Part the first…reasons and whyfores.
There`s all sorts of waffle and rambling in this Ride Report…and it`s taken me forever to write it....but seeing as most of you will likely be sat at home with the heating on…slippers afoot and cocoa to hand….maybe that won`t be a bad thing.
Also,Ogmios assures me that waffling and rambling through a tale is a good thing brought on by fine Guinness
and pure fresh Irish air 
.
Make yourself comfy,reach for the chocolate HobNobs and read on…..
So there I was,sat in KevinC`s living room just over a week ago,clutching a mug of coffee and filling my face with a Sayers ‘cheese devil’ and an ice bun…a pink ice bun,nonetheless…to which I`m strangely addicted.
‘When`s your next bike trip or event,then?`, Kevin asked.
This is quite commonly asked of me nowadays,due to my many attendances at bike shows and rallies as well as me taking several Continental bike holidays a year.
I replied that I had nothing planned for certain in the near future but that I had a six day ‘off roster’ period due near the end of the month and that I still had terrible wanderlust despite having visited France,the Belgian Ardennes and Luxembourg only six weeks ago (in fact,it was during my previous six day off roster period in October…).
I commented that one thing that had always been in my mind,yet I`d never done,was to visit Ireland and in the previous few weeks the idea of a short trip had started to germinate.
I`d read books,studied maps and often spoken to an Irish guy in work about the country,the scenery and the people…yet in over twenty years of biking holidays I`d never been.
Recently,the balance had tipped in favour of me actually getting around to an Irish trip due to me watching and rewatching a Nick Saunders video where he tours Ireland on a Triumph fitted with a sidecar.
The film showed him riding down shimmering wet lanes with the sidecar wheel splashing through puddles,as well as some historical information, tremendous scenery and some fascinating people.
Perhaps him being on a combo tumbled the idea into a plan at seedling stage,for I conjoured up mental images of me riding one of my Ural combos along the country lanes,arriving at small villages and harbours and stopping at tiny cafes and bars.
The fact that his visit was also in November made it inevitable that I was going to Ireland during the six day off roster period……………………………..
November may not be many people`s choice for a bike tour of Ireland….nor anywhere else for that matter...but I probably ride more from Autumn to late Spring than I do during Summer.
I`m uncomfortable in hot weather and can`t cool down easily.
I don`t sunbathe and usually end up sat indoors until the heat of the day has passed and the evening approaches.
On the other hand,I feel a tingle of excitement and a lust for adventure when the Autumn approaches and am never happier than on a crisp,clear,frosty morning.
The Autumn colours always give great pleasure,and another big plus is that the roads and places of interest are much quieter without the summer tourist lemmings cramming everywhere.
On a whim,I sent a PM to Aidan1150 for advice and suggestions regarding a ‘possible…but nothing planned’ trip.
Aidan and I had met extremely briefly at a UKGSer meet in Llangollen and stayed loosely in touch since then.
Before I knew it there was an invitation to stay with him and his wife Mandy …otherwise known as Mandylicious…at their house,and with him meeting me en route…as well as a suggested mini tour of the Northern Coast and a phone number for a good ferry ticket sales company.
This company was Nutt Travel and I can recommend them highly.
I say that I can recommend them highly,because the next day I booked and paid for an HSS sailing from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire with them.
I WAS GOING TO IRELAND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although my initial thoughts were to tour some of the South as inspired by the Nick Saunders video,there wasn`t really sufficient time to do much of that area justice,and Aidan`s descriptions of the Antrim Coast and intimate knowledge of the ‘boreens’ (narrow country lanes) made his offer of the mini tour far too good to miss.
I wanted to see rugged and picturesque coastline,ride narrow lanes and maybe take in some mountain tracks….all this was presented to me by Aidan.
Yup…after twenty odd years of thinking and talking about visiting Ireland,in the space of three days I`d gone from ‘pondering’ to actually GOING.
Now then…it doesn`t matter if I`ve got a week or only a few hours to get sorted for a holiday…..I still end up sorting and packing my clothes at 1am on the morning of my departure.
That I can handle,but when at 1am on the morning of departure the chosen VEHICLE hasn`t been decided on,things are going a bit mad.
Why the indecision???
Well……if you know my paranoia about dirty bikes and my obsession about clean ones you`ll need no explanation.
For those who don`t know……despite me riding a bike every day,in all weather,I cannot STAND seeing my bike dirty.
That`s partly why I own several bikes…some for any reason and any weather,some for special reasons and some only ever venturing out if they`re guaranteed of coming home as clean as they set off.
But sometimes the ‘clean use only’ bikes are more suited to a trip than the ‘any weather’ ones……hmmm,a conundrum and procrastinating time ensues.
It`s hard to fully explain to those not suffering from this disorder,but it involves the difference between a bike possibly getting dirty while out on a pleasant day`s ride and just needing a quick clean to restore….as opposed to the certainty of it getting covered in mud/cow poo/sheep poo/pig poo and it baking on over several days to become almost impossible to fully shift after several days of this.
Or the added trauma of winter road salt and gunge etching its way into all metalwork.
The results of such filth on my previously clean bike can cause physical and mental unrest,stress and loss of sleep……seriously!
I was definitely going to go on one of my Ural combos due to the impression made on me by the Nick Saunders video.
My 750 Ural still needs more miles on her to settle her in…so the trip would do that.
There are some big open A roads involved in traveling to Holyhead and back (likewise between ‘interesting’ points on Aidan`s suggested route)…so that would be ideal for the 750 too…..it can hold its own on any busy dual carriageway or motorway.
It`s a lovely two tone paint with much chromework and was sure to get dirty this time of year on rural roads…but as my Dad rightly said,there wouldn`t be anything a few buckets of water couldn`t shift.
But I kept looking at her and imagining the effects of four or five days worth of rain/mud/slurry......
Dad was quite right though....it would only take a few buckets of water and a sponge.........
So I finally decided.
I was going on my 650 Ural.
(Note...she`s since been fitted with a Dnepr leading link front end,hence differences in later photos)
Heh heh…to justify this decision,you need to know that I`m a hopeless romantic about my bikes.
The 650….known as Skaya and referred to as such throughout this report.. had a hard life and suffered neglect and abuse at the hands of a previous owner (are you reading this,Schiannini???
).
It took lots of care and attention to bring her back to pretty reliable daily use and she`s been worked hard but has provided loyal service since I got her back on the road a few years ago.
She lives outside in all weather,takes me to work and back almost every day,does all the shopping runs and tip runs (I don`t have a car),has been all over England and Wales to rallies and shows and even done two rider training days and an off-road adventure day.
Because of this,she deserved a holiday!
She…and I…were going on holiday….. to Ireland.
And I wouldn`t loose sleep at seeing her getting dirty……
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Part the second….pondering the wisdom of it all.
Friday 21st November 2008
4.40 am
Quick wash,gulp some Orange Juice and scoff some mixed nuts and berries.
Finish packing.
Throw holdall into sidecar.
Open driveway gates and wheel Skaya out.
Bike kit on.
Lock up house.
Walk around corner to Skaya.
Climb aboard and away we go.
The previous day`s forecasts gave extreme weather warnings for today and Aidan advised me to check with Stena Line about possible HSS cancellations….none were stated or predicted,fortunately.
One thing that was predicted was snow.
Urallers laugh in the face of snow but Aidan sounded a tad concerned on the phone and within moments of this discovery was suddenly unable to meet me at Dun Laoghaire…saying he needed to work partway through today…yet would still kindly meet me partway to his home.
It`s 5.30 am and pitch black.
I`m riding unlit country lanes but the Ural headlamp is pretty good…better on these roads than the stock single headlamp on my R1100GS was.
There`s a fair wind blowing but doesn`t seem a problem and I`m barreling along the traffic free lanes …taking some bends flat out in top gear.
Mind you,they`re fairly easy at 55mph.
Leave the Wirral,and ride down the ‘Welsh Road’ towards Queensferry then join the A55 for the slog to Holyhead.
This to me is a most boring run….on or in any vehicle…but today it became thrilling.
The forecasted strong Northerly winds were extremely strong…actually stronger than Skaya was at times!!
Well,look at her…she`s hardly aerodynamic,is she?
She`s intended to be used on unsurfaced or poorly surfaced tracks,as a utilitarian workhorse…not an A road/motorway blaster.
The 650 engine only develops 37hp and although torquey enough and with well enough thought out gearing/torque curve to manage the same speeds with three people and luggage as with one person and no luggage,big hills and strong winds simply knock the stuffing out of it.
I actually ended up flat out in 3rd gear (out of 4),head down low and feet on the pillion footrests just to maintain 40/45mph!!!
The wind felt strong enough to tear me from the handlebars…it was a full on headwind and I was fighting it with all my strength.
To add to the struggle some very heavy rain came belting down,but only for about ten miles or so.
It was all looking like being a thoroughly miserable trip and I did start to wonder about it.
WARNING......
Those of a nervous disposition had better skip to the next bit.
Those seeking a laugh can read on,but keep your drinks clear from your keyboards.
I`d read about ‘Mr Cob’ the Ural guru in America tailgating ‘big rigs’ to make use of the slipstream effect.
Obviously it`s potentially hazardous,but he manouevred so the drivers could see him and they always seemed to know what he was wanting to do and they had no bother with it.
After all,they do it themselves to other trucks so must appreciate the help it gives.
A big lorry came bearing down on me as even in his restricted vehicle he had about 10mph advantage on me.
The wind noticeably smoothed out and Skaya accelerated as he passed so I tucked in.
There was no hint of a ‘safety gap’ of course,so I moved over until I could see the driver`s face in his mirror.
He saw me,and I made a side to side motion then tucked in again.
When I moved back out to see his mirror I got the thumbs up so we were ‘wind assisted’ to a heady 56mph!!
All in a shadowy gloom due to my headlamp`s low beam filament fracturing and high beam not being appreciated by the truckers whose air cushion I was riding.
Feeling uncomfortable about limited forward vision and the lack of a safety gap I let myself fall behind a bit……what a mistake....the wind tore at me again and I slowed to an agonizing 40mph on a hill that I didn`t know existed on the A55.
Luckily another lorry got bigger in my mirrors and I repeated the Mr Cob procedure again.
The driver was aware of what I wanted to and as I moved in close behind,Skaya gained about 15mph.
I cruised effortlessly nearly all the way to Holyhead in this manner and was prepared to buy the driver a cuppa at the ferry terminal but he turned off a few miles before.
07.40am Woohoo !! I`m at the Stena Line check in!!
After checking in and getting pulled over by Customs/Police/Who-ever-they-were who wanted to know the ins and outs of a duck`s arse,then made me fill in a questionnaire and then scanned my driving license,I bought myself the UK`s most expensive paper cup of simulated coffee to celebrate at least getting this far unscathed and under my own power!
And on time,ahem!
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Part the third…….(same day)…all aboard the good ship HSS
Boarding a sea ferry and securing my bike has always been very stressful for me,especially the times I took my super shiny ‘polishing fetish’ red R1100GS.
I`d get a freak on about any other bike being too close…whether or not someone would open a car door against the tank…would it fall over..would the straps mark the seat or wear the paint anywhere,etc etc.
I care for and maintain Skaya but I have no preciousness about the odd mark/chip/ding so I boarded the HSS with a free and easy mind.
The loadmaster was pondering where to attach a securing strap,and I suggested using the offside crashbar.
He didn`t want to damage the chrome,fair enough….but he added that he really wanted the strap to go right over the combo for stability.
I had to laugh at this latter suggestion and concern,and said not to be bothered about it,because if the sea was rough enough to tip Skaya over, we`d all be going down to the bottom of the sea with her ,heh heh.
He wasn`t very amused at this,and went off to tie something else down elsewhere.
08.55 am saw the HSS released from the space age clamp system that attaches it to Holyhead harbour and away we went ahead of two huge columns of pumped water jet.
The HSS is effectively a huge catamaran powered by two massive gas turbines that function rather like a jetski engine,pumping water at high velocity to propel the vessel at great speed.
Two big water jet deflectors allow the massive craft to turn in its own length when docking or manouevering in the harbour.
The crossing started off a bit rough but soon settled into a peaceful blend of £9.60 breakfast,book reading and £1.85 cups of coffee.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Part the fourth…….(same day) …my introduction to Irish road signs.
Only about two hours later and I`m riding off the HSS and heading for the M50 motorway which is effectively a ring road around Dublin (it`s not a proper ‘ring’ as half of it is missing due to half of Dublin facing the sea,but I`m sure you understand).
Although I actively avoid motorways,Aidan`s advice was to ride the M50 around Dublin until I reached the N2 (like a mainland A road) and use the N2 up to where he lived near Newry.
Look at the map and it`s simple enough.
Until you start using the road signs,that is.
The ‘M50 straight ahead’ signs soon vanished…..then reappeared as ‘M50,M7,M4’ to left and ‘M50,N2’ to right……..then disappeared completely.
Anyway….a comprehensive tour of almost every traffic light junction,side street and shopping area of Dublin later,I was trundling along the N2 without seeing the M50.
Ah well…I never did like motorways,heh heh.
And I got to see what is quite a nice city…..
Actually,I don`t seem to have taken too long crossing Dublin, and I made good progress up the N2 towards Dundalk.
I crossed the River Boyne at Slane and rode up the Hill of Slane.
At Ardee I stopped to text Aidan that I was less than an hour from our proposed meeting point.
At this point my mobile phone battery decided to run of charge,despite me fully charging it the night before.
A few failed and panicky attempts with payphones followed,then one very helpful Post Office worker lent me his mobile,and Aidan agreed to meet me at Omeath as I said I wanted to ride around the Carlingford Mountain peninsula.
……………………………………………………………………………………….…….
Part the fifth……..Now this is starting to look like what I came for…..and the meeting.
(same day)
R173 road Dundalk –Carlingford Mountain peninsula
This was more like it….not country lane but a quietish narrow road,sea to one side,and leading to views of distant mountain range across the Carlingford Lough.
I rode the R173/R175 and tracks right to the end of the peninsula even though I had to double back due to the harbour not being a thoroughfare but the views were worth it.
The mountain range was the dark and mysterious Mourne Mountains…very imposing.
Riding along towards Omeath I saw a bike approaching in the opposite direction,then a flashing of multiple lamps and a wave revealed it to be Aidan on his R1150GS.
We stopped in a layby to greet each other,both grinning like Cheshire Cats,then went to a filling station where he was enthralled and amused by Skaya`s reverse gear.
There was still a couple of hours daylight left,so Aidan suggested a bit of a ride around and off we went.
We went up a steep and narrow track.
On the way up we had a fantastic view over Warrenpoint and across Carlingford Lough towards the Mourne Mountains.
The view from the top was fantastic,we could see on one side over Warrenpoint and the Mourne Mountains…and the other side showing Dundalk Bay. Behind us was Newry and Slieve Gullion.
A quite amazing viewpoint,even on this less than totally clear day.
Even though standing up was very difficult due to the strong winds.
Photography was a bit tricky too,as the camera was being moved about in my hands.
We dropped down and visited the Long Woman`s Grave.
What a sad fable is attached to this..............
There`s some tidying up going on there at the moment...here`s Aidan looking small for a change.
Next we went along some tracks and crossed a few main roads to reach Slieve Gullion Forest Park.
This was wonderful and I wish I`d stopped to photograph the first section through the trees,as we soon were above tree level.
It was very reminiscent of the Welsh Clocainog Forest and in a similar fashion car rallies are held there.
I think Aidan said it was a eight mile loop….I really enjoyed this ride and would happily do it again.
We returned to more normal roads and reached Aidan`s home in darkness.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Part the sixth (or sick in Mandy`s case )…..Friday night`s excess.
(still the same day)
Oh dear….there`s a slightly scandalous Thread about this particular evening.
Here it was under construction......
Events started okay enough.
Mandy is really lovely and it was great to meet her.
Aidan and Mandy have a very nice home,and I soon settled in and got freshened up.
I decided not to use their bath though…..
They have two beautiful dogs…nice friendly Dalmations…and it wasn`t long before the ‘paw game’ and the ‘stroke game’ was going on, with both vying for my attention.
Their cat popped in for a look at the stranger … Aidan calls it Harry the Bastard.
A glass of red wine was offered …..and gladly accepted….and we had a few giggles at some gifts I took for them.
Then the Chinese takeaway menu was consulted,more wine was consumed, and we walked down to get our meals…..and some more wine,of course.
The night passed very quickly and pleasantly,in the finest tradition of a swirl of Chinese food,lots of wine,a quantity of Amaretto and much talking of bollox.
TO BE CONTINUED..................................
………………………………………………………………………………………………
There`s all sorts of waffle and rambling in this Ride Report…and it`s taken me forever to write it....but seeing as most of you will likely be sat at home with the heating on…slippers afoot and cocoa to hand….maybe that won`t be a bad thing.
Also,Ogmios assures me that waffling and rambling through a tale is a good thing brought on by fine Guinness
and pure fresh Irish air .Make yourself comfy,reach for the chocolate HobNobs and read on…..
So there I was,sat in KevinC`s living room just over a week ago,clutching a mug of coffee and filling my face with a Sayers ‘cheese devil’ and an ice bun…a pink ice bun,nonetheless…to which I`m strangely addicted.
‘When`s your next bike trip or event,then?`, Kevin asked.
This is quite commonly asked of me nowadays,due to my many attendances at bike shows and rallies as well as me taking several Continental bike holidays a year.
I replied that I had nothing planned for certain in the near future but that I had a six day ‘off roster’ period due near the end of the month and that I still had terrible wanderlust despite having visited France,the Belgian Ardennes and Luxembourg only six weeks ago (in fact,it was during my previous six day off roster period in October…).
I commented that one thing that had always been in my mind,yet I`d never done,was to visit Ireland and in the previous few weeks the idea of a short trip had started to germinate.
I`d read books,studied maps and often spoken to an Irish guy in work about the country,the scenery and the people…yet in over twenty years of biking holidays I`d never been.
Recently,the balance had tipped in favour of me actually getting around to an Irish trip due to me watching and rewatching a Nick Saunders video where he tours Ireland on a Triumph fitted with a sidecar.
The film showed him riding down shimmering wet lanes with the sidecar wheel splashing through puddles,as well as some historical information, tremendous scenery and some fascinating people.
Perhaps him being on a combo tumbled the idea into a plan at seedling stage,for I conjoured up mental images of me riding one of my Ural combos along the country lanes,arriving at small villages and harbours and stopping at tiny cafes and bars.
The fact that his visit was also in November made it inevitable that I was going to Ireland during the six day off roster period……………………………..
November may not be many people`s choice for a bike tour of Ireland….nor anywhere else for that matter...but I probably ride more from Autumn to late Spring than I do during Summer.
I`m uncomfortable in hot weather and can`t cool down easily.
I don`t sunbathe and usually end up sat indoors until the heat of the day has passed and the evening approaches.
On the other hand,I feel a tingle of excitement and a lust for adventure when the Autumn approaches and am never happier than on a crisp,clear,frosty morning.
The Autumn colours always give great pleasure,and another big plus is that the roads and places of interest are much quieter without the summer tourist lemmings cramming everywhere.
On a whim,I sent a PM to Aidan1150 for advice and suggestions regarding a ‘possible…but nothing planned’ trip.
Aidan and I had met extremely briefly at a UKGSer meet in Llangollen and stayed loosely in touch since then.
Before I knew it there was an invitation to stay with him and his wife Mandy …otherwise known as Mandylicious…at their house,and with him meeting me en route…as well as a suggested mini tour of the Northern Coast and a phone number for a good ferry ticket sales company.
This company was Nutt Travel and I can recommend them highly.
I say that I can recommend them highly,because the next day I booked and paid for an HSS sailing from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire with them.
I WAS GOING TO IRELAND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although my initial thoughts were to tour some of the South as inspired by the Nick Saunders video,there wasn`t really sufficient time to do much of that area justice,and Aidan`s descriptions of the Antrim Coast and intimate knowledge of the ‘boreens’ (narrow country lanes) made his offer of the mini tour far too good to miss.
I wanted to see rugged and picturesque coastline,ride narrow lanes and maybe take in some mountain tracks….all this was presented to me by Aidan.
Yup…after twenty odd years of thinking and talking about visiting Ireland,in the space of three days I`d gone from ‘pondering’ to actually GOING.
Now then…it doesn`t matter if I`ve got a week or only a few hours to get sorted for a holiday…..I still end up sorting and packing my clothes at 1am on the morning of my departure.
That I can handle,but when at 1am on the morning of departure the chosen VEHICLE hasn`t been decided on,things are going a bit mad.
Why the indecision???
Well……if you know my paranoia about dirty bikes and my obsession about clean ones you`ll need no explanation.
For those who don`t know……despite me riding a bike every day,in all weather,I cannot STAND seeing my bike dirty.
That`s partly why I own several bikes…some for any reason and any weather,some for special reasons and some only ever venturing out if they`re guaranteed of coming home as clean as they set off.
But sometimes the ‘clean use only’ bikes are more suited to a trip than the ‘any weather’ ones……hmmm,a conundrum and procrastinating time ensues.
It`s hard to fully explain to those not suffering from this disorder,but it involves the difference between a bike possibly getting dirty while out on a pleasant day`s ride and just needing a quick clean to restore….as opposed to the certainty of it getting covered in mud/cow poo/sheep poo/pig poo and it baking on over several days to become almost impossible to fully shift after several days of this.
Or the added trauma of winter road salt and gunge etching its way into all metalwork.
The results of such filth on my previously clean bike can cause physical and mental unrest,stress and loss of sleep……seriously!
I was definitely going to go on one of my Ural combos due to the impression made on me by the Nick Saunders video.
My 750 Ural still needs more miles on her to settle her in…so the trip would do that.
There are some big open A roads involved in traveling to Holyhead and back (likewise between ‘interesting’ points on Aidan`s suggested route)…so that would be ideal for the 750 too…..it can hold its own on any busy dual carriageway or motorway.
It`s a lovely two tone paint with much chromework and was sure to get dirty this time of year on rural roads…but as my Dad rightly said,there wouldn`t be anything a few buckets of water couldn`t shift.
But I kept looking at her and imagining the effects of four or five days worth of rain/mud/slurry......
Dad was quite right though....it would only take a few buckets of water and a sponge.........
So I finally decided.
I was going on my 650 Ural.
(Note...she`s since been fitted with a Dnepr leading link front end,hence differences in later photos)
Heh heh…to justify this decision,you need to know that I`m a hopeless romantic about my bikes.
The 650….known as Skaya and referred to as such throughout this report.. had a hard life and suffered neglect and abuse at the hands of a previous owner (are you reading this,Schiannini???
).It took lots of care and attention to bring her back to pretty reliable daily use and she`s been worked hard but has provided loyal service since I got her back on the road a few years ago.
She lives outside in all weather,takes me to work and back almost every day,does all the shopping runs and tip runs (I don`t have a car),has been all over England and Wales to rallies and shows and even done two rider training days and an off-road adventure day.
Because of this,she deserved a holiday!
She…and I…were going on holiday….. to Ireland.
And I wouldn`t loose sleep at seeing her getting dirty……
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Part the second….pondering the wisdom of it all.
Friday 21st November 2008
4.40 am
Quick wash,gulp some Orange Juice and scoff some mixed nuts and berries.
Finish packing.
Throw holdall into sidecar.
Open driveway gates and wheel Skaya out.
Bike kit on.
Lock up house.
Walk around corner to Skaya.
Climb aboard and away we go.
The previous day`s forecasts gave extreme weather warnings for today and Aidan advised me to check with Stena Line about possible HSS cancellations….none were stated or predicted,fortunately.
One thing that was predicted was snow.
Urallers laugh in the face of snow but Aidan sounded a tad concerned on the phone and within moments of this discovery was suddenly unable to meet me at Dun Laoghaire…saying he needed to work partway through today…yet would still kindly meet me partway to his home.
It`s 5.30 am and pitch black.
I`m riding unlit country lanes but the Ural headlamp is pretty good…better on these roads than the stock single headlamp on my R1100GS was.
There`s a fair wind blowing but doesn`t seem a problem and I`m barreling along the traffic free lanes …taking some bends flat out in top gear.
Mind you,they`re fairly easy at 55mph.
Leave the Wirral,and ride down the ‘Welsh Road’ towards Queensferry then join the A55 for the slog to Holyhead.
This to me is a most boring run….on or in any vehicle…but today it became thrilling.
The forecasted strong Northerly winds were extremely strong…actually stronger than Skaya was at times!!
Well,look at her…she`s hardly aerodynamic,is she?
She`s intended to be used on unsurfaced or poorly surfaced tracks,as a utilitarian workhorse…not an A road/motorway blaster.
The 650 engine only develops 37hp and although torquey enough and with well enough thought out gearing/torque curve to manage the same speeds with three people and luggage as with one person and no luggage,big hills and strong winds simply knock the stuffing out of it.
I actually ended up flat out in 3rd gear (out of 4),head down low and feet on the pillion footrests just to maintain 40/45mph!!!
The wind felt strong enough to tear me from the handlebars…it was a full on headwind and I was fighting it with all my strength.
To add to the struggle some very heavy rain came belting down,but only for about ten miles or so.
It was all looking like being a thoroughly miserable trip and I did start to wonder about it.
WARNING......
Those of a nervous disposition had better skip to the next bit.
Those seeking a laugh can read on,but keep your drinks clear from your keyboards.
I`d read about ‘Mr Cob’ the Ural guru in America tailgating ‘big rigs’ to make use of the slipstream effect.
Obviously it`s potentially hazardous,but he manouevred so the drivers could see him and they always seemed to know what he was wanting to do and they had no bother with it.
After all,they do it themselves to other trucks so must appreciate the help it gives.
A big lorry came bearing down on me as even in his restricted vehicle he had about 10mph advantage on me.
The wind noticeably smoothed out and Skaya accelerated as he passed so I tucked in.
There was no hint of a ‘safety gap’ of course,so I moved over until I could see the driver`s face in his mirror.
He saw me,and I made a side to side motion then tucked in again.
When I moved back out to see his mirror I got the thumbs up so we were ‘wind assisted’ to a heady 56mph!!
All in a shadowy gloom due to my headlamp`s low beam filament fracturing and high beam not being appreciated by the truckers whose air cushion I was riding.
Feeling uncomfortable about limited forward vision and the lack of a safety gap I let myself fall behind a bit……what a mistake....the wind tore at me again and I slowed to an agonizing 40mph on a hill that I didn`t know existed on the A55.
Luckily another lorry got bigger in my mirrors and I repeated the Mr Cob procedure again.
The driver was aware of what I wanted to and as I moved in close behind,Skaya gained about 15mph.
I cruised effortlessly nearly all the way to Holyhead in this manner and was prepared to buy the driver a cuppa at the ferry terminal but he turned off a few miles before.
07.40am Woohoo !! I`m at the Stena Line check in!!
After checking in and getting pulled over by Customs/Police/Who-ever-they-were who wanted to know the ins and outs of a duck`s arse,then made me fill in a questionnaire and then scanned my driving license,I bought myself the UK`s most expensive paper cup of simulated coffee to celebrate at least getting this far unscathed and under my own power!
And on time,ahem!
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Part the third…….(same day)…all aboard the good ship HSS
Boarding a sea ferry and securing my bike has always been very stressful for me,especially the times I took my super shiny ‘polishing fetish’ red R1100GS.
I`d get a freak on about any other bike being too close…whether or not someone would open a car door against the tank…would it fall over..would the straps mark the seat or wear the paint anywhere,etc etc.
I care for and maintain Skaya but I have no preciousness about the odd mark/chip/ding so I boarded the HSS with a free and easy mind.
The loadmaster was pondering where to attach a securing strap,and I suggested using the offside crashbar.
He didn`t want to damage the chrome,fair enough….but he added that he really wanted the strap to go right over the combo for stability.
I had to laugh at this latter suggestion and concern,and said not to be bothered about it,because if the sea was rough enough to tip Skaya over, we`d all be going down to the bottom of the sea with her ,heh heh.
He wasn`t very amused at this,and went off to tie something else down elsewhere.
08.55 am saw the HSS released from the space age clamp system that attaches it to Holyhead harbour and away we went ahead of two huge columns of pumped water jet.
The HSS is effectively a huge catamaran powered by two massive gas turbines that function rather like a jetski engine,pumping water at high velocity to propel the vessel at great speed.
Two big water jet deflectors allow the massive craft to turn in its own length when docking or manouevering in the harbour.
The crossing started off a bit rough but soon settled into a peaceful blend of £9.60 breakfast,book reading and £1.85 cups of coffee.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Part the fourth…….(same day) …my introduction to Irish road signs.
Only about two hours later and I`m riding off the HSS and heading for the M50 motorway which is effectively a ring road around Dublin (it`s not a proper ‘ring’ as half of it is missing due to half of Dublin facing the sea,but I`m sure you understand).
Although I actively avoid motorways,Aidan`s advice was to ride the M50 around Dublin until I reached the N2 (like a mainland A road) and use the N2 up to where he lived near Newry.
Look at the map and it`s simple enough.
Until you start using the road signs,that is.
The ‘M50 straight ahead’ signs soon vanished…..then reappeared as ‘M50,M7,M4’ to left and ‘M50,N2’ to right……..then disappeared completely.
Anyway….a comprehensive tour of almost every traffic light junction,side street and shopping area of Dublin later,I was trundling along the N2 without seeing the M50.
Ah well…I never did like motorways,heh heh.
And I got to see what is quite a nice city…..
Actually,I don`t seem to have taken too long crossing Dublin, and I made good progress up the N2 towards Dundalk.
I crossed the River Boyne at Slane and rode up the Hill of Slane.
At Ardee I stopped to text Aidan that I was less than an hour from our proposed meeting point.
At this point my mobile phone battery decided to run of charge,despite me fully charging it the night before.
A few failed and panicky attempts with payphones followed,then one very helpful Post Office worker lent me his mobile,and Aidan agreed to meet me at Omeath as I said I wanted to ride around the Carlingford Mountain peninsula.
……………………………………………………………………………………….…….
Part the fifth……..Now this is starting to look like what I came for…..and the meeting.
(same day)
R173 road Dundalk –Carlingford Mountain peninsula
This was more like it….not country lane but a quietish narrow road,sea to one side,and leading to views of distant mountain range across the Carlingford Lough.
I rode the R173/R175 and tracks right to the end of the peninsula even though I had to double back due to the harbour not being a thoroughfare but the views were worth it.
The mountain range was the dark and mysterious Mourne Mountains…very imposing.
Riding along towards Omeath I saw a bike approaching in the opposite direction,then a flashing of multiple lamps and a wave revealed it to be Aidan on his R1150GS.
We stopped in a layby to greet each other,both grinning like Cheshire Cats,then went to a filling station where he was enthralled and amused by Skaya`s reverse gear.
There was still a couple of hours daylight left,so Aidan suggested a bit of a ride around and off we went.
We went up a steep and narrow track.
On the way up we had a fantastic view over Warrenpoint and across Carlingford Lough towards the Mourne Mountains.
The view from the top was fantastic,we could see on one side over Warrenpoint and the Mourne Mountains…and the other side showing Dundalk Bay. Behind us was Newry and Slieve Gullion.
A quite amazing viewpoint,even on this less than totally clear day.
Even though standing up was very difficult due to the strong winds.
Photography was a bit tricky too,as the camera was being moved about in my hands.
We dropped down and visited the Long Woman`s Grave.
What a sad fable is attached to this..............
There`s some tidying up going on there at the moment...here`s Aidan looking small for a change.
Next we went along some tracks and crossed a few main roads to reach Slieve Gullion Forest Park.
This was wonderful and I wish I`d stopped to photograph the first section through the trees,as we soon were above tree level.
It was very reminiscent of the Welsh Clocainog Forest and in a similar fashion car rallies are held there.
I think Aidan said it was a eight mile loop….I really enjoyed this ride and would happily do it again.
We returned to more normal roads and reached Aidan`s home in darkness.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Part the sixth (or sick in Mandy`s case
)…..Friday night`s excess.(still the same day)
Oh dear….there`s a slightly scandalous Thread about this particular evening.
Here it was under construction......
Events started okay enough.
Mandy is really lovely and it was great to meet her.
Aidan and Mandy have a very nice home,and I soon settled in and got freshened up.
I decided not to use their bath though…..
They have two beautiful dogs…nice friendly Dalmations…and it wasn`t long before the ‘paw game’ and the ‘stroke game’ was going on, with both vying for my attention.
Their cat popped in for a look at the stranger … Aidan calls it Harry the Bastard.
A glass of red wine was offered …..and gladly accepted….and we had a few giggles at some gifts I took for them.
Then the Chinese takeaway menu was consulted,more wine was consumed, and we walked down to get our meals…..and some more wine,of course.
The night passed very quickly and pleasantly,in the finest tradition of a swirl of Chinese food,lots of wine,a quantity of Amaretto and much talking of bollox.
TO BE CONTINUED..................................
………………………………………………………………………………………………
