Day 8: Castlebar to Knock (Team Time Trial)

Holy Water Bottles!

It was great to see two days of solid sunshine and temperatures up to 28 degrees forecast at last - just a shame that the forecast was for Southampton, not Ireland.

The team awoke to a grey morning and steady rain. It was to remain the same all day except for the occasional spell of heavier rain. Not in any rush, the boys got under way at 11:00.

Under 2 hours, and just 22 miles later, they were rolling into the campsite that was all part of the complex associated with Our Lady's Shrine at Knock.
In 1879 a group of 15 people are said to have seen a vision of the virgin Mary, and since then the village has become the destination for christian pilgrims. 1.5 million now descend on Knock each year and the facilities have expanded over the years to even include a caravan park - where the challenge team were based for one night. The proximity of the pilgrimage activities was in no doubt when the boys emerged from their showers to the background accompaniment of a mass being broadcast over loudspeakers from just over the hedge.

After a nice lunch from recently re-stocked supplies, the challenge 5 headed out to see what was going on in Knock. After a visit to the shrine it was onto the village and a quick look around the shops. Stocked up on plastic religious icons,  we indulged in a lovely afternoon tea at the museum - scones, chocolate and carrot cake, with teas all round.

After such a hectic schedule it was no surprise that on returning to the van, Greg, Emily and Tom were all asleep in under 10 mins. In the meantime Mum continued her ongoing battle with the washing and drying machines of Ireland, with the latter still just ahead on points at this stage.