Drimnagh to Hazelhatch

I cycle to work in the city centre some days. I decided this would be a good opportunity to do the Drimnagh to Hazelhatch section of the canal. I left the knobbly tyres on my bike and went to work. When the day was done and another happy computer program customer purred contentedly at their new purchase (it doesn't really work like than, but anyway) I put on my cycling gear and headed out toward Heuston Station. Took a left at Islandbridge and cycled through Kilmainham. the traffic in here was pretty heavy. Not pleasant stuff. Made it to the Luas bridge at Suir Road, Drimnagh.
The banks of the canal make a big change to the road part of this trip. They are grassy and quiet. It was a beautiful sunny evening and there were some people out enjoying the canal. Most of it has been restored at this point and the canal itself is in great condition. The paths are still a work in progress at some parts, but more of that to come. I made my way along the left bank past some people who were swimming in one of the locks. The path up ahead appeared to be blocked with one of those big concrete barriers. The first block of many. I wondered if I should just go ahead. Usually those blocks are just for cars and a bike can squeeze on. There was a couple of dodgy looking blokes with an alsation up ahead, so I decided to cross over anyway.
Crossing a lock with an ancient bike in your left hand is not easy. The water was lovely and clear in the sun, but this just let me see how deep it was. I could imagine dropping it and watching it sink. No harm done and I can swim anyway, so I would be off home...but how? Cycling shorts walk through Drimnagh and Kilmainham. Lovely.
Once on the other side the towpath got much more uneven. It was grassy and very nice to cycle on, but would be slop in wet weather. Luckily I had picked one of the best days of the summer to do this leg.
I passed by the dodgy looking blokes with the aller and they waved. Maybe not so dodgy afterall.
I continued on the right bank for some time. It was very quiet and there were very few people around. Nobody else except the aller boys at that point. Came to a wall over the canal. Towpath was blocked (glad I didn't have a horse) and there was nasty metal grid stuff up to block people form getting to/from(?) the canal. I backtracked a bit and went through some bushes at the side of the canal. Across some waste ground to a gap in the wall. I passed another bloke in a tracksuit. He was just out for a walk. I was being a wuss.
Had to lift the bike up through the gap in the fence and the climb up after it. I was on the Kylemore road. The opposite side of the bridge where I had hoped to climb down was barracaded even more then the exit side. I could see down to the canal bank and there was a new towpath being constructed. Maybe this was part of the reason for blocking access. Anyway it was evening time and there was no work going on, so what the heck. No entry possible from here. Headed around the corner into the industrial estate (Kylemore/JFK/Bluebell).
Asked a man in a car how to get back to the canal and he provided directions. I got back to the side of the canal at Killeen road. There was a lot of machinery around and a locked caravan gate. Again I thought this is not for me and went along the side of the gate. There was plenty of room, so I thought this must be ok.
The tow path here was all fresh tarmac. Brand new. Probably laid that day. At most that week. The canal banks are going to be great when they are finished. But a lack of basic infrastructure never stopped me before! I made my way along this perfect path until it ran out. Then I was cycling on hardcore. No people around at all now. Coming into Clondalkin - Nangor road area. I cycled along the side of the Park West industrial estate with its big sculpture - all on the opposite side of the canal.
Finally I made it to a gate. Locked. The edge of the gate was out over the canal which looked pretty mean at this point. The gates themselves were locked and I did not see the gap under neath at this point (I was not looking for it).
Turned around and started to cycle back to find a way off the bank onto the road to skip this bit and then continue. I realised that I had gone a long way along this bank since the caravan gate and did not think there were any other exits. It would be a long cycle after a days work.
I stopped and took a look back at the gate. I remembered the gap - see I had seen it. And decided to give it a try. I crawled through the dirt after my bike and was on the Lucan Newlands Road at the 9th lock. I think.
More next time...