In Limerick

13/09/12

   Headed out from Barry's and slowly up the coast. I stopped at a burial sight I had been told about. But unfortunately I could not find the sight where the Stone Henge stones come from. I did find the Devil's bridge tho. Lovely ride all the way till Porthmadog where it took a while to find a camp ground. I found 2 full of caravans but they all had stable grounding so I think they are actually holiday homes, I couldn't find the reception for either place. 

Ben on an ATV

This guy has exactly they same set up as me, had to take a photo of that.

Burial chamber door way

They call it the punch bowl

The Devil's bridge is the bottom one

14/09/12

   There was some music festival on at Portmerilion so I didn't get to see the set for Prisoner. I headed out to Holyhead to catch the ferry to Ireland. Was a nice crossing not too ruff. Eventually found a hostel in Dublin and decided to enjoy some Irish spirit lol, no not the Jamieson's type the beer type.

Ok it is not so suprising now..this was the first time in my life i have seen an O'Neil's that wasn't a pub lol what a shock.

15/09/12

   Woke up very hung over, mmm how did that happen. I sat around doing a lot of very little until about 15:00 when I felt much better and asked about a bed for the night, as they had been booked up when I arrived the day before, and found that they had a room.... I had paid 18euro for the night before in a 8 bed dorm, now they wanted 32 for the same bed. Ok this happens in Amsterdam where the price goes up for Friday, Saturday as that is when the weekend smokers come in. Here in Dublin I was a bit shocked as it was Saturday night so wasn't a weekend thing. The lady said “Lady Gaga is in town!”. I said “So I hear, but why is the bed twice the price for a Saturday???” she said “Lady Gaga is in town!!!”

Who the F**K cares about Lady Bloody Gaga.

   Well that's it for Isaac's Hostel I packed the bike and rode out to anywhere. Ended up in Wexford, nice and cold by the time I got there and had seen no signs for camp grounds, so I stayed in a B&B for 50 euro.

16/09/12

   Got up early to find that some thing/idiot had either drunkenly pretended to ride my bike, or tried to steal it and dropped it... breaking the new right hand mirror I replaced in London and also broke the front brake lever. Mmm lucky I still carry some wire, so I wired the brake lever back on packed the bike. Decided to leave even in the rain so carefully rode down to Cork, had to stop on the way and make a new set of wire to hold it on.

   Made it safely down to Cork and checked into a kiwi hostel, ended up having a few drinks with some local lads. Funny enough a man later in the night told me to be careful about people here as they are out to rip you off... After the last 2 nights I almost believed him.

Not happy Jan...

So i wrote a rude letter... Oh and if you do read this person who broke my bike the brake lever was only 15euros, so send cheque for 75euros instead of 150.

17/09/12

   Up late as I had a few beers with some local lads lol, it is Ireland. I road around all the places a guy at the information said where bike shops even one which was his uncles car repair but he was a bike lover so would be able to help...BUT it was Monday and all where closed. What the! It's Monday, open, I want brakes. The last place I mumbled loud enough and the man came out side to ask if I was alright. So I mentioned how someone had dropped the bike and got a new brake lever for only 15euro. Well played mate sorry I forgot to bring you a card the next day.

18/09/12

   Headed out to Blarney Castle in the morning and kissed the stone, that should make me talk better know all I need to find is the stone that helps me write better lol. Went back to the hostel after that and packed the bike. I followed the N71 down along the coast until Bantry? (ok my map book actually has no villages marked on it for this whole route so cannot be sure what any place was actually called) I headed out towards Dursey Island around the Beara ring. Finally ending up in Kenmare at another B&B.

The home of THE Stone

The home of THE Witch

The art gallery on the grounds, these where 2,200euro, probably each. Interesting place to exibit your art, in the grounds of Blarney castle

Another Flag

19/09/12

   Followed the Kerry coast all the way to Tralee including a lovely loop out around Dingle. Some lovely roads not to much traffic. Ended up in Limerick as I need a new front tyre. Found a pub next to my hotel and meet a local man who knows someone in Palmerston North. Normally I would laugh and say yeah I know everyone in New Zealand. But in this case

   Uncle Pete do you know a man called Michael Shaughnessy possible living at 3 Shamrock st . He has lived in Parmie for about 35 years and is 74?. His brother John is looking for him as their sister has cancer and not long to go. If you know him or of him can you possible help by emailing a phone number.

Steg.... something castle lol, it was a random side road so wasn't really looking at the signs.

Some lovely beaches, but look at the high tied mark

With the wind some would be great for blokarting or kite surfing

Windy but dry

More nice beachs, i'm surprised about this

Connor pass near Dingle.

20/09/12

   Got a second hand front tyre fitted for 100euro. Decided to stay in a better place in Limerick and do...my washing. No laundrettes in town though so I have to pay 15euro for someone to wash them for me... shit I miss Asia.

Hope you can find some info for me Uncle peter.

 Enjoy your life

In Haverfordwest, Wales

04/09/12

   Went down into town to get a Welsh flag, also got an England one. Had a bit of a walk around. BBQ for dinner and a few beers

 The new flags

This is the mountain that use to be a hill, if you look closely it has the 3 measuring points on top slightly higher than the rest.

05/09/12

  Rode out towards Brecon, then down towards Abergavenny. Decided to go up a side road as I had time. Then cut back through and out to Pontypridd and a few beers with a beautiful dinner.

 

Out in the Breacon Becons

06/09/12

   Rode out into the Beacons, some lovely roads and views. Ended up at a place called Llangadog where I thought I should start heading for Barry's. Lovely day and lovely roads.

More beacons

You can guess why i took this one.

07/09/12

   Cleaned the chain in the morning, it's a lot better now, spent the day putting oil on it and riding around. Headed out south around the Pembroke Coast, to Angle and around to St Govan's

 

 

Do you recongnise these Murray, lol They have blue sky...


08/09/12

Yes she got her first clean after almost 9,000miles

   Headed out for a ride along more of the Pembrokeshire coast line, north of the river this time. Another beautiful day with lots of sun shine.

 

 

Look at the sky, another rare day this summer for Wales

   Got back to Barry's and they are just getting back with a trailer load of hey that needs unloading so help out and go fill it up again. Lovely BBQ after.

09/09/12

   Bit of a relax day, although did unload another trailer load of hay for the neighbour.

10/09/12

    Went into town, walked around for a few hours, went to the Haverfordwest Priory in the hopes of finding the Sheela Na Gig that was suppose to be there, but it has been moved.

 

 

Haverfordwest, Castle, Church, and weir.

11/09/12

   Rode out to Saint David's to see the smallest city in Europe and St David's Cathedral. Found the Devil's footprints out side. Where the devil landed after being pushed off a ledge. I then went down to White sands beach, after which I headed up to Fishguard to have a lovely fish and ships at a local pub that some workers down by the wharf told me about.

Newgale

 

Saint David's

White sands beach

12/09/12

   Van wasn't so well in the morning so help by talking lol. Then went to get a bike that Barry had stored in town. Got my visa photo for India, they have a different size to most countries. Doing the blog

A big Thankyou very much to Barry Hanna and Ben for having me for a few days.

    Enjoy your life

In Wales

Another friend who has died.... you will be missed

A new friend, donated by friends of \Miguel

If anyone need xmas present ideas.....

Luxembourg & Netherlands

27/08/12

   Rode out to Luxembourg but I was a bit slack as I found a supermarket that was large enough to have a Luxembourg flag not far from the border so put it on and started heading out north towards Eindhoven to try and get the Netherlands flag.

The new flag

   Once in Eindhoven I started looking for a hostel to stay in but couldn't find one, until I found a coffee shop and thought I'll ask them. Well getting off the bike I noticed that next door was a hostel, choice. I went to the door of the hostel and it was locked, close until 20:00 from 18:00 as it was 5 past 6 I thought I'll see what is happening at the coffee shop maybe they can open the door. Unfortunately they cannot, and I cannot sit there for 2 hours having a smoke waiting because I'm a foreigner I cannot buy anything from him...mmm.

  So I checked the GPS and found I would arrive in Amsterdam at about the same time as I could check into the hostel in Eindhoven. Off I rode to Utopia in Amsterdam again to go and see the ladies I had meet who work there the last 2 times I stayed there, unfortunately they still haven't got rid of the bed bugs, but if you head over to Amsterdam go and say hi to the ladies behind the counter for me (if they still work there).

Belgium

28/08/12

   I headed out late as I needed to sort a few things online before going to Belgium, still no luck finding a Netherlands flag..mmm. Down the motorway all fairly boring, no luck finding a Belgium flag so far either.

Have not found either the Belgium or Netherlands flags...mmmmm

England

29/08/12

  Headed out from Brugge towards Calais, got held up by customs again as I didn't have a ticket exiting the country or proof of money. This meant I missed my ferry and had to catch the next one. This is the first time I've had to show my passport since arriving at Gatwick.

   Headed up to Canterbury where it started raining before heading on into London to stay with Mike and Vivian.

Mmmm BBQ

30/08/12

   Headed into town when the rain stopped to get a new right hand mirror for the bike, which was managed by the afternoon. While waiting for bike bits I ducked into the New Zealand/Australia/South Africa shop in covent garden where I got a New Zealand flag for Thoralen. Yes the Fazer has a name, it came in Vilnius when I meet a local women who was showing her man around town. She was telling us about some of the buildings and lead me up to a resturant that did local food and resonable price beers. She ask what the bike i'm on now is called and i said i have not named her yet, she said you should call her Lorialene after her, I heard Thor-a-len. And most importantly Thoralen does seem happy with the name.

31/08/12

   Left Mike's about 10:00 and headed out to Stone Henge and through some more back roads to get to the farm for the Horizons Unlimited Autumn meet in Cheddar. I got there and set up the tent not to many people around... until I come back from a few beers then see the numbers have really multiplied, around 150 I think was the final numbers.

A few talks in the evening which was interesting as it is the first time I have been to something like this.

01/09/12

Lots of talks after breakfast, they went most of the day and I even learnt/gained some new ideas.

Few drinks and a Hungi for dinner, even cook by a kiwi from Dunedin

reasonable number of bikers

Wales

02/09/12

Bit drizzly and little wet when I got up but as I only need to get to Cardiff it isn't really a big deal. Left the farm at about 13:00 and slowly headed to Cardiff to stay with Charlie and her Mum

03/09/12

Doing the blog and relaxing, may go for a ride to the beacons this afternoon.

 

 

Special thank you to CHarle and her Mum for letting me stay a few days.