Mr K
Registered user
For a few years now I've wanted to see some Irish road racing and when "Mort" suggested a trip a few months ago I put me name down.
So.... Friday morning came. I didn't need to leave 'til ten, but I was awake at half-five..like a bairn at Xmas...
Come half-nine the bike was packed and I was Cairnryan bound.
I got there in plenty of time, met "Cestria" and "Hobbit" and we waited for the boaty thing.
On the boat the Rozzers were in the bar..
..and it was suggested that I didn't do the coastroad because of an "incident"..I wasn't bothered: All I wanted by this time was to be out of my bike kit and into some beer....
I got to Ballycastle a bit bfore 6 and was escorted to my luxurious apartment by Rob (Mort)...
Before long my wants were met:
...turns out was Jill's birthday, 21st I think.....
...so we all abstained from alcoholic beverages or food and went to bed early..
...and the girls didn't dance...
..and the blokes didn't stand around talling bollocks .....
Woke up bright and early on the Saturday without the hangover I deserved and went for a wander...
Seems like a canny place, Ballycastle:
....a bit like Cullercoats, where I grew up.
I found another Marconi Monument to add to my collection:
...and found out just how thorough Mort had been in his planning
Back at the apartment, the Sainted Mrs Mort prepared us a lovely breakfast, before we all headed off to Portrush for the racing.
I started off at a point behind the Metropol (I think) but was about 100yards away from the action.
...and eventually moved to a better spot, near a railway bridge..
I shot a clip of the supersport bikes howling past here, but youtube doesn't want to upload it...
Having watched a few races I decided to head-off...
I'd been to Joey's Bar in Ballymoney before, but not stopped at the Memorial Gardens..
The monument was covered with flowers..and it was quite moving when 3 teenage girls came up and laid some flowers with the rest..
I decided I needed a pint and headed back toward Ballycastle...
Our resolve to take it steady, so as to be fit for the ride tomorrow seemed to get forgotten...
...and it was half-one before we got back to the apartments....
Sunday dawned ..brightly... and a bit loudly, but again not quite as loud and bright as our mis-behaviour the previous night should have caused...
Come 09:45 hrs we were mounted and moving out in the direction of Castlerock.......well most of us were
We met our hosts for the day: Mr S.Baron, Room 101, James, Wizard and several other charming folk that the Guinness has deleted from my brain cell ..and set away..to catch a ferry:
We were guided to some beautiful trails...and roads with beautiful views...
..before a welcome stop for luncheon at the Malin Hotel:
Some dodgy phone pic's:
Sue and James:
Wizard, gently baking..
..the back of Mrs Mort's heed, Schwarz Baron and Mort enjoying some bait and Metal Man (Colin) doing a runner after noticing the exchange rate...
...well...after that it went from bad to worse..
Malin Head..
..all too soon we were overlooking the ferry back:
...and back into NI, looking back at where we'd been.
After which we said our good byes and once again thanks for a great day out to everyone who kept the convoy together.
After that it was a steady ride back to Ballycastle and playing the "just one more and then we'll turn-in" Guinness game.
Top day!!
Monday morn' the 22 peeps of the group were on 3 different ferry and set-off at varying intervals.
My cullinary adventure of this trip (apart from the Guinness diet) was a visit to a "Subway" ...
...a Mega-Breakfast Toastie with sweet-chilli sauce.....I can taste it now...
Off the ferry into Cairnryan at 3, rode with Mort, Cestria and Hobbit, until Newton Stewart, where they stopped for petrol.
I carried on and ultimately ended up riding like a tw@ through Newcastle's rush-hour and I hope to doG I was too fast for anyone to get my reg...
Great weekend!
Eeh well!
Work tomorrow...
So.... Friday morning came. I didn't need to leave 'til ten, but I was awake at half-five..like a bairn at Xmas...
Come half-nine the bike was packed and I was Cairnryan bound.
I got there in plenty of time, met "Cestria" and "Hobbit" and we waited for the boaty thing.
On the boat the Rozzers were in the bar..
..and it was suggested that I didn't do the coastroad because of an "incident"..I wasn't bothered: All I wanted by this time was to be out of my bike kit and into some beer....
I got to Ballycastle a bit bfore 6 and was escorted to my luxurious apartment by Rob (Mort)...
Before long my wants were met:
...turns out was Jill's birthday, 21st I think.....
...so we all abstained from alcoholic beverages or food and went to bed early..
...and the girls didn't dance...
..and the blokes didn't stand around talling bollocks .....
Woke up bright and early on the Saturday without the hangover I deserved and went for a wander...
Seems like a canny place, Ballycastle:
....a bit like Cullercoats, where I grew up.
I found another Marconi Monument to add to my collection:
...and found out just how thorough Mort had been in his planning
Back at the apartment, the Sainted Mrs Mort prepared us a lovely breakfast, before we all headed off to Portrush for the racing.
I started off at a point behind the Metropol (I think) but was about 100yards away from the action.
...and eventually moved to a better spot, near a railway bridge..
I shot a clip of the supersport bikes howling past here, but youtube doesn't want to upload it...
Having watched a few races I decided to head-off...
I'd been to Joey's Bar in Ballymoney before, but not stopped at the Memorial Gardens..
The monument was covered with flowers..and it was quite moving when 3 teenage girls came up and laid some flowers with the rest..
I decided I needed a pint and headed back toward Ballycastle...
Our resolve to take it steady, so as to be fit for the ride tomorrow seemed to get forgotten...
...and it was half-one before we got back to the apartments....
Sunday dawned ..brightly... and a bit loudly, but again not quite as loud and bright as our mis-behaviour the previous night should have caused...
Come 09:45 hrs we were mounted and moving out in the direction of Castlerock.......well most of us were
We met our hosts for the day: Mr S.Baron, Room 101, James, Wizard and several other charming folk that the Guinness has deleted from my brain cell ..and set away..to catch a ferry:
We were guided to some beautiful trails...and roads with beautiful views...
..before a welcome stop for luncheon at the Malin Hotel:
Some dodgy phone pic's:
Sue and James:
Wizard, gently baking..
..the back of Mrs Mort's heed, Schwarz Baron and Mort enjoying some bait and Metal Man (Colin) doing a runner after noticing the exchange rate...
...well...after that it went from bad to worse..
Malin Head..
..all too soon we were overlooking the ferry back:
...and back into NI, looking back at where we'd been.
After which we said our good byes and once again thanks for a great day out to everyone who kept the convoy together.
After that it was a steady
ride back to Ballycastle and playing the "just one more and then we'll turn-in" Guinness game.Top day!!
Monday morn' the 22 peeps of the group were on 3 different ferry and set-off at varying intervals.
My cullinary adventure of this trip (apart from the Guinness diet) was a visit to a "Subway" ...
...a Mega-Breakfast Toastie with sweet-chilli sauce.....I can taste it now...
Off the ferry into Cairnryan at 3, rode with Mort, Cestria and Hobbit, until Newton Stewart, where they stopped for petrol.
I carried on and ultimately ended up riding like a tw@ through Newcastle's rush-hour and I hope to doG I was too fast for anyone to get my reg...
Great weekend!
Eeh well!
Work tomorrow...
He did mention a run but by then we already had plans made for Sunday. 
