Euro-Feejer
Well-known member
I'm finally getting 'round to sharing my June journey. The day after I returned, I was off to the USA for 100 days, and life got a bit chaotic. So, for me it's memory lane, as I sit here this rainy December day in England... Christmas shopping done... son arrives from CA tomorrow... wife and friend baking seasonal goodies in the kitchen...
It was a solo ride out to Galway, Ireland. The little lady went with friends in their car on a different route. I took a scenic (and much longer) route through some backroads in Wales and Ireland. Our British friends rented a duplex in Oranmore, near Galway. This ride report does not include the week of touring with these friends in their car (with one exception of a highlight I'll share later). My pillion did brave the return ride with me back home, as our timing would not allow her to wait for a ride in the friends' car. The ride back was as direct as possible - 4 lane tollway to Dublin, ferry to Holyhead, UK, then more main highways all the way home. It rained most of the way... sorry I didn't brave any photos (though the part of Wales just south of Holyhead is very scenic). When the rain finally stopped (our last few hours), a severe wind battered us from the side... a bit unnerving.
Sooo, the rest of this ride report covers mainly the motorcycle journey out to Galway (route maps and a few stats at the end).
The weather was pleasant and favorable as I explored Wales countryside.
A stop in a Welsh village, with a castle partially hidden in the trees
Pleasant shaded backroads along sheep-filled pastures
Some festively decorated towns (for the Queen's Jubilee)
In and out of cool forests
Lots of rolling countryside
First views of the western shore and its communities
Had to leave the 'highway' and take some tiny sideroads to reach scenic views
Entering the port town of Fishguard. There's a ferry from here to Ireland, but I had already booked from a port further south
Cruisin' through Saint David's - the most westerly town in Wales
Out to the end of another tiny road for a view... this was as close to the outmost 'corner' of Wales that I reached.
Along the coastal road to Pembroke Harbor
Hopping the 2:45am-6:30am ferry from Pembroke Harbor, UK to Rosslare Harbor, Ireland
Other sleepy bikers on the red-eye ferry
First impressions of Ireland: Wide, smooth roads, funded by benefits of joining the European Union.
Quick stop for a photo of a classic ship
Through small towns in south-central Ireland
A castle here and there
My goal was to ride the 'Ring of Kerry', a scenic peninsula loop. However, rains grew in their annoyance (visibility was especially difficult on the narrow roads with too much slow tourist traffic... road spray, foggy helmet, etc.). I headed southward out of Killarney toward the 'Ring', and after a quick photo stop at Muckross Lake, decided to turn around and take the more direct route toward Galway.
Our lodging for the week was near Oranmore, on the western coast of Ireland just south of Galway. The last mile takes me by the Oranmore marina (photos from a sunnier day).
The duplex and 4-wheel 'cage' that served us through the week of touring
A morning jog around the Oranmore golf course
Another day's exercise - drizzly walk to the old mansion
As I mentioned, our week of touring was in the 4-wheel 'cage' of our British friends. I want to share just one highlight: The Cliffs of Moher ('Cliffs of Insanity', from the movie 'Princess Bride'). Our British hosts were involved in an international quilting festival in Galway, and I found it humorous that some CMA bikers from America hitched a ride in a 'quilters' bus to see the cliffs.
We hiked for an hour or so southward along the rim of these cliffs and then back northward to that tower in the far-left of the photo.
Near the tower, the path was more paved and atmosphere touristy, complete with Irish musicians. This view looks southward where we had hiked away from the crouds.
Well, that's it for this report. Route maps follow.
Summary: 1,355 motorcycle miles + touring in friends' car + ferries: 3hr45min out, 2hr back
June 1 - 320 miles, 14-18c (57-64F), dry
June 2, 2012 - 485 miles ( A to B ), ferry: 02:45-06:30, 10-18c (50-64F), light rain in Killarney and onward
June 7, 2012 - 220 miles ( B to C ), ferry: 13:15-15:15, 12-17c (54-63F), light continuous rain
June 7, 2012 (continued) - 330 miles from ferry to home, 12-19c (54-66F), persistant rain, then harsh winds past Oxford
It was a solo ride out to Galway, Ireland. The little lady went with friends in their car on a different route. I took a scenic (and much longer) route through some backroads in Wales and Ireland. Our British friends rented a duplex in Oranmore, near Galway. This ride report does not include the week of touring with these friends in their car (with one exception of a highlight I'll share later). My pillion did brave the return ride with me back home, as our timing would not allow her to wait for a ride in the friends' car. The ride back was as direct as possible - 4 lane tollway to Dublin, ferry to Holyhead, UK, then more main highways all the way home. It rained most of the way... sorry I didn't brave any photos (though the part of Wales just south of Holyhead is very scenic). When the rain finally stopped (our last few hours), a severe wind battered us from the side... a bit unnerving.
Sooo, the rest of this ride report covers mainly the motorcycle journey out to Galway (route maps and a few stats at the end).
The weather was pleasant and favorable as I explored Wales countryside.
A stop in a Welsh village, with a castle partially hidden in the trees
Pleasant shaded backroads along sheep-filled pastures
Some festively decorated towns (for the Queen's Jubilee)
In and out of cool forests
Lots of rolling countryside
First views of the western shore and its communities
Had to leave the 'highway' and take some tiny sideroads to reach scenic views
Entering the port town of Fishguard. There's a ferry from here to Ireland, but I had already booked from a port further south
Cruisin' through Saint David's - the most westerly town in Wales
Out to the end of another tiny road for a view... this was as close to the outmost 'corner' of Wales that I reached.
Along the coastal road to Pembroke Harbor
Hopping the 2:45am-6:30am ferry from Pembroke Harbor, UK to Rosslare Harbor, Ireland
Other sleepy bikers on the red-eye ferry
First impressions of Ireland: Wide, smooth roads, funded by benefits of joining the European Union.
Quick stop for a photo of a classic ship
Through small towns in south-central Ireland
A castle here and there
My goal was to ride the 'Ring of Kerry', a scenic peninsula loop. However, rains grew in their annoyance (visibility was especially difficult on the narrow roads with too much slow tourist traffic... road spray, foggy helmet, etc.). I headed southward out of Killarney toward the 'Ring', and after a quick photo stop at Muckross Lake, decided to turn around and take the more direct route toward Galway.
Our lodging for the week was near Oranmore, on the western coast of Ireland just south of Galway. The last mile takes me by the Oranmore marina (photos from a sunnier day).
The duplex and 4-wheel 'cage' that served us through the week of touring
A morning jog around the Oranmore golf course
Another day's exercise - drizzly walk to the old mansion
As I mentioned, our week of touring was in the 4-wheel 'cage' of our British friends. I want to share just one highlight: The Cliffs of Moher ('Cliffs of Insanity', from the movie 'Princess Bride'). Our British hosts were involved in an international quilting festival in Galway, and I found it humorous that some CMA bikers from America hitched a ride in a 'quilters' bus to see the cliffs.
We hiked for an hour or so southward along the rim of these cliffs and then back northward to that tower in the far-left of the photo.
Near the tower, the path was more paved and atmosphere touristy, complete with Irish musicians. This view looks southward where we had hiked away from the crouds.
Well, that's it for this report. Route maps follow.
Summary: 1,355 motorcycle miles + touring in friends' car + ferries: 3hr45min out, 2hr back
June 1 - 320 miles, 14-18c (57-64F), dry
June 2, 2012 - 485 miles ( A to B ), ferry: 02:45-06:30, 10-18c (50-64F), light rain in Killarney and onward
June 7, 2012 - 220 miles ( B to C ), ferry: 13:15-15:15, 12-17c (54-63F), light continuous rain
June 7, 2012 (continued) - 330 miles from ferry to home, 12-19c (54-66F), persistant rain, then harsh winds past Oxford
