I thought I`d keep Tuned In happy and post a bit more tonight rather than wait for tomorrow, as planned.
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Part the eighth…..Sunday 23rd November 2008.
Buncrana-Letterkenny-North West Coast-Donegal-Kesh-Armagh-back to Aidan`s house.
We set off at a ‘Bejeezusly early’ time (quote,The Civil One) without breakfast to maximize on daylight intending to eat after an hour or so.
The first bit along the N13 took us parallel with the River Swilly to Letterkenny then we took a nice route along the R255 beside the Derryveagh Mountains and Muckish Mountain until the coast at Falcarragh.
A little bit further on from this point you crest a rise and the scenery is breathtaking…so too is the wind which threatens to lift you from the ground.
In the photo below we are looking Eastwards across the peat bogs and over Tory Sound towards a distant Horn Head.
Aidan`s GS had been at a 45 degree angle and he was almost hanging off the right side of his seat simply riding in a straight line,such was the wind strength.
After the crest you drop down right to the coast and on to Bloody Foreland which I wanted to visit .
It was difficult to stand upright,difficult to hold the camera steady,and Aidan`s bike almost got blown over when he had parked and got off it.
In this photo he is standing in a strange posture because he is struggling to stay upright.
At one point the sun broke through the clouds in a most dramatic fashion.
I`ll make no apologies for taking and posting a few photos of this phenomenon.
One of the treats you get from Winter riding..........
All of this coastline right around was simply amazing…beautiful,rugged,and any other superlative you may care to use.
I hope that cottage has got bloody good double glazing.....
I think it was Dunglow before we had breakfast,due to many eating places being closed in this ‘out of season’ time,and we actually ate in a hotel which kindly let us use their dining room and created a very nice cooked breakfast for us.
Again…Tuned In approved of course….. ‘laxly vegetarian’.
There was a comedy moment for me when Aidan had asked an old boy ( who appeared to be waiting for the pub to open ) where we could get breakfast…..the old boy stood quiet, chewed his pipe,then uttered ‘Oh…..`tis a baaad morning` for a fella to be lookin` for breakfast….’
Sorry,but I couldn`t help chuckling as I imagined a set from the Fast Show or similar….
Duly fed and watered we rode the Glengesh Pass which reminded us both of the Llanberis Pass in Wales,but without all the rocks.
From here we headed for Killybegs then Donegal.
Skaya went onto reserve along here…and I knew that her reserve lasts no more than about 4 miles.
So about 4 miles later Aidan and I were using Skaya`s ten litre Jerrycan and funnel to refuel her in a layby…in a hailstorm….with wind so strong that the fuel was being blown OUT of the funnel!!
Told you we were hardcore.
If you look in the background of the Killybegs/Donegal Bay photo you can see the lines of the hailstorm.
If you consult your map,you`ll see where I was when I took this photo of a giant`s hand.
Talking of hardcore,in Killybegs harbour we chatted to some trawlermen who were from Cork and had been out in the Atlantic Ocean at 5am that morning.
The weather was so extreme that they took refuge in Killybegs Harbour and were busy tidying their nets which they`d hurriedly wound aboard earlier.
The nets ran for over a quarter of a mile!
Ever onwards we rode……next destination Donegal centre.
This was where we met ‘Blade’ (Bob) aboard his red R1100GS.
Bob was a really nice guy…I`ve never met or even chatted with him,yet in the week before my trip he had offered an overnight stop at his home if I was ever in his locality,along with contact numbers in case of any problems.
This shows not just the true biker spirit but also shows the root core community spirit of UKGSer and long may it last.
Bob had effectively made an 80 mile November bike ride in order to buy a total stranger a caramel slice and a mug of coffee…top fella.
Bob said he was pleased to have a reason to get out on the bike and elected to ride back with us….and was even happy to ride behind me and Skaya,despite us probably spoiling his fun on the twisties (although he later seemed amused at how many times I got close to lifting the sidecar wheel….).
Aidan led us on a cracking ‘Boreens Run’, along all kinds of wet and slimy lanes, from Donegal through Kesh and on to Armagh where Bob made his own way home.
It was a shortish,but very dark, combined sidelight/high beam ride from here back to Aidan`s home for the night,where Mandylicious met us with a Mandydelicious fabulously fortifying help yerself tatties/vegetables/Tuned In ‘lax vegetarianist’ chunky ham pieces and gravy tea.
Plus wine of course.
TO BE CONTINUED YET AGAIN