Island Life In Crisis?
Apprehension crept up on my excited anticipation about my Greek holiday last week as the Greek Debt Crisis worsened. How far had the unrest spread? Was I walking into a nightmare?
Cash. Bring lots of it. That was the stand-out advice offered by all experts for those travelling to Greece – even before last weekend’s debt bailout referendum was called.
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Finding Logan’s Way
One weekend in June, a handsome man and I set off to find a beach on the banks of Lough Dan. What we found was Logan’s Way, a mysterious route along the river out of Lough Dan, marked by a wooden sign at the edge of a deep pool.
Dry as it was, this hike to Military Road was memorable for its many inviting river pools, particularly the one right at the Logan’s Way arrow, and waterfalls. It was memorable for the seclusion of being in the middle of forests and for the wild swimming we couldn’t resist on the way to Tongalee Hill.
A deer. Yes, she’s definitely there.
Descending to the quartz beach at the edge of Lough Dan.
Our home for the weekend, nestled in the long grass
…protected by this tree.
Tea, brewing in the grass on the banks of Lough Dan
Wild swimming in a pool in the river on Logan’s Way, Wicklow
Lunch at the foot of Tongalee Hill
The valley in the shadow of Tongalee Hill
The descent off Tongalee Hill.
Perfect hairpins: Turlough Hill, County Wicklow, the clouds skimming over
Jessica Lamb 