Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes...and travels...mostly on bikes!
Spring is here, winter has passed - yey! Now we get to stay at home and tinker with our bikes without
frozen fingers. Great...
What's New?
Giants And Hobbits
Sharon enjoys a rather wonderful day exploring more of the Causeway Coastal Route. Languishing in luxury on the back of Ren's bike while he does all the hard work. Sort of.
Ards Peninsula, Wonderfully Modest
Today it's the turn of Ards Peninsula to be explored. Throw in the regular dose of disorganised nonsense and some fair weather, it might be a good day!
A Dip Into Irish Waters
Today's lesson - don't place yourself behind angry small mythical critters.
Causeway And Coast
Getting into The Giant's Causeway poses a challenge for a miser like Ren, can he avoid his wallet seeing the light of day? The Causeway Coastal Route and Torr Head Scenic Route may ease the shock for him.
A Ferry And Hint Of Northern Ireland
Ren is doing what Ren does best - flapping.
Space
Sharon's luggage situation has improved but it's going to take a while for her to unwind, chill out and settle into today's journey. Aaaaaaand relax.
Z250SL Headlight Crazing
Sharon is at risk of cracking up. So is the headlight on her Kwakker 250. Ren just makes the first problem worse but maybe he can help with the second.
It's A Bumpy Lumpy Ride
Sharon's life is never simple. While getting ready for maybe, possibly, perhaps going to Northern Ireland she takes a moment to explain why she's been so quiet on here.
An Easy Ride To Carlisle
It's an easy, lazy and relaxed start to this holiday with a handful of miles to cover and the weather behaving itself for once.
Northern Ireland - A Covid Prologue
The lead-up to this journey seems to have been a bewildered shambles. So how did The Dynamic Muppets manage to rescue their trip from the tangled mess of 2020?
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Ards Peninsula, Wonderfully Modest
nab301 said :-
Ren , I pronounce it "lock" with regard to the crossing , it's not that it can get rough so much , but the strong tidal flow requires some skilled piloting and local knowledge to get to the other side without drifting up or downstream excessively.
Nigel
31/10/2020 02:33:24 UTC
Tour-A-Plank V2.6
nab301 said :-
Glad it all worked out in the end , although it reminds me ( what not to do) of a fellow Em Zedder back in the 80's who fitted a universal luggage rack to his MZ with the obligatory craven panniers hard luggage set but couldn't understand why the handling of his beloved MZ had gone to pot... until it was pointed out to him that he had bolted the luggage stays to the pillion foot peg mounts which were fitted to the swingarm....
Nigel
570792...
31/10/2020 02:23:55 UTC
12 Months From New 2019 Honda CB125F Review
nab301 said :-
That YS braking system does look primitive compared to my Honda although maybe it explains the 500 odd euro price difference ( new bikes) locally between them
Nigel
31/10/2020 02:08:56 UTC
Giants And Hobbits
nab301 said :-
The above is known as the upper lake , the photo below is the lower lake ( just visible at the top of the other photo ) on a different much colder day! And yes , I did walk all the way from below the lower lake...
Nigel
31/10/2020 01:54:02 UTC
Giants And Hobbits
nab301 said :-
Sharon , at last the voice of reason!! @ Bogger , you came to Dublin and went shoe shopping.... shame on you ! Did you not visit the Phoenix Park, take a guided walking tour of historic sites , Breweries ,museums etc etc. Dublin does have a city centre crime problem I agree ,( even urban shops and pharmacies have security guards) I guess that's why I tend to keep away myself , I am also not a fan of cities in general. I did spend a lot of time in London on training courses in the 80's but while amazed with the sheer size and diversity of the place I can't deny that I did find it intimidating but never had any bad experiences at the time. From memory over the years about 3 RTW bikers have had their bikes stolen from Dublin city centre within hours of arriving ....
@ Ian I went to Scotland once and it was rain and gales for 3 days , the only time I had a wet related electrical problem with a motorcycle , It cured itself when I rolled off the ferry in larne! Wouldn't put me off travelling there again though.
Photo of some scenery attached ( Glendalough county Wicklow Ireland, just outside Dublin) only accessible on foot.
Nigel
http://phoenixpark.ie/...
31/10/2020 01:49:02 UTC
Giants And Hobbits
Upt'North said :-
Good points, well made Sharon, the obsolete timeframe remarks are particularly interesting.
Here in gods country it is not uncommon not only to see cars with keys in but also with their engines running while double parked outside the butchers, or to see the postman (Kev) give a gentle tap on the door before opening it and leaving your parcel on the rug and presumably sign g for it too. Doors are not locked and property is left insecure whether it be lawn mowers, cars or houses.
Obsolete time frame, no, I don't think so, more of a pleasant lag behind the madness that is the norm elsewhere.
But just in case anyone's get any ideas, it's horrible up here, cold, wet, hilly, full of cross border skirmishes with angry skirt wearing tribes, stay away, you're warned. It's grim, not.
Upt'North.
30/10/2020 12:56:38 UTC
Giants And Hobbits
Sharon said :-
Upt'North
If we do not want to visit a place we always make up reasons in our mind why not to, like the ferry, but maybe it is just ok to say no do not fancy that myself.
Ian Soady
Ahhh the weather certainly can affect how one views a place. A charming village in the sunshine can be rendered dark and miserable by mist and rain. Perceptions of course also carry weight in our minds but we never know if those are true or not until we experience that place for ourselves. I would not myself consider the IOM or NI in an obsolete timeframe. Other than in the IOM they find it perfectly normal to leave the keys in their cars and front doors unlocked. That is obsolete over here but it is something from the past that I wish we still possessed.
Bogger,
I wonder how you would feel about the coast in NI rather than the city? I personally dislike cities so I am sure if you took to me to just a city in any part of the world I too would declare it not to my liking. As for security guards having lived most of life in inner cities or their suburbs it is what I have grown up with. We even needed them at one time in the library I worked in so nothing new for me.
So I guess what all this adds up to is we are all as individual as the places we visit. Our own life stories affect our outlook, our views and our perceptions. The same place can be visited on a different day and we could be met with sunshine and warm welcoming smiles or rain and grunted at by a disgruntled local. Travel is an individual experience and that what makes it so special. It does not matter than a million people visited the same spot. It is only your visit that matters to you. We all like different things, different bikes, different countries but what brings us together here is the fact we all like motorbikes and we all like travel in what ever form that takes.
30/10/2020 12:34:19 UTC
Giants And Hobbits
Bogger said :-
A few years ago I was coerced (forced) to go to Dublin with Mrs Bogger, for a long weekend. She was really keen to go. I just went along for an easy life. We flew there by the way.
Basically from my recollection it was full of Bars/Pubs, nice enough people and nutters in equal measure.
Mrs Bogger wanted to go shopping. We entered one of the many shoe (obviously) shops. Mrs Bogger was trying on the full shop of shoes , so I struck up a conversation with one of the sales assistants. I enquired as to why a small shoe shop would employ a security guard.
Quite matter of factly she said they were needed and that most shops in the city centre had one or more security staff??
I peered out of the window and sure enough. The ladies hairdressers had security WTF, the newsagent had security, the furniture store had security. They all had them!!
The more we walked around the more I understood why.
I didn't particularly enjoy my time there and was glad to get back on the Plane some three days later.
Mrs Bogger wanted to go there again. I politely declined the offer.
Bogger
29/10/2020 07:19:00 UTC
Giants And Hobbits
Ian Soady said :-
I have visited the Republic once but was fairly unimpressed by the scenery which was pointed out to me. The fact I could barely see it through the mist & rain probably didn't help. If I'm going to take the trouble to go on a ferry then there are far more interesting places to go with better food, drink and campsites!
I've never had the slightest inclination to visit NI (neither have I wanted to go to the IoM) but have no particular reasons other than both seem to be locked in an obsolete timeframe. Or at least that's my perception.
29/10/2020 04:33:42 UTC
Giants And Hobbits
Upt'North said :-
It isn't the troubles which put us off Ireland or NI, although they are real and ongoing. Despite what the BBC might report.
I just think it's easier to go elsewhere, which probably means Scotland.
But I would then instantly dismiss that as nonsense as we will travel on long sea journeys to Holland and go all mole like to get to France.
Strange innit, perhaps it is the memories, perhaps it isn't.
Upt'North.
29/10/2020 10:03:01 UTC
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nab301 said :-
"Gonna need webbed feet and a jetski around here soon"
Ren , sve yourself the hassle, when you have a minute , change your name to Kevin, sit down , and watch "Waterworld" no need to buy one of those nasty 2 stroke jetskis.
Nigel
31/10/2020 02:01:54 UTC
Henrik said :-
Thanks Jim and Upt'North
From DK by E6 to Lofoten ,.. then Narvik-Abisko-Kirona and Samic area down through Sweeden
Somewhere to return to indeed, enough to explore for a lifetime
Traveling south never apealed to me that much
------------
Guess you all have been desturbed more or less this year
Fingers crossed for open borders, I believe it,..
For the simple reason that we can´t afford to keep them closed, and smash our economy as a "solution" long term
There will be more virus, after Corona,.. worse also
29/10/2020 01:09:49 UTC
Upt'North said :-
Fathe and Thee Knoost are as North Staffordshire as oatcakes.
Thee Knoost.
Upt'North but not always so.
As an aside it's still full of blummin tourists up here, Emmets everywhere. Motorcyclists too.
Upt'North.
29/10/2020 11:17:13 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Thy con kep on yakkin like thas always dun Upt' T'only problem is nay wun can telst what thas sayin.
Thing is if I recall you're not from Northumberland originally? Or am I confusing you with someone else. It's my age, I'm getting, oh wassit called, erm, forgetful! It's all this rain, I think it's washing my brain out. Gonna need webbed feet and a jetski around here soon.
29/10/2020 10:49:34 UTC
Upt'North said :-
What have you done you naughty boy, did I miss something.
Can't we say wassup anymore fathe.
No Northumberlander was offended in these posts, thee knoost.
Upt'North.
29/10/2020 09:55:59 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Now I'm gunna have to go check the BBC guidelines again...
28/10/2020 06:45:49 UTC
Kamui said :-
I believe the post now breaks the bad language rules of this site!
Kamui (aka ROD)
28/10/2020 06:16:58 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
There we are gentlefolks, I have altered my post.
28/10/2020 04:40:57 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
Actually I agree. I had thought that mocking people's accents was a thing of the past but obviously not in Bolton.
28/10/2020 02:25:54 UTC
Kamui said :-
I find this post, defamatory, rude, and obnoxious to Japanese people.
Will the ed remove this post?
28/10/2020 12:08:56 UTC
Random Link - A Good Ride Home