Looks a cracking trip!
Happy Birthday Tim
Happy Birthday Tim
Around Ireland with no waterproofs!!
- Thread starter Timolgra
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Wolfgang
Registered user
Neil,
My in laws live across the road from that cemetery !
My in laws live across the road from that cemetery !
Nice laid back "adventure" Tim and Angie .
Enjoyed the long weekend at Achill a few years ago on a ukgser event, spent a nice afternoon wandering around the place by myself while everyone went screaming off on a ride out.
You mention Angies dad and the hardship, i only had to look in the one small derelict graveyard for a small sign of what the Irish people went through, burial plots for victims of great hunger, my god. We have a lot in our past that's not good.
I'll try and find some old photos that Ange has from the 30's and 40's on Achill
I can't imagine the weather get's any better in Donegal, all the locals were raving about it and of course enjoying the warm sunshine
Houses, streets, donkeys and cars were decorated in yellow and green in preparation for the all Ireland final against Dublin this weekend.
I like Donegal and think it could be my favourite place in Ireland
We'll take the mountain road and then as it turned out some back roads and up to Fanad Head.
The views toward Errigal mountain were stunning but into the sun so no photos.
Right I think it's time to go........
We eventually pass by the remains of Owencarrow viaduct.
Now there's a story!
1925 and 120mph winds rip the roof off a train carriage, killing four people and partially destroying the viaduct
My map was so old it didn't show the new bridge over to Fanad so although it was a suprise to me I adjusted our 'plan' to take advantage
An old boy gets out the van and chats with Ange for ages, it was him who told me what happened to the viaduct
Fanad Head lighthouse
Back from a pee
The ride down the east side of Fanad sticking close to the coast as possible is stunning, do it if you haven't already
Later...
I thought it a good spot but it seems a shag's out of the question, she's tired and needs tea
We jump on the main road at Letterkenny and head for Antrim, not sure where but after mooching around Portstewart and Portrush it was a relief find a place to stay near Bushmills.
The elderly couple running the B&B banned alcohol and tobacco from the premises, I think they were staunch Presbyterians, lovely people but I felt very uncomfortable in a comfortable place.
I can't imagine the weather get's any better in Donegal, all the locals were raving about it and of course enjoying the warm sunshine
Houses, streets, donkeys and cars were decorated in yellow and green in preparation for the all Ireland final against Dublin this weekend.
I like Donegal and think it could be my favourite place in Ireland
We'll take the mountain road and then as it turned out some back roads and up to Fanad Head.
The views toward Errigal mountain were stunning but into the sun so no photos.
Right I think it's time to go........
We eventually pass by the remains of Owencarrow viaduct.
Now there's a story!
1925 and 120mph winds rip the roof off a train carriage, killing four people and partially destroying the viaduct
My map was so old it didn't show the new bridge over to Fanad so although it was a suprise to me I adjusted our 'plan' to take advantage
An old boy gets out the van and chats with Ange for ages, it was him who told me what happened to the viaduct
Fanad Head lighthouse
Back from a pee
The ride down the east side of Fanad sticking close to the coast as possible is stunning, do it if you haven't already
Later...
I thought it a good spot but it seems a shag's out of the question, she's tired and needs tea
We jump on the main road at Letterkenny and head for Antrim, not sure where but after mooching around Portstewart and Portrush it was a relief find a place to stay near Bushmills.
The elderly couple running the B&B banned alcohol and tobacco from the premises, I think they were staunch Presbyterians, lovely people but I felt very uncomfortable in a comfortable place.
Beautiful pics Tim we take a lot for granted here and to see our place through visitors eyes reminds me how Blessed I am to live in a grand wee spot of the world. Also you were so very lucky with the weather that I laid on for youse 
BTW we did see Dolphins and Whales on the boat trip, just ask Richard
Great to see you both again
BTW we did see Dolphins and Whales on the boat trip, just ask Richard
Great to see you both again
Brilliant..Thanks for the write up..
utter utter git
pic of the view with the silouette bike - pic of the thread
pic of the view with the silouette bike - pic of the thread
.... and why hasn't he sacked his dodgy hairdresser .....
Pair of bastards.
I'm working on being a fat Willie Nelson lookalike.
Beautiful pics Tim we take a lot for granted here and to see our place through visitors eyes reminds me how Blessed I am to live in a grand wee spot of the world. Also you were so very lucky with the weather that I laid on for youse
BTW we did see Dolphins and Whales on the boat trip, just ask Richard
Great to see you both again
Good to see you both also, Ange always enjoys the company of another witch
I'm well aware it's easy to give a naive view of someone else's country but you do have some of the best roads, stunning countryside and deep history anywhere
My first proper date with Ange was to take her over to Ireland in my van via the trucker's ferry to pick up my current GS, we had visited the Giant's causeway and Rope Bridge, not wanting to spoil those memories with a second visit we gave them a miss......and heard you have to pay now, a bit like the Cliffs of Moher which we'd also seen before
So with an early morning sea mist went to the ruins of Dunluce castle just down the road from our strict B&B .... phew now I could have a quick smoke
An old photo of the ruins had caught my eye in the pub the previous night, it appeared again on the information board.
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Thank you Tim for an excellent thread. Never underestimate the importance of posts like this to inspire others to seek out 'the path less trodden'.
I'm undertaking a tour of Ireland next summer and would appreciate it if you could post an overview map of your route when you have the time.
I'm undertaking a tour of Ireland next summer and would appreciate it if you could post an overview map of your route when you have the time.
Thank you Tim for an excellent thread. Never underestimate the importance of posts like this to inspire others to seek out 'the path less trodden'.
I'm undertaking a tour of Ireland next summer and would appreciate it if you could post an overview map of your route when you have the time.
Thanks, although I'd made many previous trips in Ireland I'd asked Jocken for some ideas which he kindly did, but the places I wanted to visit became restricted to a certain extent as it was primarily a holiday for my wife.
One excellent suggestion he made was to base ourselves in Allihies for a couple of days.
My suggestion for any trip is not to have a fixed route, use a map for ideas and the gps to try out the backroads and little loops etc.
There's a wealth of knowledge among the Irish lads, just look at their ride reports and Photo Point Rally
Perhaps one other tip is to ride Ireland at the same pace they pour a pint of Guinness but have a few swift lagers in between
EDIT: and watch the weather forecast!!
Hey Aidan, this was directed at me in Castlebar on the way to Achill a couple of months ago but ............
On Achill
Time to fix a puncture ..... in a minute or two
We had good weather then too
Marvelous trip, miraculous weather. The photography wasn't bad either
Good one Tim.
Good one Tim.
I've got the old Achill photos which I'll post later but best finish this trip off first ..... don't worry, nearly there.
We've loads of time before the even ferry from Belfast so return to Ballycastle where apart from the trucker's ferry, we spent our first night together 5 years ago
This time however, it appeared something was softer than normal ......it was Ange's back tyre
Gave it a good check and blew it up, it's been fine since
For those who don't know, when going down the Antrim coast from here don't take the main A2, look for small coast road, called Torr Road which then rejoins the A2
We have several stops on the way to pass time and chill, Carnlough being one of the places that was out of the lingering sea mist with a little loop inland, also here for a while.
Past Islandmagee where my bike came from and then a few hours for dinner at Carrickfergus, with it's chequered history seemingly a thing of the past.
And that was it really, met a few bikers waiting for the ferry including a fine bunch from Donegal getting the Santander ferry the following day.
True to form, Ange had booked a very comfortable cabin for the overnight crossing to Birkenhead..............
which of course we made the best of
We've loads of time before the even ferry from Belfast so return to Ballycastle where apart from the trucker's ferry, we spent our first night together 5 years ago
This time however, it appeared something was softer than normal ......it was Ange's back tyre
Gave it a good check and blew it up, it's been fine since
For those who don't know, when going down the Antrim coast from here don't take the main A2, look for small coast road, called Torr Road which then rejoins the A2
We have several stops on the way to pass time and chill, Carnlough being one of the places that was out of the lingering sea mist with a little loop inland, also here for a while.
Past Islandmagee where my bike came from and then a few hours for dinner at Carrickfergus, with it's chequered history seemingly a thing of the past.
And that was it really, met a few bikers waiting for the ferry including a fine bunch from Donegal getting the Santander ferry the following day.
True to form, Ange had booked a very comfortable cabin for the overnight crossing to Birkenhead..............
which of course we made the best of
A few pics of Achill during Ange's Dad's time
Here with brother Jack, that's Slievemore on the right.
Her Dad, Vic, with two aunts I think at probably Keem Strand
That'll be Vic on the right and Jack front right
The farm house has gone now.
Postie
Early GS
Vic and his father at Keem beach
Here with brother Jack, that's Slievemore on the right.
Her Dad, Vic, with two aunts I think at probably Keem Strand
That'll be Vic on the right and Jack front right
The farm house has gone now.
Postie
Early GS
Vic and his father at Keem beach
Really enjoyed that Tim, some absolutely cracking photos
It's a brilliant little island for a GS isn't it
Shoulda kept left for Lough Brin & avoided the jarvey traffic
And on to Ballaghbeama
Great to see Ange & you in Leenane.
Don't tell anyone but it's on again in 2015 - 4/5 Sept
It's a brilliant little island for a GS isn't it
Shoulda kept left for Lough Brin & avoided the jarvey traffic
And on to Ballaghbeama
Great to see Ange & you in Leenane.
Don't tell anyone but it's on again in 2015 - 4/5 Sept
Really enjoyed that Tim, some absolutely cracking photos
It's a brilliant little island for a GS isn't it
Shoulda kept left for Lough Brin & avoided the jarvey traffic
Fook Jochen, I looked at that at the junction and pointed it out to Ange but followed my nose instead
next time thenYes, Ireland is perfect GS territory
Tengiz99
Registered user
Top report, top weekend, good to meet you both! 
Mr K
Registered user
Can't stand the place... you'll not catch me over there, getting drunk with them awful people...
Great pictures.
Great pictures.
