Wednesday 12/04/06, Day 3 of the Irish Trip.
Like many of the worst days you have in life, this one actually started with an air of optimism. We had decided to stay another night in Limerick but take a day trip to Galway. As we headed out of Limerick the weather seemed to have finally brightened up. The roads were good, the scenery was great too and I started to get the feeling that the rest of the trip was going to be this good. After an hour or two ride we pulled in at a small town called Gort for a brew and something to eat. The small café we stopped at served the best coffee I had drank in weeks as I recall and the pastry I had was just as good as any Gregg’s have to offer. So after our rest, rather than spending time looking round the place we decided to push on to Galway.
As soon as we had set off, and I mean ’as soon’ as we had set off the heavens opened. Ever the optimists we decided to push on in case it was just a passing shower, but it seemed that the closer we got to our destination, the heavier the rain became. Neither Mo or myself are what you would call fair weather bikers, we can ride in the rain with the best of them, however because the day had started off so promising we were not wearing waterproofs and had only come out with the minimum of baggage. So just outside of Galway with fuel running low and near torrential rain we pulled into a service station to fill up and have a coffee and wait for the rain to abate while again trying to dry ourselves out a bit. Anyway, lets just say that over an hour later we were still sat on the inside looking out, praying that the bikes wouldn’t get washed away.
Eventually after not even getting off the bikes in Galway we headed back towards Limerick. The one thing that was decided however was that we would come back the next day and stay the night. We were not going to be put off seeing the place by something as trivial as a little rain…
Thursday 13/04/06, Day 4 of the Irish Trip
We were up early to make the most of the good weather. After returning the previous day with little hope things were going to get any better, the weather man on TV had informed us that the next day was going to be a scorcher. After a hearty breakfast and packing up our belongings we headed out to the back of the place to secure our luggage to the bikes. The weather was indeed good, although both bikes were looking very much the worse for wear.
We headed off along the same roads we had taken only 24 hours earlier with a renewed hope for the remainder of the week; perhaps we could salvage some good riding after all. I don’t think either of us was disappointed. Both the roads and the surrounding scenery were stunning.
The initial stage of our ride took us back into Gort, where we stopped at the same café and had another brew. As we returned to the bikes to head off again, the sunny weather accentuated how much crap had been attracted to the bikes, especially the rear suspension on mine. More for the sake of keeping away rust than anything else, we decided to give them a hose down at the next garage. There was another reason for wanting to do this, on my part especially, because just as we were leaving Gort a bird (unknown type but probably a big one….) decided to empty the contents of its bowel onto my tank. This struck me as strange at the time because they normally wait until ‘after’ I have cleaned the bike/car before doing their business!! As it turned out the spray gun we used at the garage was bloody useless at getting anything off and I’m sure actually had a weak glue solution in it that attracted more dirt onto the bikes. Not to worry though as the weather was still good and if riding a dirty bike was all I had to concern me then life was good.
Compared to the previous days ride this one literally flew by. It is amazing to me how a state of mind can make such a difference. The weather is good so you are happy, because you are happy your riding seems better, because you are riding better you get happier and so on and so on.
We arrived in Galway relatively early in the afternoon and rather than riding round for an hour searching for somewhere to stay we took a chance on the first decent looking place we came across. As it turned out the hotel was not much dearer than the B+B in Limerick, but was a great deal better with its own bar and restaurant as well as the added bonus, for us, of secure underground parking.
After getting a shower and having a power nap (again Mo power napped while I just couldn’t sleep and had to content myself with watching TV) we headed into town for a look round the shops and to get something to eat.
A two minute walk from the hotel took us past some fine looking bars and into Eyre Square. At the time the finishing touches were just being put to a refurbishment of the square in time for Easter weekend. Even though some minor work was still going on the place looked idyllic. The place was alive with people lounging, enjoying the weather, socialising and generally enjoying each others company. It seemed that everyone was gearing up for the weekend ahead, Easter being just as much of a holiday in Ireland as Christmas is in England.
A further five minute walk through Eyre Square and we were on the banks of the Corrin looking out towards Claddagh Loch. The view across and out to sea was fantastic. Strange to realise that there was no land between the coast here and the east coast of the good ole ewe ess of eh (USA).
After looking round a few shops and getting a bite to eat in an Irish themed restaurant (so what if we looked like tourists) it was back to the hotel to freshen up for the evening and our jaunt to the local watering holes.
The night started with a quick beer in the hotel bar where the Liverpool youth squad were on TV playing (and about to win) the FA Youth Cup. After that we walked into the town. Everywhere seemed packed out, and queues were coming out the doors of most of the bars; that was until it suddenly dawned on us that all public places are now non smoking in the Republic and people were just popping out for a tab. Ironic if you think about it, they are stepping out into the fresh air so they can pollute their lungs!!!!
We only visited two bars outside of the hotel that night as the second one we went to had a rather good band on and I am a sucker for a good live band. What made this band so special though was the guy on bass, that’s if you can call it a bass, or even an instrument. What it actually was looked like a snooker cue stood on its end on top of a box with a piece of cord connecting the top of the cue to the box. To change the notes he simply bent the cue forward or back, what an innovative musician Wonder what he called it?
Finally called it a night relatively early as it was going to be a long day the next day. We would be staying at my uncles house near Dublin in the east of Ireland. That meant we would be riding coast to coast on Good Friday, hoping that the fuel stations did not have the same rules as the bars on this holy day!
Like many of the worst days you have in life, this one actually started with an air of optimism. We had decided to stay another night in Limerick but take a day trip to Galway. As we headed out of Limerick the weather seemed to have finally brightened up. The roads were good, the scenery was great too and I started to get the feeling that the rest of the trip was going to be this good. After an hour or two ride we pulled in at a small town called Gort for a brew and something to eat. The small café we stopped at served the best coffee I had drank in weeks as I recall and the pastry I had was just as good as any Gregg’s have to offer. So after our rest, rather than spending time looking round the place we decided to push on to Galway.
As soon as we had set off, and I mean ’as soon’ as we had set off the heavens opened. Ever the optimists we decided to push on in case it was just a passing shower, but it seemed that the closer we got to our destination, the heavier the rain became. Neither Mo or myself are what you would call fair weather bikers, we can ride in the rain with the best of them, however because the day had started off so promising we were not wearing waterproofs and had only come out with the minimum of baggage. So just outside of Galway with fuel running low and near torrential rain we pulled into a service station to fill up and have a coffee and wait for the rain to abate while again trying to dry ourselves out a bit. Anyway, lets just say that over an hour later we were still sat on the inside looking out, praying that the bikes wouldn’t get washed away.
Eventually after not even getting off the bikes in Galway we headed back towards Limerick. The one thing that was decided however was that we would come back the next day and stay the night. We were not going to be put off seeing the place by something as trivial as a little rain…
Thursday 13/04/06, Day 4 of the Irish Trip
We were up early to make the most of the good weather. After returning the previous day with little hope things were going to get any better, the weather man on TV had informed us that the next day was going to be a scorcher. After a hearty breakfast and packing up our belongings we headed out to the back of the place to secure our luggage to the bikes. The weather was indeed good, although both bikes were looking very much the worse for wear.
We headed off along the same roads we had taken only 24 hours earlier with a renewed hope for the remainder of the week; perhaps we could salvage some good riding after all. I don’t think either of us was disappointed. Both the roads and the surrounding scenery were stunning.
The initial stage of our ride took us back into Gort, where we stopped at the same café and had another brew. As we returned to the bikes to head off again, the sunny weather accentuated how much crap had been attracted to the bikes, especially the rear suspension on mine. More for the sake of keeping away rust than anything else, we decided to give them a hose down at the next garage. There was another reason for wanting to do this, on my part especially, because just as we were leaving Gort a bird (unknown type but probably a big one….) decided to empty the contents of its bowel onto my tank. This struck me as strange at the time because they normally wait until ‘after’ I have cleaned the bike/car before doing their business!! As it turned out the spray gun we used at the garage was bloody useless at getting anything off and I’m sure actually had a weak glue solution in it that attracted more dirt onto the bikes. Not to worry though as the weather was still good and if riding a dirty bike was all I had to concern me then life was good.
Compared to the previous days ride this one literally flew by. It is amazing to me how a state of mind can make such a difference. The weather is good so you are happy, because you are happy your riding seems better, because you are riding better you get happier and so on and so on.
We arrived in Galway relatively early in the afternoon and rather than riding round for an hour searching for somewhere to stay we took a chance on the first decent looking place we came across. As it turned out the hotel was not much dearer than the B+B in Limerick, but was a great deal better with its own bar and restaurant as well as the added bonus, for us, of secure underground parking.
After getting a shower and having a power nap (again Mo power napped while I just couldn’t sleep and had to content myself with watching TV) we headed into town for a look round the shops and to get something to eat.
A two minute walk from the hotel took us past some fine looking bars and into Eyre Square. At the time the finishing touches were just being put to a refurbishment of the square in time for Easter weekend. Even though some minor work was still going on the place looked idyllic. The place was alive with people lounging, enjoying the weather, socialising and generally enjoying each others company. It seemed that everyone was gearing up for the weekend ahead, Easter being just as much of a holiday in Ireland as Christmas is in England.
A further five minute walk through Eyre Square and we were on the banks of the Corrin looking out towards Claddagh Loch. The view across and out to sea was fantastic. Strange to realise that there was no land between the coast here and the east coast of the good ole ewe ess of eh (USA).
After looking round a few shops and getting a bite to eat in an Irish themed restaurant (so what if we looked like tourists) it was back to the hotel to freshen up for the evening and our jaunt to the local watering holes.
The night started with a quick beer in the hotel bar where the Liverpool youth squad were on TV playing (and about to win) the FA Youth Cup. After that we walked into the town. Everywhere seemed packed out, and queues were coming out the doors of most of the bars; that was until it suddenly dawned on us that all public places are now non smoking in the Republic and people were just popping out for a tab. Ironic if you think about it, they are stepping out into the fresh air so they can pollute their lungs!!!!
We only visited two bars outside of the hotel that night as the second one we went to had a rather good band on and I am a sucker for a good live band. What made this band so special though was the guy on bass, that’s if you can call it a bass, or even an instrument. What it actually was looked like a snooker cue stood on its end on top of a box with a piece of cord connecting the top of the cue to the box. To change the notes he simply bent the cue forward or back, what an innovative musician Wonder what he called it?
Finally called it a night relatively early as it was going to be a long day the next day. We would be staying at my uncles house near Dublin in the east of Ireland. That meant we would be riding coast to coast on Good Friday, hoping that the fuel stations did not have the same rules as the bars on this holy day!
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