I started this Audax at 4pm. Due to family and work commitments it was the only chance I could get before the end of October. It was another permanent so that means I could start it at any time. It was planned to start in Stamullen but I asked the organiser could I start it in Dundalk as I live near it and he had no issues with it.
So I finished work and hour early on a thursday afternoon and got cycling. From Dundalk to route head south along what used to be the main road to Dublin. Thanks to the motorway it’s not used nearly as much.
It’s long straight flat roads all the way to Castlebellingham (20km) when you turn onto coast roads. There was plenty of rain around but after getting wet at the start I was actually pretty lucky. I was now on country roads but they were busier than normal. I guess because people are going home from work. The view here are lovely. The Irish sea to your left with the Morne mountains in the background.
Continuing south, the route passes through Clogherhead (38km), then Termonfeckin (43km) before you have to navigate the busiest part of the route, Drogheda (51km)
The route veirs west to navigate the Boyne river outlet. After crossing the bridge the Drogheda you turn around and head east along the Boyne again but the other side. It was quite busy here and the surface was pretty bad but this only lasts for 5-6 km before the roads get quieter again. I say quieter but in fact they were busier than normal. I was starting to regret beginning the Audax so late in the evening.
You still travel mostly south until reaching Laytown (62km) where you come across another river that tries to block you progress south but there’s a small footbridge just out the other side of Laytown. You have to go through a carpark to get to it so you will have to keep an eye out for it or you’ll miss it.
Sadly, that was the last photo I could take because it got too dark. By the time I made it to Stamullan (71km) it was pitch dark. This makes it hard for me to tell you what the views were like because, well, I couldn’t see them.
For the next hour or two I was really regretting the time of day I started this. I was on small country roads that I didn’t know and when cars came facing me I was momentarily blinded. It made for a scary ride and it was slow progress.
It was mostly uphill from Stamullen to Bellewstown (80km). I was really in the middle of nowhere until I came to Donore (103km). It was pretty hard going for about 20km after that where I seemed to be climbing more than descending. At some stage, about the 120km mark, it does finally release you and you are flying again as you get about 10km of downhill as you pass through Dunleer (128km). The route is now heading north and you’re now on the same road as you were on earlier as you head back to Dundalk (149km).
It was now about 22.30. I was tired, cold and still has over 50km to do. I was so tempted to call home but I knew if I did then I probably wouldn’t start again so I put on another podcast and kept riding.
Unfortunately, the last 50km wasn’t going to be easy with 2 major climbs left to tackle. The first was Jenkinstown hill (159km) where I would have to assent nearly 200m in just 5km. There’s a nice downhill section after that which brings you on to the main Carlingford to Newry road. Traffic was pretty light now which always makes me happy. There’s a fairly flat section as you ride along Carlingford lough before you finally arrive at Carlingford (183km).
From here you climb out of Carlingford. Nothing to steep but that doesn’t last long. At 192km you start ascending Killin hill. Another stinger, with 150m of climbing in just 3km. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that I knew it was my last.
A nice high speed decent before a flat run back to Dundalk (201km).
The last hour was a real struggle. Being up early that norming for work and now being out so late made it feel more like a 400km than a 200km cycle. I plan to do it again before the end of the year, but with an early start. I have a feeling I missed some cracking views.