Story
Update: Just wanted to say thanks to all those who have donated so far. We also have £300 on paper sponsorship forms too.
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lcome to “The Slow and the Curious” - team #89
The team: Andrew Cowan :: Philip Thompson :: Michael Whitford
What is it all about...?
A Titanic Enduro Run of 1,000 Miles From the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, where the great ship was built, to Cork where the last passengers boarded for the fateful maiden voyage across the Atlantic, including Irelands most northern point, Malin Head and it’s most southern point, Mizen Head. The route follows the northern, western and part of the southern coasts of . We will be driving on some of the most scenic roads in Europe and most importantly passing over many of ’s famous Rally Stages, from in the North to the famous Tim Healy pass in the .
The Trip
16th October 2009
Estimated Mileage 220
The booming City of with its Shipbuilding history of famous liners including the ill fated Titanic.
A short trip by motorway to Carrickfergus, Larne-Islandmagee on the famous Antrim coast road with Mull in visible on a good day.
Dipping through The Famous Glenns of Antrim at Glenariff, and then hugging the coast over one of famous rally stages, Torr Head. We then proceed into Ballycastle and past the famous Carrickaraide rope bridge and onto a World Heritage site – The Giants Causeway.
Through the seaside towns of Portush and Portstewart following the famous North West 200 bike racing road circuit. This is ’s biggest sporting venue with a regular 100,000 visitors over Race week where speeds can reach 200mph!
The route then takes us to Magiligan on Lough Foyle to take a ferry to Greencastle in Donegal. Bypassing the Maiden City and onto the most northern point Malin Head. A run down the east side of Lough Swilly brings us to Letterkenny for our first overnight.
17th October 2009
Estimated mileage 340
This is a long day with possible shortcuts for the fainthearted. 340 miles of interesting roads. A run out to Ramelton, Rathmullan leads us along and down Knockalla overlooking the beautiful Portsalon beach, through Portsalon and onto Fanad Head, Millford and to Downings and around Atlantic drive.
Through Dunfanagy into the Gaelic speaking area Rosses and Gweedore. Through Mass dipping away from the coast to Donegal Town, Ballyshannon and onto Belleek and then along the Northern coast of the beautiful Lough Erne to Enniskillen and round the southern side of Lough Erne via Derrygonnelly, Lough Navar view point and to Garrison, Kinlough and Bundoran. Taking the main western highway to Sligo and onto Balina and finally , famous for its great pubs, seafood and the craic.
18th October 2009
Estimated mileage 230
Through , Lenane, and Maam to . Through the wild, beautiful and magnificent Connemara mountains and onto , a fast and vibrant growing city.
Through Galway and Ballyvaughan through the bleak but world famous “The Burren” to Listonvarna where singles from rural gather after the harvest for a “Matchmaking Festival”. The girls looking for a rich farmer and the farmer looking for a girl that can plough!
Running to the coast arriving at the Cliffs of Mohar onto Killrush and the Targert ferry and a gentle run into for our third overnight stop.
19th October 2009
Estimated mileage 240
You could spend 2-3 days driving here but the route takes us up to two of famous Rally stages, Molls Gap and The Tim Healy pass. From a run to the west round beautiful Dingle peninsula and back through Killarney for a recommended break.
Onto Molls Gap to Kenmare and west to the Tim Healy pass and back to Gelnariff and Bantry onto Mizen Head, ’s most southerly point. Through Skibereen and Leap and dipping down to the beautiful Glandore via the west coast.
Then on to our final destination Kinsale, chosen for its natural beauty. We may move to Cork itself for the finale and accommodation. The Car Story The Scally rules state that we cannot spend more than £100 on a car, so after inheriting a free Fiat Punto for the event, yes really it was free, we decided that really it would be a struggle to make it road legal again and our search for the elusive £100 car continued… Now please welcome our Awesome Astra!! For the princely sum of 100 of the Queen's sterling notes we now have power steering, a sunroof and an all important MoT certificate. Woo hoo!! With 4 weeks to go to the big event we decided it was time to get our fingers out and start with the preparation. A good clean was first off and Phil spent a happy half hour of his life removing 15 years worth of hula hoops and dog hair from under the seats!! Onwards and upwards though for the Astra. After a good scrub with a brush to get rid of the moss, I gave it a quick wet sand to get rid of the surface imperfections and get it ready for painting. And so on one quiet Sunday afternoon in Conlig, , the neighbours were treated to what can only be described as an outstanding piece of artistic creation!!!!!! Thanks to our friends at Johnstones paint centre in Balloo for discounting our paint and for Phil in choosing the awesome colours including the fabulous pink(!!!) we started out on our quest for a unique and eyecatching design. I’m sure you’ll agree ladies and gentlemen that we certainly achieved our aim!!! So all that remains is to finish up the painting, get our decals printed and applied and try and do something with the interior Then it is off round , yee haa!!
A Titanic Enduro Run of 1,000 Miles From the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, where the great ship was built, to Cork where the last passengers boarded for the fateful maiden voyage across the Atlantic, including Irelands most northern point, Malin Head and it’s most southern point, Mizen Head. The route follows the northern, western and part of the southern coasts of . We will be driving on some of the most scenic roads in Europe and most importantly passing over many of ’s famous Rally Stages, from in the North to the famous Tim Healy pass in the .
The Trip
16th October 2009
Estimated Mileage 220
The booming City of with its Shipbuilding history of famous liners including the ill fated Titanic.
A short trip by motorway to Carrickfergus, Larne-Islandmagee on the famous Antrim coast road with Mull in visible on a good day.
Dipping through The Famous Glenns of Antrim at Glenariff, and then hugging the coast over one of famous rally stages, Torr Head. We then proceed into Ballycastle and past the famous Carrickaraide rope bridge and onto a World Heritage site – The Giants Causeway.
Through the seaside towns of Portush and Portstewart following the famous North West 200 bike racing road circuit. This is ’s biggest sporting venue with a regular 100,000 visitors over Race week where speeds can reach 200mph!
The route then takes us to Magiligan on Lough Foyle to take a ferry to Greencastle in Donegal. Bypassing the Maiden City and onto the most northern point Malin Head. A run down the east side of Lough Swilly brings us to Letterkenny for our first overnight.
17th October 2009
Estimated mileage 340
This is a long day with possible shortcuts for the fainthearted. 340 miles of interesting roads. A run out to Ramelton, Rathmullan leads us along and down Knockalla overlooking the beautiful Portsalon beach, through Portsalon and onto Fanad Head, Millford and to Downings and around Atlantic drive.
Through Dunfanagy into the Gaelic speaking area Rosses and Gweedore. Through Mass dipping away from the coast to Donegal Town, Ballyshannon and onto Belleek and then along the Northern coast of the beautiful Lough Erne to Enniskillen and round the southern side of Lough Erne via Derrygonnelly, Lough Navar view point and to Garrison, Kinlough and Bundoran. Taking the main western highway to Sligo and onto Balina and finally , famous for its great pubs, seafood and the craic.
18th October 2009
Estimated mileage 230
Through , Lenane, and Maam to . Through the wild, beautiful and magnificent Connemara mountains and onto , a fast and vibrant growing city.
Through Galway and Ballyvaughan through the bleak but world famous “The Burren” to Listonvarna where singles from rural gather after the harvest for a “Matchmaking Festival”. The girls looking for a rich farmer and the farmer looking for a girl that can plough!
Running to the coast arriving at the Cliffs of Mohar onto Killrush and the Targert ferry and a gentle run into for our third overnight stop.
19th October 2009
Estimated mileage 240
You could spend 2-3 days driving here but the route takes us up to two of famous Rally stages, Molls Gap and The Tim Healy pass. From a run to the west round beautiful Dingle peninsula and back through Killarney for a recommended break.
Onto Molls Gap to Kenmare and west to the Tim Healy pass and back to Gelnariff and Bantry onto Mizen Head, ’s most southerly point. Through Skibereen and Leap and dipping down to the beautiful Glandore via the west coast.
Then on to our final destination Kinsale, chosen for its natural beauty. We may move to Cork itself for the finale and accommodation. The Car Story The Scally rules state that we cannot spend more than £100 on a car, so after inheriting a free Fiat Punto for the event, yes really it was free, we decided that really it would be a struggle to make it road legal again and our search for the elusive £100 car continued… Now please welcome our Awesome Astra!! For the princely sum of 100 of the Queen's sterling notes we now have power steering, a sunroof and an all important MoT certificate. Woo hoo!! With 4 weeks to go to the big event we decided it was time to get our fingers out and start with the preparation. A good clean was first off and Phil spent a happy half hour of his life removing 15 years worth of hula hoops and dog hair from under the seats!! Onwards and upwards though for the Astra. After a good scrub with a brush to get rid of the moss, I gave it a quick wet sand to get rid of the surface imperfections and get it ready for painting. And so on one quiet Sunday afternoon in Conlig, , the neighbours were treated to what can only be described as an outstanding piece of artistic creation!!!!!! Thanks to our friends at Johnstones paint centre in Balloo for discounting our paint and for Phil in choosing the awesome colours including the fabulous pink(!!!) we started out on our quest for a unique and eyecatching design. I’m sure you’ll agree ladies and gentlemen that we certainly achieved our aim!!! So all that remains is to finish up the painting, get our decals printed and applied and try and do something with the interior Then it is off round , yee haa!!
Many thanks for your donations and generosity.