Points, pics & Elvis. A weird day out.

[Aidan1150]

Unfortunately, because of work on Saturday I couldn't get away to De Crowe's Galway run.

So anyway, at half ten on Saturday night I'm sitting in the house when Jockser rings. He couldn't make the Galway run either and had decided to do some of the Photo Rally points and was in a hotel in Oranmore. It only took a little persuasion to arrange that I would meet him in Ballina on Sunday morning for a run.

It was a lovely morning as I left the house at 8am to head west. A quick fuel stop in Aughnacloy and I was looking forward to the brekkie at Clancys of Glenfarne. I was bombing over the A4, near Enniskillen when I got a flash from a car so I rolled off the throttle but it was too late. The peeler had already got me and was standing in the road directing me into a layby. 79mph. £60 and 3 points later and I was back on the road.

After meeting Jockser in Ballina we headed off for our first PR point of the day at Rathlacan Pier in north Mayo.

Back through Ballina again and on to a great wee road down through the Ox Mountains to our next point at Lough Easky.

Jockser couldn't resist a wee play.

We took in another PR point at Cloone in Co Leitrim before heading off for our final spot of the day at Lough Sillan. Outside Cavan town my GS reached another milestone;

We went our separate ways from Carrickmacross, which like most towns and villages today had parades taking place, although why they couldn't wait until the day itself escapes me. Just what the connection is between St Patrick and Elvis is I can't figure out, but he was on a hiding to nothing trying to relieve Jockser of his tea.

The fine and points aside, it was a great day out. Another four Photo Rally points visited and 375 more miles knocked up.

Thanks Jochen.

 

[GerryC]

Photo rally points; ouch - not really what the organisers intended.
That aside it seems you had a good day.
I believe the Lough Sillan grid ref is a little out.
The other fella phoned me on Sat to verify something but as I said to him "rates may fall as well as rise, terms and conditions apply".

About Elvis - it is not really a St Patrick thing; he turns up everywhere for everything. I'm unsure if Fr Ted is responsible or if Ted tapped into the Elvis thing. One thing for sure - Elvis aint dead. How come other past musicians such as John Lennon dont pop up all over Ireland at the oddest time.

Happy St Patrick's day. One final question; how is IT looking - on herself?

 

[Mandylicious]

And you told me you were just going out for milk

 

[Jockser]

And you told me you were just going out for milk

And you believed him Will ya never learn

it was a great day out

It was Far better weather than Saturday too

 

[G.C.]

£60 and 3 points later and I was back on the road.

Ouch I hate it when they are out that early on a Sunday morning.
Nice pics, looks like,mostly, a good day out.

 

[trevmcdev8]

Dirty hoors shame about the points mate, but looks like a good runout otherwise

 

[AndyT]

£60 and 3 points later and I was back on the road.

They are never out that early on a Sunday Especially St Patricks weekend - I think this is Jocksters idea of a prank


Nice pics by the way Aidan. I'll be testing that Tarmac in less than a months time

 

[Jockser]

They are never out that early on a Sunday Especially St Patricks weekend - I think this is Jocksters idea of a prank

Ah but it was a Northern copper who (probably) wouldn't have been celebrating Paddys Day, at least not in the way a Southern copper might

There's nothing I like better than a practical joke, especially if it's at the expense of the Big Bollix But I think I'd draw the line at getting him points on his licence

 

[Jockser]

I was supposed to be going on De Crowes run - had the passes & everything organised. But then circumstances conspired against me on Saturday morning & I couldn't get away at the appointed time. By the time 09.00 came & went I knew I wasn't gonna make it so sent the man a text.

By 10.00 I was getting closer to making like Houdini but what to do ? The lads would be off in the middle of nowhere by now so heading west was pointless. It wasn't a bad day - bit overcast & the roads were damp but what the 'ell - better out on the bike than home listening to the music
I know - pick up a few Photo Rally points So I set the GPS for minor roads & away I went

First stop was Altamount, often passed the sign on the main road but had never ventured in. Seems like a nice spot, must return with the kids for a proper look around. On the way over I found this:

Then it was off cross-country to Bilboa P.O. On the way I came across Fr.Murphys Last Journey & the generating station (see my posts of earlier today). As I was leaving the generating station the rain started & never stopped all day (except for 10 minutes while I was indoors having a cuppa ) The post office is up in the hills a bit & by the time I got there I was in the clouds. The shop was open so I bought a packet of Taytos & a coke to keep myself going. I reckon it's a lovely area but most of the time visibility was only 20 or 30 meters so that's another place to go back to

Riding on through the rain the GPS brought me close to Urlingford so I popped into Josephines for a cuppa & to change my now soaking GS gloves for something more appropriate. Then it was onwards again to the Silvermines for the Gortnagarry monument. Nearly missed it as it's stuck in the hedge

And then on again for Glenstal. Again some nice roads until I got close to the waypoint whereupon Mapsource brought me up a tiny boreen & straight into someones farmyard. With a big dog & a big ould wan coming at me I did a swift u-turn & hightailed it outta there. A quick call to GerryC confirmed he wasn't takin' the pish by adding a waypoint that was in someones back garden I then rang Daithi who guided me down the road to the real entrance. Fine spot, must have been a joy being a monk in the good old days

Away again, this time towards north Clare. Having spent the day heading west I now set off in a north westerly direction, across the Shannon & through the middle of the Burren to a lonely headland across from Ballyvaughan. Having spent many great weekends in & around Ballyvaughan in my younger days I was tempted to pop into Monks for a seafood chowder but by now the day was slipping away & I needed to find somewhere warm & dry for the night.
The view across the bay to Ballyvaughan :

More to follow later - I'd have been finished by now but that Gerry fella keeps disturbin' me

 

[GerryC]

Nice report; the Tipp one is stuck in a hedge a bit but WTF.
It appears your Fr Murphy sign may not be the one I'm remembering. Was your one near Bilbao or Tullow?

The Ballyvaughan spot is nice; one of those places I looked across at but never actually visited till last summer.

Where is the monument to Jo Greene; I like the look of it?

You must be right stuck to be taking directions off de langer.

 

[Mzokk]

Bummer about the points Aidan looks like you and Jockser had a good run though.

 

[de crowe]

lesson for next time

Have a back up rendevous point for late comers. I should have thought of that when i got your text in the morning but i assumed you wouldn't be heading vest. You could have run into the back of us jockser. we passed through ballyvaughan twice that day and didn't leave keoghs in kinvara until 3 ish.
At that stage we were 1.5 hours behind my "schedule".next time!

 

[Jockser]

It appears your Fr Murphy sign may not be the one I'm remembering. Was your one near Bilbao or Tullow?

Closer to Tullow. But after my having to reset my GPS on Sat nite I lost all my waypoints so I'll have to venture down that way again.

Where is the monument to Jo Greene; I like the look of it?

Somewhere between my house & Altamount Again, I'll have to retrace my steps.

You must be right stuck to be taking directions off de langer.

It was a case of having to - you were feck all use

lesson for next time

Have a back up rendevous point for late comers. I should have thought of that when i got your text in the morning but i assumed you wouldn't be heading vest. You could have run into the back of us jockser. we passed through ballyvaughan twice that day and didn't leave keoghs in kinvara until 3 ish.
At that stage we were 1.5 hours behind my "schedule".next time!

If I'd known that I could have not stopped in Gort & joined youse in Kinvara. Ah well, as ya say "next time"

A few more pics to come once I get organised here

 

[nud1e]

And then on again for Glenstal. Again some nice roads until I got close to the waypoint whereupon Mapsource brought me up a tiny boreen & straight into someones farmyard. With a big dog & a big ould wan coming at me I did a swift u-turn & hightailed it outta there. A quick call to GerryC confirmed he wasn't takin' the pish by adding a waypoint that was in someones back garden I then rang Daithi who guided me down the road to the real entrance. Fine spot, must have been a joy being a monk in the good old days

didn't I tell you that I'm within walking distance of Glenstal, didn't I tell you to give me a call, you could have had a dry out and a cup of tea, I might have even let you in the house.

you bring it down on your own head, don't ya.
could have had a Slieve Felim moment, in Glenstal, you were only 5 mins away.

 

[Jockser]

didn't I tell you that I'm within walking distance of Glenstal, didn't I tell you to give me a call, you could have had a dry out and a cup of tea, I might have even let you in the house.

you bring it down on your own head, don't ya.
could have had a Slieve Felim moment, in Glenstal, you were only 5 mins away.

I know, I know I did consider giving you a call but I was too wet to call on anyone & I still had too many miles to do. One of these days you will find me standing on yer front step

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Nice pics Aidan/Jockser. Sorry about the fine aidan.

Oddly enough nearly every time I've seen the police on either side of the border it has always been early on a Sunday morning - usually hiding in laybys. So far I've been lucky

 

[Jockser]

So onwards...
Back through Kinvara, with no sign of the hookers & Kilcolgan to Oranmore where I figured I'd had enough rain for one day & found myself a nice warm dry room for the night

Spent the first while putting the 2 pairs of wet gloves & 2 neck tubes on the radiator before going downstairs for a wee steak. Feeling much better about life I wrung out the sleeves of my jacket & the ends of the trousers & plonked them on the rad. We were making progress

Phoned home & told them "If it's like this in the morning I'll be coming straight home" but when I spoke to Aidan he said Sunday was going to be dry & bright. And indeed when I checked the forecast it did indeed say it was gonna be a good one. Only problem now was the GPS which had 'locked up' & wasn't playing ball. Some communication with King of Quests (Daithi) sorted the problem but in using the 'master reset' I'd lost all my waypoints Another call to Aidan where we agreed on which points we were gonna do & I then spent a happy (!) hour putting in the co-ordinates manually.

After a good nights sleep I was on the road by 09.00 to pick up the point at Lough Nafooey enroute to the Ballina meet. Oh joy, a dry & kinda sunny (in spots) day and I was off to one of my favourite places in the whole country. Coming over the road between Maam Cross & Maam you start to get a sense of Connemara with the mountains, small lakes & high bogs all around you and tiny white sheep dotted everywhere. But as you leave the R336 & head uphill it just gets better but you've no idea what lies over the far side. And then you crest the hill & Lough Nafooey is spread out below you with the surrounding hills stretching to the horizon - absolutely stunning

Picked up the Photo point and continued on towards my rendevous.

There's some lovely spots as you head along Lough Mask, through Tourmakeady & onto the R330 towards Westport but I was on a mission. The roads were dry & empty and the GSA was in the mood for bends While I waited for Aidan I had an almost cold fry & a hot tea to was down the grease. And then we were off again on the run he describes above.

A few more pics :
Fancy a swim ?

Another tragedy at Rathlacan

Someone else couldn't resist a play at Lough Easky

After leaving Aidan outside Carrickmacross I headed home through Ardee, Slane, Navan, Trim, Enfield & Edenderry to arrive home in time for the dinner

What started as a sh1te weekend turned out to be a great one and I'd highly recommend doing a few Photo Rally points. But make sure your GPS is set to minor roads 'cos we've some crackin' ones in this country

Thanks to DeCrowe (for making me get the weekend pass in the first place), GerryC (for the photo points) Daithi (for the tech support) & Aidan (for the company)

 

[trevmcdev8]

Someone else couldn't resist a play at Lough Easky

Looks relaxing

 

[Jockser]

Looks relaxing

Aye, he was very relaxed alright