Celtic Knot

(2009 Euro Run in Ireland)

THURSDAY: On the ferry ready to leave Fishguard. "Oo! what's that down there?"

Leaving the dock  with the sky threatening the weather to come.

Settled down in the ferries aft (how's that  nautical terminology)  lounge. If the helmsman had been driving a bus he would have driven through every pot hole that he could find, that's how it felt during the crossing with loud bangs and violent shudders. 

After landing at Rosslare we rode to the first fuel stop and then looked for a campsite. This site we were directed to by Pete's sat nav  

the site lived up to its name of  "Hidden Valley" tucked in a valley

in the loop of a river about 10 miles off the main road from Rosslare to Dublin

with excellent facilities this is the shower/toilet block with cooking & food preparation  facilities for those camping on the right of the picture 

We were directed to a pub about 10 mins walk away just up the  hill. HILL! North face of the Eiger more like by the time I sat, make that collapsed, in the pub I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Note to self must get to the gym..... next week.

FRIDAY: So went back in the morning for breakfast after we broke camp  and rode up!

Full bellies and full of enthusiasm we had a group photo taken then roared out of the quite village heading north.

Climbing ever higher into the mountains we breasted a crest in the road; only for it to disapear sharply right and to leave a drop of  several hundred feet into a wind swept and very cold looking lake in front. We stopped a short distance after to take in the view, and to release the bikes that were firmly clamped between but cheeks from the incident a few seconds earlier.

The right hand area,or even the whole  of the pic, formed the grounds to a large house that was just out of shot.

The blob that looks like a mark on the lens,at 7 'O' clock from the center of the green area with the beach looked like a small bandstand. Festival site for the classical music buffs, do you think?

Leaving the mountains behind we pushed on north through the center of Dublin and on into the run site.

We arrived at the same time as a heavy rain shower once that had passed

Set up camp and........

Regrouped at our favorite place and got down to the grueling task of enjoying ourselves.

SATURDAY: After dossing around the run site for most of the morning a few of us decide to take a ride into Ballymoney for a look see. The first place to attract our attention was a bar,  No! Not for that that was called the Diamond Bar, on the High street, so we had to go in and sample some of their  wares. After a drink the hunger pangs kicked in with a vengeance, so we looked for somewhere to silence the grumbling bellies. Mollys Restaurant on Main Street who supplied us with good array of food at a reasonable price, and it was all bloody hot.    

Back at the run site later that evening the entertainment and boogying  got underway.

After the "Back Patch" awards came the "Long Service Patches"

Jim was up to receive his 10yr patch.

Sunday: the run out was to Portrush. Marshaling this time held a couple of  unexpected "treets" Firstly Tim and I were marshaling a junction just above the harbour. Standing helmets on, we could hear the bikes approaching, looking up the road in the direction we had arrived from and ready to spring into action at first sight. By the sound the pack should have been insight  but where were they? " In best pantomime tradition came a shout "Their behind you" Trying to sneek up on us from the opposite direction expected huh! 

The second was the near 2hr wait at an island on the outskirts of Portrush for the run to come through. The delay, from the usual 30mins or so, was down to the police holding the run back to allow about 60 or so mini owners, who were holding a 50th anniversary of the Mini rally in the town, to all go before allowing 400+ bikes to leave.

Largy & Fruitbat both had their chests waxed, by some of the club ladies, to raise money to help the family of our injured brother Harpo.

One of the members of the Red Hot Roosters also volunteered to have his back waxed while singing a song. The ladies involved in all this hair removal seemed to enjoy their task a little to much.

McGoo Receives presents from all parts of the Diamond Empire.... and breaks it!

Monday. There are some who just push the boat out to party then there are others who push out a  f*****g great super tanker and party like there's no tomorrow.  Largy could have done without this morning.

The ride home was a charge back down the length of Ireland and getting soaking wet. enduring more Irish sea potholes and the distainfull stares of our ferry companions as we oozed water into the carpet and soft furnishings. Then riding across south Wales topping up the water we'd lost on the ferry and coming up to the Severn crossing with the sun setting and the clouds clearing.