Dosing Cattle!!!!

Training techniques have changed through the years, in fact I remember my dad telling me of having to carry cavity blocks up the slopes of the Glen Hurling clubs' pitches. Imagine their shock when they got to the top and there wasn't a building site to be seen....but that's another story.
Over the years we've swapped the cold pitch and the blocks for a warm gym and a Jacuzzi, so its fair to say training has come on leaps and bounds. Train as you intend to play is the new mantra, no point running 10 miles if all you'll be doing when you play is sprint -or casually saunter- 20 metres. Which leads me at long last to my point -and here's a tip....always have a point, it makes it so much more interesting for the reader!!!- why the hell was Conor 'I need to get fit' Crowley dosing cattle for hours on Sunday while the rest of us were risking life and limb climbing Galtee Mór and Galtee Beag?? The short answer is I don't know. I don't even know what dosing cattle involves. If it involves running up mountains for hours chasing cows, then wont I feel like an idiot!!! However as there is definitely no cows on Kilimanjaro its still a bit of cavity block training technique.....

Anyway, the rest of us met up at 10.30am in fermoy and threw ourselves and our gear into Sullies jeep. (its easier to get mud off leather!!) A quick 20 min drive with no reversing (he had a choice of leather interior or fully working gearbox) and we were at the start of the climb. We all donned our identical shiny climbing boots and waited 3hrs for Conor to show. Which of course he didn't!!! So we wisely spent this time packing our bags, where we discovered Ash 'just pack a shirt and 2 pairs of jocks and you'll be grand' Mcrae was a walking mountaineering gear warehouse. He had waterproof zip bags, a weird balaclava that doubled as a hang-glider, waterproof pants with braces-in case someone whipped out a pipe- and a water pouch with accompanying tube made from koala skin. His 'Chariots of Fire' base layer is a tale all of its own!!! 13 unanswered calls to Conor later we struck off, (I might be harping on about Conor being missing), 3 lads walking in the lovely Summer sun. 112 metres later the sky opened up. Thank god for goretex, or to be more accurate thank Mr. Tex.

This is taking an age to type so here are the important bits....

1. It took 3.5hrs.

2. Visibility was poor, except for the 2 min sunshine window when Sullie wouldn't let any photo's be taken.

3. Sullie is never allowed to lead on the way up. Way too enthusiastic. Slowest man sets the pace Sull, slowest man.....

4. Ash is never allowed to lead on way down. We haven't time for his exploratory technique involving 'shortcuts'.

5. Mark can fall both going uphill and downhill.

6. Mark loses the ability to speak once the slope is over 10 degrees. Rumours of a petition to get him to live the rest of his life on an inclined treadmill are greatly exaggerated.

7. Don't step on the wet green stuff. It tends to sit on top of really soft, really deep brown stuff.

8. €20.00 walking poles are no match for 99kg of falling body weight.

9. We really didn't give this whole idea the thought it deserved!.

10. Oh and did I mention Conor didn't make it?????

Next week its Gougaunbarra.... 5hrs apparently...........