pistonbroke wrote:Sorry to burst your emerald green bubble Greg but Kevin (Blackhound) is definitely Irish, I've seen his passport when we did the trans Pyrenees. I think he's from the south west around Cork. He finished the divide about 5-6 years ago. You'll simply have to aim to be the first Irishman to win the Tour Divide instead.
I thought Kev was from Mayo...Cork....poor fella.
Chances of me winning anything these days bar a getting out of bed before 7am contest are quite low.
Indeed, it is Mayo and not the Rebel County. I was born here to Irish parents, moved to Ireland and came back here in '67 though early memories are of Ireland.
As Duncan says I do have an Irish passport and am a citizen of the country.
As far as I know I was the first Irish person to finish TD and a guy called Don (McDonald or MacGregor?) also UK based finished in 2012 or 2013. Your target, Greg, could be the Irish record which is 17 days and a few hours. I believe Liam Crowley who beat jameso in 2014 (?) was born in Ireland but moved to Australia as a youngster. Jameso may be able to confirm.
I read a few days ago that Ireland has the highest percentage of citizens living abroad - something like 17%.
I'm probably going to end up riding towards Phoenix and meeting my wife somewhere - then heading off to Grand Canyon for a few days before flying home.
@NewRetroTom - According to Skyscanner just now, you can fly out of El Paso to London for a little less than Albuquerque to London, but it's quite a haul as it goes backwards to LAX.
I've booked to fly out of Phoenix via Calgary with Westjet. How I get to Phoenix afterwards, or what I do about packing my bike up and getting it home again, are all unknowns...
Flat_4 wrote:I've booked to fly out of Phoenix via Calgary with Westjet. How I get to Phoenix afterwards, or what I do about packing my bike up and getting it home again, are all unknowns...
Back in my day there was a short section we called "Dog Alley" as you turned off the 111 at Vallecitos in New Mexico. The second time I went through there I was ready with my pepper spray!
They use big dogs to guard sheep in some places, if in doubt, take a wide berth around the flock.
Flat_4 wrote:I've booked to fly out of Phoenix via Calgary with Westjet. How I get to Phoenix afterwards, or what I do about packing my bike up and getting it home again, are all unknowns...
It'll be grand :)
Same set of "problems" here. Sat at the kitchen table riding to Phoenix via Winslow, Arizona along Route 66 seems a great idea. Might be different when the time comes!
Flat_4 wrote:I've booked to fly out of Phoenix via Calgary with Westjet. How I get to Phoenix afterwards, or what I do about packing my bike up and getting it home again, are all unknowns...
It'll be grand :)
Same set of "problems" here. Sat at the kitchen table riding to Phoenix via Winslow, Arizona along Route 66 seems a great idea. Might be different when the time comes!
Sat at the kitchen table riding to Phoenix via Winslow, Arizona along Route 66 seems a great idea. Might be different when the time comes! 
