Day 11: Rosses Point to Bluestack

What an emotion packed day - it looked like Tom's ride was over (cue dramatic background music)

The wheels on Toms bike go round and round. They also have a special anti-theft system that can only be removed with the appropriate key. His meticulous pre-tour planning included taking the extra security measure of keeping the bike and key in separate locations - the key was back in Southampton. This would be fine as long the wheels didn't need to be removed for anything - like replacing an inner-tube.

The first thing Dad noticed when removing Tom's bike from the van's garage was that the front tyre looked remarkable flat; it had a puncture. Not a problem if it was small and could be repaired but unfortunately this one was a separation of the valve from the inner tube - it was bad, very bad - and beyond repair, which meant a new tube. Mmm - the team went through the options. Sarah even phoned in with a helpful suggestion of Tom finishing the ride on Greg's handlebars - that one wasn't considered for too long. Eventually Greg came up with the outside-the-box suggestion of removing the old tube, then cutting a new tube in half - putting it in place and then gluing it back together to complete the loop. Well, it was worth a try (other reasonably sensible options being security nut removal in Sligo, a cheap new bike or a rented bike).

The operation began, fortunately on a lovely Summer's day, and soon the snipped and re-joined tube repair was ready for testing. It almost worked - just one more repair patch might do it. To cut a long story short the repair took up most of the contents of two repair kits, the disfigured tube eventually taking on a profile amusingly similar to the nearby Copes Mountain. Initial testing looked promising but after going to full pressure the tube gave a huge sigh and breathed its last.

The boys retreated to the van to eat breakfast and consider the options - Dad had one final desperate fling by tying a knot in the tube, but surprisingly, this also failed. Rescue came from Noline, the campsite manager. She phoned the local bike shop and the owner invited the boys to come on down to see what could be done. The challenge team packed, left the site and headed for Sligo. On finding the shop the two guys running the place did an admiral job of stifling their laughter at the patched up and knotted old tube and skillfully hacked of the old security nuts. New quick release nuts were in place in a flash and the 2012 challenge was back on again for a much relieved Tom. The support crew drove on and the boys - now fully biked up, set of for Donegal at a rather late 2:00pm departure time.



The ride was really very nice again, soon leaving the main N15 road and taking to the smaller by-roads of the North West Bike Trail, which was to take the riders all the way to Donegal town. The roads became smaller and smaller, often having grass growing down the centre, and the views across the blue seas of Donegal Bay and the Atlantic were spectacular.

A late lunch was taken at Bundoran. This seaside town has got a great surfing tradition but the tacky amusements-packed centre left a lot to be desired. Ballyshannon, with its statue to Rory Gallagher, and Donegal went by in a blink and soon the boys were on the final long haul up to the Bluestack Hostel - for a rare night involving beds. Emily and Greg cooked up a tasty pasta & mushroom dinner and the challenge 5 reflected on another eventful day.