May 29 - Dandalk to Belfast - 95 km

Got going this morning and had brekky on the 13th floor of the hotel.  Nice view from up there.  

Very green and we are so lucky to have good weather.  








Still in Dandalk when I came across this church.  I should not have found it as I drifted off the planned route, but got back on soon afterwards.

One of 3 churches I snapped photos of today.  No castles and for sure I could have bored you silly if I took photos of all the churches we passed.







An interesting looking abandoned cottage in the woods.  Windows and doors are missing and I assume the roof is gone.











In the Cost of Living department:  How do these prices for coal compare with ours.  Can somebody check?












I don't know how they did it, but the staff found this "road" for us to cycle on.  It wasn't much more than a driveway, but wasn't too long - a couple of km.











This was a typical country lane today - narrow, no shoulders, but little traffic.  Actually, very pleasant to cycle,

We passed by a lot of open farmland.  There were a lot of hay fields & cattle.  A couple of fields already had their first cut of hay laying down and drying.

There was a particularly "farmy" smell alongside many of the farms.  Not yummy!

Oh, and these two photos were taken in Northern Ireland.  We've crossed over the border and there was no check or even a sign.  The only ways we knew we had crossed were:
1) A sign at a gas station advertising changing Euros to Pounds
2) Those with cell phones received a text message telling them that they were now in Northern Ireland  and new Roaming rates applied.

Second church today, the Newry Cathedral.  Again, it caused me to go off the planned track (easily distracted, I am).  Apparently, lots of other cyclists did the same.

This is where the lunch truck stopped to feed us today.  Beautiful spot, although I'm not too sure I'd like to swim in this river.

The procedure for lunch is for one of our trucks to drive ahead and set up sandwich makings and drinks for us at (usually) slightly more than half way along the days journey.  Sometimes, we're in a dusty cow pasture and this is one of the other days.





I included this photo to make the point that there are a number of houses installing solar arrays on their roofs, and that they are also installing wind turbines where it makes sense.  This should probably be happening in BC more than it is.








The gastronomical corner: In addition to lunch we will often stop for a coffee or snack along the way.   This was my snack today at the Pheasant Restaurant and Bar just past Annahilt.
 Sticky toffee pudding & a Latte.  Everybody with a spare spoon loved it (grumble, grumble!).

That's Karen from Edmonton in the background.





On the outskirts of Belfast we left the roadways and traveled a bike path through Bevlan Park Forest and Lagan Meadows.  This old scow was moored in a side channel of the Lagan River.  There are 2 or 3 locks along here, but no good photos.

A pleasant ride through the forest and park before the traffic of Belfast, which wasn't too terrible, but it is a busy town.




In Belfast now, in our hotel, showered, laundry done (stomped on in the shower as I washed myself)
 and then out for a walk.

I took this artsy shot of the Dublin Cathedral - last for today.




Across from the cathedral is this sign with the upper arrow pointing to the cathedral and the other to the coffee shop adjacent.

Updates:  I re-read my post from yesterday and I apologize for all the spelling errors.  Too late at night.

Laura is mending nicely, although upset she couldn't partake in today's ride, which most riders agreed was beautiful.  

Unfortunately, another crash today - the fellow has very sore ribs. 

And I have spotted 2 more rotating doors:  One at our hotel last night and one at the Dublin Library.  These both turn counterclockwise (like North America), so the score is 3 to 0 for CCW rotation (I'm sure you are all very interested in that).

Day off in Belfast tomorrow, then Scotland on the 1st.  Time for bed.  I need to rest my slightly saddle sore butt.

May 29 - Dublin to Dundalk

Our first day is in the books - with some twists.  Here we go:

We start off by going in the wrong direction around Dublin - just so we can get a group photo taken in front of the Temple Bar.  Here we all are, full of piss & vinegar.

I sucked this in off Facebook, so it may not be great.  Note we're front & centre.

We convoyed out through Dublin, meaning Gergo (tour leader) led us slowly out until the traffic chaos was slightly settled.  





Here's a castle on the way out of town. 
I didn't get the name of it.















First shot of the Irish countryside.  Very pleasant.  Various crops:
-potatos (I know because I had to take a pee in one of the fields)
-Canola (I think)
-Oats (I think)
Look, if you wanted a botanical tour, hiore a botanist, not an engineer!



Unfortunately, not long after this, things went slightly off the rails as Laura kranged a curb and took a tumble.  Bruised elbow & left shin (tibia).  The shin swelled up very quickly when we had a look at it at the lunch stop.  More on this later.

We passed the portico of the Bellingham Castle.  No time to stop.












Here's what we didn't see.  Apparently, this is the place for your next wedding in Ireland.








Back to Laura: She cycled another 25 km to our hotel (what -  do you think I was going to take her as BALLAST?).  We got to Dundalk an decided we should have this checked out - so we taxied over to the local hospital's minor injuries clinic.  There she got examined and had an x-ray.
The good news:  Just a soft tissue injury - no bone damage (the concern due to the speed at which it had swelled up).
The bad news - we got there near daytime closing hours, so we were there for a couple of hours.  Not really bad news, but we could have been drinking beer.
More good news - the afternoon shift staff didn't know how to deal with any billing, so we weren't handed a bill.  They do have Laura's address, so PAT - don't open any mail from Ireland.
(BTW - I saw a sign saying the visit costs started at 100 Euros.  Actually, not bad as far as I am concerned)

Our hotel in Dundalk is an ultra modern high rise.  We're on the 8th floor.  Here's the view from our room.  The wind turbine is in the grounds of the local Technical School.

Off to Belfast tomorrow.  Laura will be riding the bus to make sure the leg is mending.  They'll put her to work helping the morning route flagging crew that leaves early in the morning to show us the way.  It's a good system, except today one of the gals had to be rescued off the M1 Motorway when she got turned around.

May 28 - All Ready to Go? & Last Supper in Dublin

We have Wifi again!
So, we're all ready to go except for whatever we forgot.  
The first riders meeting was this morning.  Introductions all around, but of course I forgot most of the names.  At least 4 of us from the island, a couple from Vancouver, a fairly large number from the states.  I'm going to look at the TDA website again to see if I can connect names & faces.


Been waiting all week for these pictures.  This is a view from our room, overlooking the adjacent roofs.  Note the seagull and the white lump to his right at the corner of the roof.










That's Mom on the nest.  I've lived in Kye Bay and Nanoose for over 40 years and I have to come to Ireland to see a gull nesting.  Go figure!

Back to the riders meeting.  Here are the staff's phone numbers.  I'm putting the photo here, so I can access it from any computer, should I have a problem.  That hopefully guarantees that I won't.

 Memo to self: remember the difference between European 7's & 1's.



Minor fact's from the rider's meeting:
-More bikes are stolen from European TDA tours than anywhere else.  Oops, we only brought a wimpy day lock with a flimsy cable.
-Some of the jurisdictions over here require cyclists to wear approved visi-vests with wide reflective stripes.  Our really bright Canadian vests may not cut it (especially if the policeperson is having a bad day.

So, off we trundle.  We remembered a little hardware store we bought clothes pegs at yesterday.  Yay, they have the vests (5 Euros)  and a skookum chain lock (20 Euros).  So, we are set.

Last shot for now - here's about 1/3 of the bikes in the dingy garage.  The tires look nice & bright with the flash.

Here's what will be a typical morning schedule:
-Bring our bags down at 0645
-Brekky at 0700
-Riders meeting @ 0745
-Begin leaving at 0800.



Here's some impressions of Dublin:
-Too many smokers
-Dirty, but no more so than similar cities
-Many, many bars & restaurants.  We are in the heart of the tourist section
-Lots to do.  Easy to spend a week here without getting bored, but book tours early.  They fill up fast
-Irish food is basic, and, there are some excellent restaurants around.  Our favourite was an Italian place. 

We're heading off to the Temple Bar in a while to try and get in, so we can say we did.
The Temple Bar is one of the most famous in Dublin.

I'm back - we went over to the Temple Bar & got a seat, mainly because its 3:30.  They have Harp, so Laura is happy with her half pint.  It's too early for Guinness so I get a Smithwick's Red.  The place is a wonderful looking old bar, with lots of different rooms, but, loud noisy & crowded most of the time.  We actually saw two empty tables while we were there.  Their menu looks great.  So, if you want to attack the TB, get there early with some people, camp out and hang out for food. But, it's just too loud for us old f**rts.


A couple of pix.  See that empty table!  We've been here 4 or 5 times this week and never got a table, let alone see another one.

A little story about the Ha'penny bridge.









We went for dinner at the Merchant's Arch Pub, just across the bridge.  The 1st floor was way too loud, the 2nd was a balcony overlooking the 1st.  Then there was a separate 3rd floor.  Nice & quiet.  Here's the view from our table.


Look closer at the traffic across the way.  A Guinness tanker disguised as two beer cans!  A closeup of the truck.












We had the upper window on the right.  OK pub food, good beer (as usual) and a nice way to end our stay in Dublin.

More after we start riding.  TTFN

May 27 - The Confusion Begins

Before we get into the confusing part, some tidbits from previous days:
Last night the place was mayhem.  First the UEFA Football final was on (Liverpool vs. Real Madrid).  The crowd was noisy as could be until Real Madrid took the lead midway through the 2nd half.
But, that's not all.  There were at least 3 Hen Parties in the hotel.  You can tell them:  The participants are all wearing t-shirts calling themselves "Bride's Tribe" and, in one case, the bride was carrying a blow up doll.  No photos - I probably would have gotten hit.
And, the bar was open late & loud.  So, it was late getting to sleep.

More tidbits:
Here's an (unfortunately poor) photo of another cycling option:  the party bike.  Everybody appears to be having fun and also drinking (surprise, eh?).  The advertising sign on the back says, "Stags & Hen Parties, Team Building & Sightseeing Tours."

Another interesting use of the bike:  Just Eat is a meal prep and delivery company.  The food carrier looks suspiciously big enough to carry a large pizza box.















Street vendors a couple of streets over.  I bought some strawberries.  Small, flavourful and nicely ripe - certainly not like the imported from California ones we get when the local berries aren't in season.









A couple of photos from yesterday.  These are the docking posts used way back when sailing ships (like the one in the background) used to come up the river.  Doesn't happen since any of the low bridges have been built across the river.

And, a nice statue.

Now for the confusion:  lots of people arriving today.  There are 11 boxes in the basement, not including those in people's rooms.  Henry Gold, the owner of TDA (the tour company) is here, but his bike isn't.  It got lost before it left Toronto.  So,that's two missing bikes we know of.  

Later now.  Everybody in the hotel is having trouble with the Internet.  I can't get e-mail, but composing this blog seems to be fine.  I even tried to go to MacDonald's and use their free Internet.  The problem there: the Internet is free but you need a mobile to receive a confirmation code.  So, Greg without a phone is SOL (Shit Outta Luck).  So, if you get this, send me an e-mail telling me you did  - except I can't get e-mail 😟

Back to the bikes.  There is a tour mechanic Catilan (sp?)  who was busy assembling people's bikes.  He gave Laura and my bikes a once over tune-up and a couple of service pointers, so I owed him a beer.  Next chapter of the small world department:  I don't know his nationality but he is currently living in Lund, restoring an old wooden sailboat.

There was a meet and greet in the pub for the cyclists.  Lots of Canadians & Americans, which is to be expected.  A couple from Tasmania & some New Zealanders plus more whom we didn't talk to.







Last photos - Laura took this one of me on my 3rd pint of Guinness.  The pint of Guinness isn't as big as the perspective makes it out to be, but one can hope

(That's a mural in the background, but it does make the location seem exotic)










And here's Laura, showing me my picture.  The Guinness is still there, but not for much longer.  No mural behind her.

Rider's meeting tomorrow morning,  where we find out all the details.  

May 26 - Bike Trip to Bray

After a quiet morning, today's highlight was a 54 km cycle to Bray & back.  Where's Bray, you ask?
It's on the east coast about 15 km (as the Starling flies) south of Dublin - the orange circle at the lower end of the track.

These gun towers are all along the coast, every few km or so.  I saw about 3 along my trip.  They are called Martello towers after the original builder.  Apparently, there is one along the coast with 3 working guns.

If you've got some spare Euros:
https://lovindublin.com/lifestyle/property/this-martello-tower-is-for-sale-and-it-looks-seriously-impressive-on-the-inside

Looking south from the tower along the coast.  They squeezed the rail lines right along the beach.








.























This photo to the right and the one above are supposed to be side by side, but I can't get them lined up.  Probably a setting somewhere.  You'll have to use your imagination to see a small harbour enclosed by a stone pier.  Lots of fishing rowboats across the other side.

Bullock Castle ruins.  Built about 1150 by an order of monks to protect the locals.

Another small fishing harbour with some beautiful boats pulled up on shore.  I saw one on the river at Dublin today being rowed by 3 rowers.  They look like a very nice boat to row.

 
And, the rest of that harbour.  Very enclosed and protected.  A lot of work to long ago when a machine was a shovel and each block was manually chipped & formed.

A little further south and here's a peekaboo view of the hills around somebody's swanky house.

And finally, I'm in Bray.  Here's the beach with a view of the headland to the south.

A quick lunch and turn around for the trip back to Dublin.  
I had plotted a course on FRED (my GPS) for the trip down, but I kept upsetting him by choosing the coast roads.  On the way back I followed FRED's suggestions and went inland.  A quicker route, except for when he almost put me on the freeway.


Some previous business - which way do rotating doors rotate in Ireland?  Herer's tghe picture:

This one turns counterclockwise (like North America) -  I chickened out and waited for some people to go through and followed them.  If you look carefully you can see the push bar on the left side of the open door.

Now that doesn't mean all doors are like this.  I'll be watching and report any later sightings I have.

Also, to report - I saw Unleaded Gas for 1.5 Euros today (about $2.40 a litre).

Lots of cyclists arriving today.  Bikes all over the place.  Unfortunately, one gal's bike got left in New York.  Apparently, it is supposed to arrive tomorrow.  

Not sure what we're doing tomorrow.  I may be helping to assemble bikes (Ha=ve Tools, Will Get Drafted).  Pre-ride party in the bar tomorrow evening.

May 25 - Beautiful Day in Dublin

Probably the best day so far.  Everybody is loving it - but also warning that don't expect it too often.  However, enjoy the day and off we go.

We tripped through Trinity College on the way to today's museum.  A lilac in full bloom.
















The Rugby Pitch with the quintessential ivy covered college building in the background.

We went into the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, and its free.  This museum is where all the major archaeological finds and treasures are stored.  It covers before the Bronze Age until the Middle Ages.  I could have spent all day and taken a million pictures, but I'll only include a few from the Bronze Age.

This is a wooden wheel





Pottery and metal spear points.  The square object in front is the mold for the spear point.  It is exquisite in its workmanship.



Gold necklaces.  Again, beautifully done.







This museum is on the Lonely Planet's list of must sees if you have any time to sight see in Dublin.

After the museum and lunch, we went to the nearby St. Stephen's Green, park in the middle of town.  Full of people at lunchtime.  




Two views of the main pond.  I managed to avoid having lots of people in the pix, but they were all about.



















There are various signboards throughout the Green that describe details of the 1916 Uprising.  Here's an example.  Note there are two languages - English and Irish (related to Gaelic, I believe).   Ireland is definitely bilingual, although we don't run into people who speak only Irish.

The Superintendent's Cottage in the Green.

Switching gears - Throughout the city at busy pedestrian crossings are these reminders of which direction way the traffic is coming from.  
In a city where many of the people are not used to left side driving and the huge number of confusing One Way streets, these are a lifesaver!

Switching gears again, and with some time before dinner, I went for a bike ride to Phoenix Park.  This is a huge urban park (707 hectacres compared to Stanley's 405), consisting of trees, many playing fields (ruby, football, cricket AND polo!) with a zoo as well.  I didn't see many ponds.  An unusual feature is that the residences for the American Ambassador and the Irish President are on the grounds.  

 Here's as close as I could get to the President's residence.  Note the smallish moat in front (presently dry).













As I rode past the gate a car exited, so I turned up the road.  A pleasant guard came out and confirmed that I wasn't invited any further (I guess the paperwork didn't arrive in time).
Upon finding out I was Canadian, not American, he apologized and the conversation went something like this:

-Where abouts in Canada are you from?
-The far west coast, Vancouver Island
-Whereabouts on the Island?
-About midway up, Nanoose Bay, near Nanaimo
-Oh - I was in Qualicum Beach a few weeks ago!

Geez!  Turns out he took time out from his police duties in Ireland and spent 3 years in BC, working part of the time as a Security Guard at UBC!

Small world, eh?

Nobody has commented on the rotating door from yesterday (except Sue).  Apparently,  you might not be able to add a comment.  I'm not sure what's wrong, and I can't fix it.  Interestingly, Blogspot re-routes the blog to a ".ie" address for me, which might be part of the problem.

 So, I'll just keep staring at the door, trying to decide which way to go.

There are at least 5 other riders here, although we haven't met any of them.  Four of their bikes are still in boxes in the basement beside ours, and the other fellow's bike is in his room.  Expect lots more over the weekend.