Motorcycling's own 'Last of the Summer Wine' trio set forth on another 'adventure' ....
John Sprigg aka 'Clegg' (1200GS-A) Tom Birtwistle aka 'Foggy' (1200GS-A)and me Micky as 'Compo' set of for our first trip of the season, to Ireland, Thursday 23rd February. First night, prior to catching the ferry Cairnryan to Larne we would normally stay at the Kelvin House Hotel at Glenluce, just a short hop to the ferry the next day. Great place indeed and a warm welcome ... however we decided to try somewhere else and opted for the Blue Peter Hotel at Kirkcolm just north of Stranraer. It was OK, also a warm welcome, cramped rooms but otherwise cheerful enough. We all agreed that the Kelvin House Hotel was the better though and so will revert there for the next trip. We had arrived at the Blue Peter in the dark, in the drizzle, so soon were to be found propping the bar up
The diet was gonna get hell this week
John and Tom at Cairnryan ...
..... and 'Compo'
Ol' Tom knows Ireland probably better than most and led us across to t'other side from Larne to Ardara by a tortuous devious back road route probably more suited to tractors and trail bikes .... but hey, we're on GS's
Nicely into the Nesbitt Arms, Ardara, we're here for two nights, we found our rooms, but not before sampling the delights ...
We've used the Nesbitt Arms many times. The welcome is always friendly, the food good. Kegs were quickly placed to reserve our very own parking bay
Of course Ardara has maybe some of the best bars in Ireland ...
Tom feeling at home in Nancy's Bar
John in contemplation mood in The Corner Bar ...
John, and his beautiful wife Jean, had been coming on foreign jaunts and tours for many years. Following a long illness Jean died shortly after getting home from my Black Forest Tour in 2010 She had refused to give in and accompanied John on their trips and tours to the very end. We had a few Guinness's that night ... and the diet went to hell!
One of the last piccies taken of John and Jean in the Black Forest...
John knocks another one back ... by gum the Guinness was lovely
Just a couple of shots of the scenery, to maybe whet the appetite of those thinking about going to the west coast of Ireland
Then we headed further south to Westport and another favourite, the Mill Times Hotel, formerly the Westport Inn, in Co. Mayo
We had arranged a deal, rather Tom had. Three nights (mid week) bed and breakfast with one full four course evening meal for €109.00 Anyone that has stayed at the Mill Times will know how good the food and accommodation is, how warm the welcome. With its underground car park it's virtually in the town centre ... a totally unspoilt small town surrounded by great motorcycling territory.
Decky and Stephen (UKGSer's Dec and Somclan) rode up from Cork to have a couple of days with us. Two great riders and great company. The Last of the Summer Wine was now the 'Famous Five'
Lunch halt at the excellent Lavelles Bar on Achill Island
Decky now in contemplation mode
Stephen with his usual grin
Finally, on the final run in back to the hotel, John's 1200 runs out of petrol even though it showed 20+ miles left to do
Soon sorted, a small petrol station six miles away lent us a plastic can and the 1200 burst in to life as without a care.
Wednesday 29th the Last of the Summer Wine trio set forth for Dublin Port and an overnight in Holyhead before John and myself having a cracking ride over the tops back to Yorkshire the following day. Tom heading north for his home near Morecambe.
Thank you lads for a great few days
Now a couple of 'on board' camera shots. Quality on uTube not as good as my originals. taken with a GoPro set on Resolution 3. There are higher resolutions that can be used but of course take up much more memory.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1Hv_rYkq6xs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TytCFX5SMnc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Adios Amigos and thanks for looking in
John Sprigg aka 'Clegg' (1200GS-A) Tom Birtwistle aka 'Foggy' (1200GS-A)and me Micky as 'Compo' set of for our first trip of the season, to Ireland, Thursday 23rd February. First night, prior to catching the ferry Cairnryan to Larne we would normally stay at the Kelvin House Hotel at Glenluce, just a short hop to the ferry the next day. Great place indeed and a warm welcome ... however we decided to try somewhere else and opted for the Blue Peter Hotel at Kirkcolm just north of Stranraer. It was OK, also a warm welcome, cramped rooms but otherwise cheerful enough. We all agreed that the Kelvin House Hotel was the better though and so will revert there for the next trip. We had arrived at the Blue Peter in the dark, in the drizzle, so soon were to be found propping the bar up
The diet was gonna get hell this week
John and Tom at Cairnryan ...
..... and 'Compo'
Ol' Tom knows Ireland probably better than most and led us across to t'other side from Larne to Ardara by a tortuous devious back road route probably more suited to tractors and trail bikes .... but hey, we're on GS's
Nicely into the Nesbitt Arms, Ardara, we're here for two nights, we found our rooms, but not before sampling the delights ...
We've used the Nesbitt Arms many times. The welcome is always friendly, the food good. Kegs were quickly placed to reserve our very own parking bay
Of course Ardara has maybe some of the best bars in Ireland ...
Tom feeling at home in Nancy's Bar
John in contemplation mood in The Corner Bar ...
John, and his beautiful wife Jean, had been coming on foreign jaunts and tours for many years. Following a long illness Jean died shortly after getting home from my Black Forest Tour in 2010 She had refused to give in and accompanied John on their trips and tours to the very end. We had a few Guinness's that night ... and the diet went to hell!
One of the last piccies taken of John and Jean in the Black Forest...
John knocks another one back ... by gum the Guinness was lovely
Just a couple of shots of the scenery, to maybe whet the appetite of those thinking about going to the west coast of Ireland
Then we headed further south to Westport and another favourite, the Mill Times Hotel, formerly the Westport Inn, in Co. Mayo
We had arranged a deal, rather Tom had. Three nights (mid week) bed and breakfast with one full four course evening meal for €109.00 Anyone that has stayed at the Mill Times will know how good the food and accommodation is, how warm the welcome. With its underground car park it's virtually in the town centre ... a totally unspoilt small town surrounded by great motorcycling territory.
Decky and Stephen (UKGSer's Dec and Somclan) rode up from Cork to have a couple of days with us. Two great riders and great company. The Last of the Summer Wine was now the 'Famous Five'
Lunch halt at the excellent Lavelles Bar on Achill Island
Decky now in contemplation mode
Stephen with his usual grin
Finally, on the final run in back to the hotel, John's 1200 runs out of petrol even though it showed 20+ miles left to do
Soon sorted, a small petrol station six miles away lent us a plastic can and the 1200 burst in to life as without a care.
Wednesday 29th the Last of the Summer Wine trio set forth for Dublin Port and an overnight in Holyhead before John and myself having a cracking ride over the tops back to Yorkshire the following day. Tom heading north for his home near Morecambe.
Thank you lads for a great few days
Now a couple of 'on board' camera shots. Quality on uTube not as good as my originals. taken with a GoPro set on Resolution 3. There are higher resolutions that can be used but of course take up much more memory.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1Hv_rYkq6xs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TytCFX5SMnc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Adios Amigos and thanks for looking in
