Just back home after ten days on the 'bike. 1,800 miles round Ireland and finished off with a couple of days in Wales 
Good weather, cold and some sh*tty roads, but it was February after all.
Met up with mi ol' mucker Tom Birtwistle from Red Rose country and caught the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Port Thursday 24th Feb. Tom used to have the Graham Arms at Longtown, some of you may know him from there. We were heading for the Mini Thatch Rally being held this year at Castle Connell, Limerick.
I would rather sail to Dun Laoghaire because Dublin Port is a bugger to get out of ... Tom promptly taking us the wrong way and through the tunnel with its toll of €10
For the first night we headed for an old favourite, the Woodenbridge Hotel at errr mmm Woodenbridge. Great value, a good pint of Guinness and excellent food ... is there anything else
So (Friday) to the Mini Thatch at Castle Oakes Hotel, Castle Connell. Good craic, met up with old friends. We missed the first ride out because I'd taken some kit across and did a bit of 'earpluggin' first thing ... now ready for the second and later ride out. All dressed and ready, the whole collective donned in bright dayglo, helmets on to a man, but when it started to rain they all scurried back in to the hotel as if made of sugar
Tom and myself rode off on our own and did our own thing .... and had a ride up to Dingle, dodging the showers
Connors Pass
Wild west coast of Ireland
Sunday 27th Tom and myself then headed north up to Westport, another favourite of ours. A special deal had been struck, two nights bed and breakfast with a free evening meal, an extra nights kip thrown in for free with just €10 for the extra breakfast ... and the breakfast at the Milltimes Hotel is but one of the very best
The Milltimes, formerly The Westport Inn, has an underground car park, great hospitality and just two minutes from the great old traditional bars of Westport. Matt Molloys (Chieftains) wasn't too busy but at least it had the usual small group playing traditional music in one of the back rooms. Ireland at its very best
Tom at his best
A day out over the mountains... Gaynors Bar at Leenane
The remembrance garden of peace for all those that have died in conflict from Co Mayo in the last Century
I see no ships ...
A cracking last night in Ireland down on the south coast at Kilmore Quay before catching the ferry on Thursday 3rd March from Rosslare to Fishguard where Andy and Ron were waiting for us. They had ridden down to another favourite of ours, The Lion Hotel at Llanbister the night before. A couple of nights here, with a full day riding round the mountains and valley's of mid Wales ended a great week of motorcycling
Just a couple of horses
Three weeks and I'm off again ... a tour of the battlefields of The Somme with two or three nights after in the Black Forest or Eifel's of Germany
Good weather, cold and some sh*tty roads, but it was February after all.
Met up with mi ol' mucker Tom Birtwistle from Red Rose country and caught the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Port Thursday 24th Feb. Tom used to have the Graham Arms at Longtown, some of you may know him from there. We were heading for the Mini Thatch Rally being held this year at Castle Connell, Limerick.
I would rather sail to Dun Laoghaire because Dublin Port is a bugger to get out of ... Tom promptly taking us the wrong way and through the tunnel with its toll of €10
For the first night we headed for an old favourite, the Woodenbridge Hotel at errr mmm Woodenbridge. Great value, a good pint of Guinness and excellent food ... is there anything else
So (Friday) to the Mini Thatch at Castle Oakes Hotel, Castle Connell. Good craic, met up with old friends. We missed the first ride out because I'd taken some kit across and did a bit of 'earpluggin' first thing ... now ready for the second and later ride out. All dressed and ready, the whole collective donned in bright dayglo, helmets on to a man, but when it started to rain they all scurried back in to the hotel as if made of sugar
Tom and myself rode off on our own and did our own thing .... and had a ride up to Dingle, dodging the showers
Connors Pass
Wild west coast of Ireland
Sunday 27th Tom and myself then headed north up to Westport, another favourite of ours. A special deal had been struck, two nights bed and breakfast with a free evening meal, an extra nights kip thrown in for free with just €10 for the extra breakfast ... and the breakfast at the Milltimes Hotel is but one of the very best
The Milltimes, formerly The Westport Inn, has an underground car park, great hospitality and just two minutes from the great old traditional bars of Westport. Matt Molloys (Chieftains) wasn't too busy but at least it had the usual small group playing traditional music in one of the back rooms. Ireland at its very best
Tom at his best
A day out over the mountains... Gaynors Bar at Leenane
The remembrance garden of peace for all those that have died in conflict from Co Mayo in the last Century
I see no ships ...
A cracking last night in Ireland down on the south coast at Kilmore Quay before catching the ferry on Thursday 3rd March from Rosslare to Fishguard where Andy and Ron were waiting for us. They had ridden down to another favourite of ours, The Lion Hotel at Llanbister the night before. A couple of nights here, with a full day riding round the mountains and valley's of mid Wales ended a great week of motorcycling
Just a couple of horses
Three weeks and I'm off again ... a tour of the battlefields of The Somme with two or three nights after in the Black Forest or Eifel's of Germany
But when you are leaving the port in dublin just follow the signs for city center 
The tunnel is a scam for bikers.
