FridayWest Yorkshire to Holyhead, Anglesey.
Holyhead to Dublin, 1 hour 50 minutes, I don't know how many nautical miles but warm and dry aboard the Jonathan Swift.
We met William, an XB9R rider, on the ferry. He gave us a £5.00 donation to Em's Charity.
Dublin to the hostel at Tramore.
Saturday All of us leave the hostel as a group around 8.45 am for the start of the 2010 Buell Challenge at Waterford HD. We meet up with Eric, Adrian and Dave. Excellent hospitality from Waterford HD. Free hot drinks and Nick eats a free doughnut. Paul and Nick have us in stitches with their banter.
A 'most of the group' photo, left to right, Liam, Maxine, Colin, George, Nick, Russell, Cheles, Dave, Adrian, Joe, Paul, and Jane.
Dave's 1951 Rapide:
After recording everyone's total mileage and the formalities are completed we set off for Ballintoy in small groups. Jane and I follow Eric's directions to the N25. We turn right at the first set of lights, most of the others turn left. We assume they're going for petrol.
We had an uneventful ride up to Dublin in occasional showers, some of them heavy but they don't last long. We didn't use the R741 on my suggested route, I decide to use the faster but slightly longer route via the N11 from Wexford to Gorey. Heavy traffic on the motorway network around the Dublin area, angry looking cloud formations but not directly over us, thankfully. We wave at Adrian and Dave who are parked up at a service area as we ride past. We didn't see any fellow Challengers en-route.
Once north of Belfast the sun comes out. Across to Larne and the start of the A2 coastal route up to Ballycastle. It was a perfect way to finish the first days riding, a great road, stunning scenery and sunshine. We stop at the vantage point on the B15 opposite Rathlin Island and have a cuppa and take pictures. We're buzzing.
A2 Coastal Route:
B15 Sheep Island:
B15 Rathlin Island:
Ballintoy Hostel:
We couldn't believe we were the first to arrive at the hostel. Jane isn't a fast rider so we travel at an appropriate (modest) pace for her safety and comfort. We fully expected most of our fellow Challengers to be there before us. It was only later that we found out about the fact that Joe had run out of petrol and they'd all been delayed.
We have a good meal at the Fullerton Arms. A great evening with laughs and banter about the days ride.
Sunday Jane and I leave the Ballintoy hostel around 7.30 am. We ride in dismal, wet conditions to Londonderry. We don't stop for breakfast, having had something at the hostel earlier. Once past Londonderry the skies brighten and the sun comes out. We're smiling again.
Using the N13 and N15 we ride through the Blue Stack Mountains in Donegal. A stunning route. On into Sligo and Mayo on the N15 and N59. More great scenery with mostly good roads but a few rough sections are encountered. I have long travel suspension on the Ulysses but I feel for Jane on her Guzzi. We stop for ½ hour by a river in the mountains to rest and soak up some sunshine.
We stopped for petrol and coffee in a small town on the N59 and Colin/Maxine, Nick/Cheles, Paul and Joe ride past, spot us and pull in for fuel etc. Paul, Nick, Joe and Colin have us in stitches with their banter. We leave before them, continuing at our modest pace. Further on the N59, in the mountains west of Oughterard, we stop to take some pictures. Our fellow Challengers ride past, with Nick leading, looking very professional.
A good day with mostly dry weather. From the hostel Jane and I walked into town and have a good evening with our fellow Challengers.
Various scenes on the N59 in County Mayo:
MondayWe're up early and chat to Joe and Francis while loading up.
Our American friends, Joe, S3T and Francis, KTM 950. It was an absolute pleasure to have them along. You couldn't wish to meet nicer guys.
This was going to be the longest day so Jane and I leave the Oughterard hostel at 7.10 am. We don't stop for breakfast, having had something at the hostel earlier.
On the N67 through Clare, another scenic road that hugs the coastline. We encounter yet more bumpy sections interspersed with smooth, new tarmac. All very frustrating but enjoyable at the same time - if you know what I mean.
Various scenes on the N67:
Killimer to Tarbert ferry - we missed the 11.00 am by 15 minutes so caught the 12.00 noon crossing.
One of the best parts of the trip, the N71 in Kerry. A brilliant area but very slow going.
In hindsight the mileage and time allowed to complete it on Monday was too ambitious. The Challenge was supposed to end at Hook Head Lighthouse no later than 5.30 pm. There was no way we were going to meet that deadline. It was almost 7.00 pm as we approached Waterford and dropping cold so we decided to go straight to the hostel in Tramore. A complete circuit of Ireland from start to finish point would do us.
Much to their credit, Nick/Cheles, Colin/Maxine, Paul and Joe ended the Challenge at the Lighthouse, at 8.30 pm, before arriving at the hostel.
Unbeknown to us, Adrian and Dave made the Lighthouse at an earlier time.
After a worrying wait the rest of the group arrived back at the hostel in Tramore just before 10.00 pm.
The Challenge didn't end quite as I had intended but, and I'm sure others will agree, it was a worthwhile venture and everyone seemed to enjoy it, even if they didn't realise they were enjoying it at the time
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Our mileage around Ireland was 993.
Jane and I would like to thank all of you who took part in the 2010 Buell Challenge. Lots of miles, smiles and laughs, and all for a good cause.
And finally - yes, they did...
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