First Trip of the Year - Ireland & Scotland

[Earache]

First big trip of the year, hope this works out!

Hopped a flight to Dublin, Ireland where we've been doing the tourist stuff for two days, picking up a BMW GS tonmorrow for two weeks of riding across Ireland and Scotland.

Spent the last two days slumming it, camped out at the Westin in downtown Dublin...

[Casper]

Bastard. I'm jealous.

[Earache]

We arrived at 8:00 AM after flying all night. Got checked into the hotel then set out for some drinks in Temple Bar....

[Casper]

Drink a few for me.

[Earache]

I like the Irish, they take their drinking seriously. Love the selection of drafts...

[Earache]

Drank a couple of pints and continued to walk around town a bit. The Liffy REver cuts through the center of town...

[Earache]

Fuck Obama, this shopkeeper has the economy issues figured out...

I was going to post a bunch tonight, but the wife has informed me that I am going out now. More later.........

[4DAIVI PAI2K5]

awesome!! have a good time!

[Catman]

Awesome pics brother and thanks for shareing !!

[Fonzie]

You officially SUCK Eric!!

[jagr]

Drink some more real beer for the rest of us. You know how to Enjoy life.

Edited May 3, 2009 by jagr

[ReconRat]

I'm still planning a trip there. Was thinking of renting the bike in Northern Ireland. Details of your trip will be interesting. Scotland is way cool. Watch out for the sheep.

[Big Green Valley]

Trippin' the world on a motorcycle. Now that's livin'!

Enjoy and I look forward to more updates and pics.

[kawi kid]

howdy

[Earache]

Didn't haver net access for a day - sorry about that.

We pick up the bike and ride through some of the shittiest weather ever to get to the Port of Larne, Ireland. We hop the P&O Ferry to Scotland and then ride through more shit to get to Edinburgh, Scotland...

[Earache]

We're staying in the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa, with a great view of the Edinburgh Castle high on the rocks just outside of our window...

[Earache]

It's been a long, wet day to get here, so we just crusie out for a quick look around. We'll hit the Castle tomorrow. A few shots from the streets of Edinburgh....

[Earache]

Just wouldn't be right to pass all of these cool pubs and not have a pint...

Start off with a Stella...

Next pub and some local swill that really sucked. Don't get me wrong; I drank it, but it sucked.

[Earache]

More walking down the street....

[Earache]

"Look Honey, another pub!" I use this line a lot and so far, it's been working.

This place had more shit nailed to it's walls and celing than any place I've ever been. Although a good dusting wouldn't hurt it, it was kinda cool. Nice selection of golf clubs...

Nailed a Guinness here...

[Earache]

Time to head back to the hotel for the night. Took the short cut across the Princes Street Gardens and into the graveyard of St. John's Church. Nothing spooky about this place at all....

I like skulls...

Crypts with open doors and empty tombs are kinda strange. I fully expect to see some zombies wondering around here....

[Earache]

But we made it safely back to our hotel. Then up the steps to the first floor and lo and behold; "Look Honey, a hotel bar!"

And one last Guinness for the night...

[Earache]

More pics from the Castle later today or tomorrow. Might even get a picture of some pubs and some beers if the Wife will still believe the ruse I've been using

[Earache]

We picked up the bike in Naas on Monday and yesterday was the first day with little to no rain that we've had since. Not complaining though - day on a bike in the rain beats a day at work anytime.

After getting the bike, we headed to Larne for the night so we could get on the ferry the next day for Scotland. Wifey wanted to see the Edinburgh Castle, so off we went. Had a great room at the Sheraton Grand with a view of the castle out the window....

Won't bore you here with the 200 pics I took.

[Earache]

Couple of days in Edinburgh and we head for Troon for the ferry back to Ireland. Naturally, it was cancelled for some reason so we humped it south to Carnryan for another ferry. Missed that one by 10 minutes so we got to hang out there for 3-1/2 hours.

Did get to see the Doune Castle where they filmed Monty Python's "The Holy Grail". Highlight of my trip to Scotland....

"I fart in your general direction..."

Back to Ireland and we ride for the Wicklow area. SOmeone recommneded the Glenview Hotel and it was nice enough. Good drinks in the bar and a nice view from the restaurant....