BikingBridges, a set on Flickr.
Moira has biked bridges for girls' education in Malawi
Biking Bridges for girls' education in Malawi
I pledged to cycle across 20 bridges before November 2013 to raise £2000.00 to support girls in secondary schools in North Malawi via the Mamie Martin Fund. My total is £1200.00 pounds as at end November so thanks for helping me to do that! A 1% rise in women’s literacy is 3 times more likely to reduce deaths in children than a 1% rise in the number of doctors.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Bridge 20 of 20 - the Sound Bridge, Kenmore with other Kerry Bridges on the way.
Mission accomplished! I have now biked 20 bridges, with quite a lot of others thrown in along the way. I have had great fun, had the company of great people and was able to talk to lots of new people about the Mamie Martin Fund.
For the final bridge I went to Ireland. With my sister and two close friends we started at Ross Castle in Killarney where we travelled the first section by boat, with the bikes. We crossed Lough Leane, stopping briefly at Inisfallen, and then went under Brickeen bridge to the Muckross Lake. Our boatman, Robbie, skillfully navigated between the rocks, where the water was very low. Then we went through the Meeting of the Waters and up to The Old Weir Bridge, where we had to get out of the boat and pull it against the current to the other side.
Robbie had assumed that he picked the short straw getting four women passengers with their bikes but we proved our worth so well that he changed from calling us 'Maam' to 'girls'. This might not be an improvement in normal circumstances but indicated acceptance in this situation.
We motored up the 'Long Range'' for five miles before reaching The Upper Lake and our destination, 'Lord Brandon's Cottage'. So many of the places around Killarney are leftover from the British occupation that it feels quite weird when you are not used to it.
Support team at top of Gap |
After a well-deserved refreshment we cycled the remaining 8 miles to our starting point, braving the scariest road situation which I have ever cycled. If on a bike between Fossa and Killarney, be very careful and think about just walking, although even that is dangerous on that road. It's the nonsense of the random bike lane markings which make is so dangerous. I was far too terrified to take a pic.
The Sound Bridge in Kenmare |
So that's the completion of this project. Thanks to everyone who supported in a wide range of ways. Check my donations page for updated information on the total raised - it is not quite complete as yet.
Labels:
biking bridges,
Gap of Dunloe,
Kenmare,
Kerry,
Killarney,
Malawi,
Sound Bridge
Location:
Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Sunday, 21 July 2013
Bridge 19 - The Humber Bridge
Isn't it long? |
Support team (missing Janet) |
Image courtesy of Neil Holmes Photography |
Image courtesy of Neil Homes Photography |
Thanks to Janet for this pic |
Jon Bolton, a colleague from Scotland, came by with his family to support the crossing and brought his friend, Neil Holmes. Neil is a professional photographer and very generously took great shots of us with the bridge behind. I was so impressed that he knew exactly the best place for photos. He even enlisted some passing cyclists to add ambience to the shoot. It felt a bit like getting married so it was probably best that Richard's wife had gone on ahead to walk across the bridge :-).
Off we went, again a pair on Brompton bikes. I am told that the collective noun for Bromptons is a 'fold'. I love that. Thanks again to everyone involved in this lovely outing.
Saturday, 20 July 2013
Bridge 18 - Crossing the Tyne - the Newcastle Bridges, England
With Alan on the 'Eye' |
All four bridges biked |
I came down by train and we started our adventure with coffee at the Pink Lane, an independent café with great coffee, lovely flapjacks and better service! All so wonderful that we came back there for lunch. It's just across the road from the train station so do check it out when you are next in Newcastle.
The High-Level Bridge |
Add caption |
Swing Bridge |
All bridge-biking involves a cafe! |
Our lovely interlude finished where it started - the Pink Lane Café where the staff allowed us to bring our precious Bromptons in and were interested in our project. Thanks!
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
The final push
This bike has done 16 of the 17 so far and is being rested now. |
The Newcastle Bridges - July 20th with Alan Brice from Freedom from Torture.
The Humber Bridge, the longest single span bridge (1.4 miles) in the UK - to be biked 21st July with Richard Bearman, Jon Bolton and friends.
The Sound Bridge in Kenmare, Co Kerry. Well, the locals call it that. You might think it's something to do with a whistle or some such sound that the bridge will make when the wind blows. Wrong! It's the sound bridge, as opposed to the unsound bridge that was swept away in bad weather. 26th July with Eilish Roche to whom I am indebted for that description!
Monday, 24 June 2013
Bridge 17 - The Bridge over the Atlantic
Bridge over the Altantic |
Steep enough! |
Success! |
Couldn't ask for better lodgings |
We stayed at the very comfortable and highly commendable Tigh-an-Truish Inn where we had good food and a well-deserved sound sleep before heading back to Oban for the easy way home - by train. It was an amazing trip and I just need to find another excuse to do something like it again next midsummer.
Bridge 16 - The Connel Bridge
Getting on the ferry to Mallaig |
Steam train at Glenfinnan |
From Mallaig we took the train to Glenfinnan where the steam train had stopped for photos, or perhaps for coal and water! Resisting the temptation to explore Glenfinnan we set off - it was almost noon by the time I'd had my coffee and we hadn't cycled more than half a mile yet.
On the Corran Ferry |
Fortwilliam in the background |
Not much of a bridge - sorry! |
In no time at all we were on the A82. Enough said. At least there was a footpath for the specially scary bit from Corran to Ballachulish. There was a bridge there but I didn't think it merited being counted. We took a pic anyway as it becomes a habit to take pictures of bridges and to cycle over them.
Creagan Bridge |
Braving the Connel Bridge |
From Ballachulish we were on the wonderful Sustrans' 'Caledonia Way' which they are trying to create from Oban to Fortwilliam. The parts that are complete are lovely and we had a nice short ride down to Kentallen, where we met friends of Bill's (he knows someone everywhere) at the Holly Tree Hotel and had a well-earned drink. Setting off the remaining three miles to our B&B, we didn't realise that this was the only eating place for a long way. However, the B&B was lovely and the hostess drove us and our bikes back to the eatery after we had showered and put on our other set of (dirty) clothes. A nice meal and a wonderful sunset later, the distance back to our B&B in Cuil Bay didn't seem much at all.
The next day we biked the Creagan Bridge after a great coffee stop at the Creagan Inn The coffee and scones were more impressive than the bridge, which looks better in this pic than it did that day. Clearly I am getting very picky about my bridges at this stage.
Connel Bridge - not so smiley in that traffic! |
That was three bridges in a day and our next objective was the famous Bridge of the Atlantic.
Labels:
Ballachulish,
biking bridges,
Connel Bridge,
Corran Ferry,
Creagan,
Falls of Lora,
Glenfinnan,
Kentallen,
Malawi,
Mallaig
Location:
Highland, UK
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