First Trip of the Year - Ireland & Scotland

[Earache]

The skies cleared mid-morning and we got some decent riding in, up Wicklow Gap and several other roads that I can't remember. Ihave it mapped out someplace though....

The Gap area...

[Earache]

Edinburgh, Scotland - Did the castle as Judy hadn't been there. I'll just post a few of the pics I took there.

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Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

A few pistols, some armour and a pig sticker or two.....

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

I always wondered how accurate these cannons were. Did they actually aim them, or just blast away and hope they hit something? Decent sized cannon balls - would put the hurt on you if it nailed you...

Stopped by the cafe for tea and scones (yeah, I'm a fag), great views of Edinburgh from here...

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache
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[Earache]

Next day and we're heading for the Port of Troon, Scotland to catch the ferry back to Ireland. Lots of time to kill today and we stop by some out of the way Castle that doesn't have many people looking at it. It's pretty remote in the town of Doune.

Didn't know it at the time, but they filmed all of "Monty Python's Holy Grail" here. How cool is that?

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Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

That large arch is a fireplace - 17 feet wide. Big fucking BBQ, eh?

At the side of the fireplace are marks in the stone where the cooks sharpened their knives to cut the food.....

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

Both pics are of the same wall - this is the wall where the French guy gave the "I fart in your general direction" speech in the movie.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V7zbWNznbs

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Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

Blowing through central Scotland and heading for the coast. Rain, 45F and winds of about 40 mph. Been riding in this shit for the past three days with no end in sight.

Hit a local pub in East Bumfuck for lunch and to get outta the rain for a bit....

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

We land in Troon to stay overnight before the ferry tomorrow morning. Stayed in Johnny Walker's (whiskey guy) grandson's house. Cool looking place even though the rooms were kinda weird....

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[Earache]

Bar was even odd - kinda modern looking in an old country house. Cold Stella though.....

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Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

Got to the dock on time just to hear that our cruise was cancelled due to rough seas. We can come back tomorrow or head south 100 miles to another port and hope to get on there.

We humped the 100 miles in a driving gale and got the fuck outta dodge. Passed a few ferries coming towards us as well headed west....

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Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

Made it to Larne, Scotland and rode 150 miles sout to Glenview in the Wicklow Mountains. Of course, it rained like a bitch thge entire way. Suck!

Hotel kinda sucked, too - but they had cool Guinness and lots of it...

Rooms were sparesly furnsihed but clean. Hotel had a real 1930's feel to it....

Food was okay but the view from the restaurant was cool.....

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache
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[Earache]

Today's destination is Kilkenny (You Bastards!), Ireland.

I love that joke but no one here seems to get it an dthey just look at me like I'm nuts. It's great joke - they're just not cultured enough to get it.

Anyway, cruise the Wicklow Mtns in the SUN!!!!

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[Earache]

Found a church from the 6th century with a bunch of old gravestones. This dude died in 1759!

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[Earache]

Wicklow Gap area - narrow and fast. Above the tree line. Great road to rail on as you can see so far in the distance. Bumpy as shit though...

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[Earache]

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[Earache]

Tonight we're in Kilkenny, located in south central Ireland. Rolling hills mark the topography and the riding in the area ain't all that hot. Just a stop off on our way west to the good shit.

We check into the nicest hotel in town, it's kinda weird as so many other things are here in Ireland to Americans. It's not so much the leather wrapped poster bed, it's not so much the headboard held up with S&M buckles top the wall. It's not even the odd looking chaise lounge. No, it's the totally fucked up leather rocking chair covered in chrome leather.

Nice sink though.

I'm not gonna sleep well tonight......

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

Like many Irish towns, the streets are narrow, full of activity and people. Has a nice castle in the center of town - hope to check it out further tomorrow....

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

We're home now (May 18th) and I'll complete the report. Had shit internet connections that made loading pictures an exercise in futility. Plus, I was drinking too many beers each night and didn't feel like posting very much afterwards.

Last post we were in Killkenny (You Bastards!), Ireland. Next stop on the tour was Killarney.

We stopped by a castle on the way that was undergoing renovation. They just dump a huge pile of stone in front of the place and the stone cutters start making walls out of it. Time consuming and skilled labor going on here. And I suspect more than 1 or 2 smashed thumbs in the process....

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

Down the road a bit and we're now in Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland. Home to the Ormond Castle, House of Butler. The house was built in the 1500's while the twin towers of the previous castle were built around 1300 or so.

The guy that owned the place was named Butler and his title gave him the right to serve the Queen of England food and wines. This is why service people are now known as "butlers". There you have it; today's history lesson.

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

Pretty easy to see what's left of the two towers behind the house above. Once through the front door, it leads to the old courtyard and more remains of the tower...

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

No pics are allowed in the Castle - dunno why. I went into this room before our tour began and snapped a few before knowing it was illegal. Ah well.

This is some of the original furniture and plates from the castle. Also got some shots of the remaining plasterwork around the top of the room. Pretty cool shit.......

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

Pics from the outside. Showing the floors, doorway and filled in fireplace mantles. They were filled in to prevent the walls from collapsing...

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

Enough castle shit, I need a beer.

We're in Killarney now and check into the Foley House in the center of town. High dollar place that looked pretty sweet from the outside and had a great location. But the "suite" we had kinda reminded me of my Grandmother's house and smelled more than a little bit of old people's wee...again, much like my Grandmother.

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache

[Earache]

One look at the matching toilet / sink / tub combo and it's confirmed. This is my Grandmother's house!

We had planned on staying here two nights, but bail after one in search of nicer digs more suited to a man of my means and social standing....

Edited May 28, 2009 by Earache