Or the time Luke from Toronto had an experience with two spinsters in Connemara. Let me tell you what happened. We had been on the road about two hours, it was a gorgeous day, and the craic was good. Lunch was scheduled for around 1.30 by the lake in the lough Inagh valley, (amazing spot). So I arrive on my bike with a few from the group and gradually the rest trickled in, delighted with the lunch spot. No sign of Luke. No panic yet, people often arrive half an hour late, (late's the wrong word there by the way, you're never late on our tours. Lunch was scheduled for 1.30ish). Anyway, my cell phone rang, (everyone gets our cell phone numbers and we have 100% coverage on all three of our tours). Luke. 'Where are you Luke, you're missing some serious smoked salmon and freshly cooked brown bread here my man…?" Luke had punctured. Didn't have a clue how to change the tube. No problem. Mooney hopped in the Jeep and went to fetch him. He had left his bike by the side of the road, (sensible) and when Mooney arrived at the house here was Luke, sitting at the kitchen table with a huge spread of food in front of him and two old Irish ladies tending him like he was the Pope himself! Luke knocked on the door when he punctured to ask could he use the phone and nothing would do the two sisters but he had to come in and let them make him lunch. Now Luke likes his food so I'm sure they didn't have to twist his arm too hard but it's a story he has told over and over again, the one about the two old spinsters making him lunch. Clare/Galway tour, Connemara road.

Or another time I was riding with Mike from Philadelphia by the ocean up in Sligo when he said, 'Paul. Stop. Just LOOK at this. I've never ridden on a road like this in my LIFE!'. So we sat there for a few minutes and took it all in. Mike still emails me about that moment. Mayo/Sligo tour, the road from Belleek castle to Collooney.

These moments are good for me and my gang of workers too because they make us sit back and realise what we have here. And that is a very special place, that we can experience on bikes. And we will never take it for granted.

On the first or second day of our tour I will tell people my whole take on this. I do believe that you can genuinely have a special and truly profound experience on our tours. And to do that all you have to do is really live every day of the tour, from the moment you get up in the morning, to the amazing roads we ride on, the spectacular scenery, the wonderful resting points, the gastronomical surprises, (people are always pleasantly surprised at just how good the food is on our tours) and just about everything else that we cram into every day. If you decide you're gonna really go for it you can have an experience on our tours that could change your life. Honest.