Paul & Alan’s Long Way Home

Congratulations to Island Wheelers Paul and Alan on completing the gruelling “Long Way Home.” This event was organised to raise funds for “Vision4kids,” with Paul and Alan personally helping to raise in excess of £3000 for the central Kenyan charity.

The event itself was organised as a loop of Northern Ireland starting and finishing in Dungannon after taking in 365miles in 3 days. With well over 4000ft of climbing each day this event was not for the light hearted and it is great to see two Wheelers taking on such a challenge.

Day 1: Starting off in Dungannon the route brought the guys through Armagh and on to Warrenpoint before taking the coast road to Newcastle. From Newcastle they headed on to Dundrum and to Strangford before boarding the ferry to Portaferry (a welcome breather I am sure.) From Portaferry the group continued along the Ards peninsula to Ballywalter, Greyabbey, Newtownards and Bangor. The last leg of Day 1 was to ride from Bangor to Belfast and on to the finish at Newtownabbey a welcome sight after 134 miles of cycling.

Day 2: Although slightly shorter than Day 1 today was certainly no easier with the most climbing of the 3 and the legs I’m sure feeling the effects of the previous days efforts. The guys followed the coast road from Newtownabbey and on to, Carrickfergus, Whitehead, Larne, Glenarm, Cushendall and into Cushendun  before following the Giro Route in the opposit direction towards Ballycastle. From Ballycastle Paul & Alan enjoyed the beautiful North Coast along the coast road through Ballintoy, Dunseverick, Bushmills, Portrush and into Portstewart. Day 2 finished with a difficult ride from Coleraine to Limavady before the finish in Campsie.

Day 3: Having now completed over 250 miles in 2 days the events organisers were certainly nt going easy on anyone as Day 3 held a very challenging route in store. Setting off early from Campsie the guys headed off for Strabane through Derry and then on Castlederg and on to the shores of Lower Lough Earne. From Enniskillen the route finally turned North for home and Paul and Alan rode through Fivemiletown, Augher and on to Ballywgawley before taking the old road back in to Dungannon where there was a great party in the Park to welcome all the competitiors home.

Well done to both Paul and Alan on what was a fantastic achievement.

Island Wheelers would also like to congratulate the organisers of Long Way Home on what we believe was a fantastic event.

https://mydonate.bt.com/events/longwayhome2014/110673