Day Twenty-Two

I know that there are a few, among the many ardent follows of this blog, who eagerly scan its postings for tips on high living. Many of these fans recently rushed out to the pub and then back to their bathrooms to try my 'Guinness in the bath' tip, only to be disappointed. The idea is to drink the Guinness while lying in the bath not pour it into the bath. This week's suggestion for 'Extreme Relaxation'.- A Pot of Tea with Four Thick Slices of Mary Murphy's Sultana Cake - in a really hot bath. To gain the full potential of this relaxant, you should have previously cycled 40 km through wind and rain,over a barren mountain, along windswept cliffs, through forests, avoiding fallen branches, down hills with torrential rain stinging your eyes and gusts of wind trying to blow you off the road. Avoid eating any sultanas which may fall from your cake into the bath (in some hippy attempt to regain the day's bodily essence) as these,although looking appetising, will only taste of ba
th foam.

I only cycled a little way today but it was far enough in the bad weather. I stopped at Ballycastle and got the Tourist Information Centre to book me a B&B in Cushendall. Only twenty pounds and very nice. Today's weather, I am told by the NI BBC Weather Forecaster on the TV, was just a storm, hurricane Gordon is yet to hit. Me and the old Super Gal can handle it... hopefully, Belfast is not far now.

After a short pow-wow in Alan's teepee I left Ballintoy around ten o'clock and climbed a steep hill on to the cliff tops and into the wind.
It was a good ride today, despite the weather. The road along the Cliff tops gave splendid views across the sea to Rathlin Island and the Mull of Kintyre beyond. Scotland is only 24 kms away.
41 kms today.