The weather forecast for the weekend called for lots of rain on Friday and Sunday, with some sunshine and showers on Saturday. Not the best outlook for a weekend away on the bike in Donegal which is very like Scotland with the unpredictability of, and rapid changes in the weather being the norm.
Friday was indeed a wet, grey miserable day and though we delayed our departure time until 3-30pm there was little change. We made pretty good progress on our 93 mile run from Loughbrickland to Ramelton and arrived in just under two hours.
A few GSers had arrived before us. Jockser, Dellis, Ron on the RT and Trev McDev greeted us. Tuned-In was there too, but didn't come outside as he hadn't brought any shoes to change into from his bike boots. Dodgy fashion items.
Typically, he didn't seem to be too bothered.
At about 7-30pm we headed off down the town for dinner.
Jockser, Trev and Tuned at the grub;
Upon our return found that several other Tossers had arrived in the meanwhile.
Ogmios, his good lady Linda and Blade;
Dellis, RCC54 and Whatton;
Everyone received an official welcome from Tuned-In;
Several folks wondered at Jockser stimulating his nipples whilst talking to Errol. Although to be fair it was probably the effect Emma was having on him.
It was still early when we turned in for the night at 2am (the bar was still open) and it was a great relief when Saturday dawned bright and DRY Whatton and myself were out for a wee dander at about 8am and the bright morning left us hoping for a good day to come.
Although when we returned to breakfast he could barely stay awake. Bit softcore these English chaps.
It was 9-45am by the time we were ready for the off and the plan was for a run round Atlantic Drive.
Ulysses and his mate Roland who was on an Aprilia Rally Raid along with Jockser getting ready for the off;
Og's tidy 100GS;
Our first stop was at the viewpoint looking out over Doagh Bay;
Next we headed bach inland along Glen Lough and up into higher ground for a short stop at Lough Reelan, before the nice run along Lough Salt. Hopefully Jockser will be able to post the short video clip of the bikes riding through there.
Lough Reelan;
The next part of the days run was a spin up around Fanad Head to the lighthouse.
By now it was a glorious day for the end of March. At Fanad Head Whatton's GPS was giving a reading of 18C !!! We couldn't believe our luck.
My GS at Fanad Head lighthouse;
On Friday evening, and again on Saturday morning, Whatton kept on and on and on about his wish to have fish & chips on a beach, with a pier nearby where he could park his bike and sit and have a nice lunch.
On our way back down from Fanad Head we stopped at Portsalon and parked our bikes on the pier;
Went into the local chippy;
Then sat on the beach and had a lovely lunch. All 16 of us Whatton was delighted. Of course we didn't tell him it was a complete freak chance that he got his wish. He thought we had it all planned.
On the way back to Ramelton, via Knockalla the rain started and became quite heavy, but we didn't mind as we had had six and a half hours of great weather and brilliant roads to keep us amused all day.
We found that even more GSers were arriving when we arrived back at the Lennon Lodge.
The Big Fella and Colm Cummins;
Civil, seen here getting a tough time of it from Billy and my wife Mandy;
Leprechaun and Dibbles came up from Co Monaghan;
More than 20 of us went out to eat before returning to the LL where vast amounts of drink was downed.
Whatton, Leprechaun, Billy and the Foolish Fellow;
Mandy, Jockser & Ron;
Jockser, Ron, Dellis, Andy & Sugarcube;
Foolish Fellow had gotten a puncture on his KTM950 on the way into Ramelton, so the wheel was removed and taken with us to the pub, where it was left propped against the wall.
At about 3am when everyone was rightly pissed it was decided to fix the puncture.
Dellis offered his expertise, but had plenty of "experts" offering advice of their own.
Even several GSers couldn't break the bead on the bloody thing.
But eventually the fitters listened to the "experts"
And finally the tube was out to be patched.
In the meantime Trev McDev had nicked my camera. I can see why now though. Dirty wee pervert.
Tuned-In was getting worried about retaining his eyebrows;
And my mate Pokey rightly determined that Whatton was the source of some very ripe Guinness farts.
It was after 5-30am when the bar finally closed and there were some delicate heads and tummys next morning.
Sunday morning turned out to be quite wet at first, so most guys took pot luck as to what time to leave to try to avoid the worst of the rain. Dellis didn't have that luxury though as he had to head for an early evening ferry in Dun Laoghaire. Hope you had a good safe run home mate.
Leprechauns well kept 1100 was ready for the road.
In all we had 26 bikes in Ramelton for the event with a total of 32 people. It was great to meet friends and to put faces to names of other fine folk from this site. Thank you all for the effort you put in to making this a memorable weekend.
Unfortunately there were a few mishaps too.......
DaveR from Leixlip got knocked off his bike in Omagh by a cage driver who performed an unindicated U-turn. He suffered a broken collarbone and was taken to Omagh hospital to be patched up, before his wife had to drive up collect him. His bike was lifted by the AA who will take it to Duffys on Monday to be repaired.
We would all like to sent our best wishes to DaveR for a speedy recovery.
Tuned-In dropped his bike somewhee on the way over on Friday. Luckily the damage was not too serious to bike or rider.
DavyG arrived up to Ramelton on Sunday morning to discover that his ADV was leaking oil from the bevel box and had to get his mate to come up in a van to collect the bike. Hope you got home safe and sound mate.
Finally, I would like to thank Sugarcube for his assistance in setting up the weekend and Jockser for leading the second half of the Saturday rideout. Also to Tuned-In for getting some nice stickers made up and for donating profits to charity.
Thanks guys, I couldn't have done it without you.
Friday was indeed a wet, grey miserable day and though we delayed our departure time until 3-30pm there was little change. We made pretty good progress on our 93 mile run from Loughbrickland to Ramelton and arrived in just under two hours.
A few GSers had arrived before us. Jockser, Dellis, Ron on the RT and Trev McDev greeted us. Tuned-In was there too, but didn't come outside as he hadn't brought any shoes to change into from his bike boots. Dodgy fashion items.
Typically, he didn't seem to be too bothered.
At about 7-30pm we headed off down the town for dinner.
Jockser, Trev and Tuned at the grub;
Upon our return found that several other Tossers had arrived in the meanwhile.
Ogmios, his good lady Linda and Blade;
Dellis, RCC54 and Whatton;
Everyone received an official welcome from Tuned-In;
Several folks wondered at Jockser stimulating his nipples whilst talking to Errol. Although to be fair it was probably the effect Emma was having on him.
It was still early when we turned in for the night at 2am (the bar was still open) and it was a great relief when Saturday dawned bright and DRY Whatton and myself were out for a wee dander at about 8am and the bright morning left us hoping for a good day to come.
Although when we returned to breakfast he could barely stay awake. Bit softcore these English chaps.
It was 9-45am by the time we were ready for the off and the plan was for a run round Atlantic Drive.
Ulysses and his mate Roland who was on an Aprilia Rally Raid along with Jockser getting ready for the off;
Og's tidy 100GS;
Our first stop was at the viewpoint looking out over Doagh Bay;
Next we headed bach inland along Glen Lough and up into higher ground for a short stop at Lough Reelan, before the nice run along Lough Salt. Hopefully Jockser will be able to post the short video clip of the bikes riding through there.
Lough Reelan;
The next part of the days run was a spin up around Fanad Head to the lighthouse.
By now it was a glorious day for the end of March. At Fanad Head Whatton's GPS was giving a reading of 18C !!! We couldn't believe our luck.
My GS at Fanad Head lighthouse;
On Friday evening, and again on Saturday morning, Whatton kept on and on and on about his wish to have fish & chips on a beach, with a pier nearby where he could park his bike and sit and have a nice lunch.
On our way back down from Fanad Head we stopped at Portsalon and parked our bikes on the pier;
Went into the local chippy;
Then sat on the beach and had a lovely lunch. All 16 of us Whatton was delighted. Of course we didn't tell him it was a complete freak chance that he got his wish. He thought we had it all planned.
On the way back to Ramelton, via Knockalla the rain started and became quite heavy, but we didn't mind as we had had six and a half hours of great weather and brilliant roads to keep us amused all day.
We found that even more GSers were arriving when we arrived back at the Lennon Lodge.
The Big Fella and Colm Cummins;
Civil, seen here getting a tough time of it from Billy and my wife Mandy;
Leprechaun and Dibbles came up from Co Monaghan;
More than 20 of us went out to eat before returning to the LL where vast amounts of drink was downed.
Whatton, Leprechaun, Billy and the Foolish Fellow;
Mandy, Jockser & Ron;
Jockser, Ron, Dellis, Andy & Sugarcube;
Foolish Fellow had gotten a puncture on his KTM950 on the way into Ramelton, so the wheel was removed and taken with us to the pub, where it was left propped against the wall.
At about 3am when everyone was rightly pissed it was decided to fix the puncture.
Dellis offered his expertise, but had plenty of "experts" offering advice of their own.
Even several GSers couldn't break the bead on the bloody thing.
But eventually the fitters listened to the "experts"
And finally the tube was out to be patched.
In the meantime Trev McDev had nicked my camera. I can see why now though. Dirty wee pervert.
Tuned-In was getting worried about retaining his eyebrows;
And my mate Pokey rightly determined that Whatton was the source of some very ripe Guinness farts.
It was after 5-30am when the bar finally closed and there were some delicate heads and tummys next morning.
Sunday morning turned out to be quite wet at first, so most guys took pot luck as to what time to leave to try to avoid the worst of the rain. Dellis didn't have that luxury though as he had to head for an early evening ferry in Dun Laoghaire. Hope you had a good safe run home mate.
Leprechauns well kept 1100 was ready for the road.
In all we had 26 bikes in Ramelton for the event with a total of 32 people. It was great to meet friends and to put faces to names of other fine folk from this site. Thank you all for the effort you put in to making this a memorable weekend.
Unfortunately there were a few mishaps too.......
DaveR from Leixlip got knocked off his bike in Omagh by a cage driver who performed an unindicated U-turn. He suffered a broken collarbone and was taken to Omagh hospital to be patched up, before his wife had to drive up collect him. His bike was lifted by the AA who will take it to Duffys on Monday to be repaired.
We would all like to sent our best wishes to DaveR for a speedy recovery.
Tuned-In dropped his bike somewhee on the way over on Friday. Luckily the damage was not too serious to bike or rider.
DavyG arrived up to Ramelton on Sunday morning to discover that his ADV was leaking oil from the bevel box and had to get his mate to come up in a van to collect the bike. Hope you got home safe and sound mate.
Finally, I would like to thank Sugarcube for his assistance in setting up the weekend and Jockser for leading the second half of the Saturday rideout. Also to Tuned-In for getting some nice stickers made up and for donating profits to charity.
Thanks guys, I couldn't have done it without you.