Horizons Unlimited Ireland gathering 2013

[BOIRCHE]

gawn Kev!!! feck that gave me a larf this fine evening

 

[RobertG]

We had a great spin up under the guidance of our navigators.

A quick stop of for a photo point at the Fore Priory.

Bikes gleaming in the sunshine (for historical reference, yes this is a picture in Ireland)

Then a spin by the Border Buster.

A snap at Belturbet station.

Catch up with friends.

There was the occassional odd choice of dress, given it was the 12th.

Some seemed to be VERY friendly

Some were intrigued.

Some looked confused as to why there was a sheep on a bike.

There were plenty of great presentations but it was all a bit much for some.

Kev's presentation was brill. His computer skills were a little more suspect.

Some got dressed up. Others had a hard time staying awake.

There was a drink or 12 taken.

Then it was off home through Donegal motorway.

With a stop at the Customs Hut.

and a stop at Lady's Rest (ended up on me arse in a forest trying to find it - thanks to the farmer that let me through his field)

Then a high speed route back home at dangerously legal speeds

All in all, a great weekend. See you all soon.

 

[Damien]

Kev that was brilliant!

I am sorry I missed a great weekend.

 

[Mandylicious]

I'm glad I stayed at home. Judging by those pics a visit from the fashion police would have seen a few isssued with the odd summons

 

[Sid]

Hui

Big thanks to all who made this event work so well, including the girls who had to clean up and scrub da bogs

Really enjoyed Frank and Kev's showing us how it should be done,
Jay as usual being so knowledgeable bout all mechanical bmw things.

Liam we are not jealous of your well pimped 4x4, beautiful wife and your year away exploring the world ... Or anything !!!!!

Just dont get too carried away enjoying yourselves, as we lookin foward to hearing all about it nxt yr not 3-5 yrs time.

See u all next year and at the pie dash later this year

Gerard.

 

[DrFarkoff]

I enjoyed that immensely and even though my mat went down on me I got a little adventurous on the way home Just a little mind you!

So I took this with a top box full of Final drive and spares

Down here

and then back the way I'd come as going on where the grass got VERY tall and the path very rugged seemed a Tad daft without a buddy ONly a 1000 metres or so each way but t'was fun

 

[Sid]

Jay, u could lift that bike up with ur wee finger.

I was ready to leave my yoke on its side a few times, but thankfully people thought " whats that wee man doin with that huge bike on its side?"

 

[(RIP) petcul]

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And Mide once told me you hated public performances. Sure she's got the right guy???

Great performance Kev

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Some got dressed up. Others had a hard time staying awake.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Ho hum


Ah sure he's only resting his eyes as my mother used to say

 

[Mide]

A big, huge thank you and well done to Liam, Naomi and Jochen who once again organised a fantastic event for us all

Good luck to Liam and Naomi on your travels hope ye have a wonderful trip full of adventure

We look forward to reading your blog/rr and especially to hearing yisr presentation at HU when ye eventually decide to come home

Robert G - didn't realise it was you behind me til ya passed me, woulda stopped and had an ice cream with you

 

[Travelling Sam]

What a cracking week that was! I'm now back from HU - knackered and smiling.

As you've already read (but I have to put my bit in too) the guys did a brilliant job of organising!!! Many thanks to Liam, Naomi, Jochen and all the organisers and volunteers for putting on such a friendly and fun event.

The area is absolutely stunning and it really was sunny for the whole of my first visit to Ireland - who made a mistake???

And the other people attending were great fun - an excellent mix of travellers and those planning, and they ALL sing better than I can!!!

Even met up with a few long standing internet mates and some from the road too - and the food? They did us proud!

Thanks to everyone who presented or did demos (and I don't mean the ones in the towns down the roads). Excellent and fascinating stuff! I really enjoyed the chance to see them for a change.

Overland magazine were there as well - it's Paddy Tyson's home territory and bless him he took a couple of us on a good long ride up and down dale. Hmmm, do 'dales' exist in Ireland? Well, you know what I mean! Amazing part of the world. Shouldn't have left getting there so long.

And finally, thanks to DrFarkoff for being so reserved when he saw the amount of oil dripping from Libby's final drive and for his great advice. Yep its the gearbox seal. When it rains next I won't need a GPS across Wales to find Holyhead!

Hmmm, wonder if I can get over to Enniskillen for this next year... I need to find the answer to a question. Why is it that Guinness tastes so brilliant in Ireland but tastes so grim anywhere else?

 

[DrFarkoff]

Hmmm, wonder if I can get over to Enniskillen for this next year... I need to find the answer to a question. Why is it that Guinness tastes so brilliant in Ireland but tastes so grim anywhere else?

Oh Dear Sam we are going to have to start a thread on "Where is the Guiness Good?"

So locally to me Dobbins Inn Hotel Carrickfergus There used to be a tunnel from the castle that lead to here I must talk to Kirsty the owners daughter who runs the show now and get a wee bit more history

Do we need a new thread ??

Is this Sam's New Book in the making "Around the World to sample the black Stuff in more ways than one?

 

[Travelling Sam]

Oh Dear Sam we are going to have to start a thread on "Where is the Guiness Good?"

So locally to me http://www.dobbinsinnhotel.co.uk/location.html Carrickfergus There used to be a tunnel from the castle that lead to here I must talk to Kirsty the owners daughter who runs the show now and get a wee bit more history

Do we need a new thread ??

Is this Sam's New Book in the making "Around the World to sample the black Stuff in more ways than one?

So much to see in Ireland! And no, I'm not just talking about Kirsty - Birgit might have something to say about that! Hmmm... 'ATWTSTBSIMWTO'? Seed of a dark and tasty idea planted.

 

[Daithi]

So I took this with a top box full of Final drive and spares ......

Down here

Ahh, so ya found a dual carriageway !

Well, my bike performed perfectly for the spin home but last night we went for a midnight trailride with a ford crossing....

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...but then my throttle cable broke....

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... managed a fix with a very small vicegrips to get me home, glad it didn't happen in Enniskillen.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Ahh, so ya found a dual carriageway !

Aye but I can only ride on one side at a time at present (and Stay on )

You should have been like Sam with his spare cables tied to the frame ready to go

Tut @ Daithi

 

[Jockser]

Thanks for all the kind comments folks. It makes all the hard work (by Liam ) worthwhile. And without the solid support of Brian, Geraldine, David, Ciaran & Drew none of it would have been possible.

While all the presentations were great I'd particularly like to thank the 'parishioners' who gave so generously of their time - Kev & Mark, Brian, Jay and of course Sam Manicom who travelled across especially. Well done & thanks guys

Special thanks are due to Brian Foster who travelled all the way from Oz with the lovely Deb to tell us about his ride from Kathmandu to Dublin last year
He didn't get a chance to finish his talk so maybe we can persuade him to come back next year.....?


As most of you know Liam & Naomi are heading to South America very shortly in their ruggedised Disco (did nobody get a picture of that ??) and don't expect to be back for next years gathering. Which means Liam has left me holding the can
After Liam, with Naomi guiding him , delivering four very successful events the pressure will be on next year to maintain the high standard previously set. But fear not, I'm only holding the fort until he returns. Thankfully the rest of the team will still be with me and several people have offered their services for which I'm very grateful.


And that brings me on to a request. I want to get some feedback in order to continue / improve what we've been doing and would value any criticisms, observations, suggestions from the collective even if you didn't attend this year / have never attended :
If you have an interest in motorcycle travel but haven't been to a meeting before I'd like to know why not
If you've been before but not this year I'd also like to know why not.
If you were there this year, or any of the previous years, what should we get rid of, add in, change, revise, etc ?

You can post a reply here or send me a PM
Please and thanks

Liam we are not jealous of your well pimped 4x4, beautiful wife and your year away exploring the world ...

Speak for yerself !

 

[DrFarkoff]

(did nobody get a picture of that ??)

I think I did??

If I can do something to help for next year let me know

 

[Daithi]

Having thoroughly enjoyed the weekend there isn't much I'd change and even those changes would be of a "more of" nature. I'd like more on bike and luggage preparation, tent and camping choices/advice, first aid for the bike to get it going, someone to talk on travel insurance/repatriation, a microphone for Kev, GPS info on topo maps, ......well ya did ask.

 

[Mandylicious]

Having thoroughly enjoyed the weekend there isn't much I'd change and even those changes would be of a "more of" nature. I'd like more on bike and luggage preparation, tent and camping choices/advice, first aid for the bike to get it going, someone to talk on travel insurance/repatriation, a microphone for Kev, GPS info on topo maps, ......well ya did ask.

Well after looking at some of the pics I think there should be a dress code

 

[Jockser]

I think I did??

That's the one, thanks Jay

I can do something to help for next year let me know

Consider yourself told
The view of those that attended the 'bodge class' was that it was very worthwhile so we'd love to have you do another one next year.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the weekend there isn't much I'd change and even those changes would be of a "more of" nature. I'd like more on bike and luggage preparation, tent and camping choices/advice, first aid for the bike to get it going, someone to talk on travel insurance/repatriation, a microphone for Kev, GPS info on topo maps, ......well ya did ask.

I did
Thanks, that's exactly the sort of feedback I was looking for. I can't guarantee we'll have it all but if we can persuade the right people...
Except the microphone for Kev obviously, that's a step too far

I think there should be a dress code

Good point well made