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Home Travel StoriesFarewell to England Tour 2021

Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 1

Ride Date 18 August 2021

By Rev. Mick!

The bike was packed and ready to go
The Innova ready for the tour with back box and throw over panniers

The rider put on his best gear.
Rev. Mick! sat astride the Innova all kitted up and ready to ride

The weather in Kerry was not the best, however each mile heading towards the sunny SE it seemed to get better. 

The journey began at my house in Kerry.
A humble house on the shores of a beautiful mountain backdrop in Kerry

Passing out of Kerry into Cork at Ballydesmond.
The sign reads failte go co. chorcai or Welcome to Co. Cork

Then onwards along the R577 and the N72 into Waterford.
A sign welcoming you to County Wexford along a countryside lane in Ireland

These are truly lovely 125 roads, all bends and little out of the way Irish towns, though due to Covid-19 not so many pubs or cafes. The Innova and I loved them and the handling improved immensely when the rear went from 9 psi to 36 psi, must have been when I put in that tyre sealant.

The last part coming from Wexford to Rosslare is the N25, a fast Euro route to the ferry. Upt' - unfortunately I've no photo of Wexford sign as it was on hard shoulder. I was tired by then and just appreciated the fast pace (80 kph on the Innova) knocking off of the early evening miles to my B&B. The route was some 315 km.

The sign for the BnB reads Tuskare House. Mick's abode for the night.
The B&B seemed a nice sort of bike friendly place. In fact my room was at the back and looked directly into the port.

I found that the saddle on my 05 Innova was, while not arm chair like, quite bearable. I found two stops for fuel and a cup of tea at roughly the 100 and 200 km marks about right for both bike and bum.

So quick meal, shower and bed ready for the second long leg to Llandogo near Monmouth. The ferry sails at 07.30.

Write tomorrow. Rev. Mick!


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Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 1 Mick's first day is a simple affair. Load up the Innova, head out and ride.
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 2 Rev.Mick! sums up his arrival back into Wales.
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 3 Mick is having a ride out with a friend, into the wilderness of Bristol. Can a vintage Velocette and a 125 complete the epic crossing of the Severn River?
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 4 Mick receives the soaking of a lifetime before finding the wondrous beauty of Dorset. Beyond that he could tell you but he'd have to kill you.
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 5 Mick finds his way around Dorset using every back road he can find. For himself and the Innova this is a perfect match made in heaven.
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 6 (And 7 And 8) Mick is having one of "those" days as his tour of south west England continues. Not to worry, there's still much to see and think about before reaching the haven of family.
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 9 (And Some 8) After trains and repairs Rev. Mick! is back on two wheels. He seems to be having a fabulous time returning to the haunts of his youth.
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 10 (And 11) It looks as though Armageddon is on Rev. Mick!'s horizon and yet another fine day is to be found on the UK's roads. When you're touring Innova style there's nothing can stop you.
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 12 Heading homewards Rev. Mick! takes us to a special place in his motorcycling career - "The Road" - after encountering a town filled with drunkards and streets laced with MAMILs. Nothing seems mundane in Mick's world.
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 13 In typical chilled out fashion Rev. Mick! is making his way slowly towards the ferry. There's still plenty of time to explore ever more back roads and to dine well. It's a hard life.
Farewell to England Tour 2021 - Day 14 After an epic 2 weeks of touring southern England Rev! Mick is making his way home.

Reader's Comments

Upt'North ¹ said :-
Never been to Ireland, strange innit?
Kerry looks my sort of scenery. Green, lush and hilly.
0730 sounds very early to be bobbin up and down.
I'm very grateful you called your steed a bike too.
Looking forward to round 2 but I think I would probably have preferred more of Kerry.
I mean, it's Wales innit!
Upt'North.
23/08/2021 13:11:01 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Nowt wrong with Wales Upt'. Mind you there's nowt wrong with Kerry either. While there is tourism to Ireland, both the Republic and Northern parts, when I'm on Faceache I see lots of riders heading for France and Spain mostly. Ireland, while not ignored, doesn't seem to attract as much attention. Admittedly the weather is similar to Britain, France and Spain offer (a slightly) better chance of good clemency.

I won't suggest Ireland will be the bestest most wonderfulest place you'll ever visit, but considering how easy it is to get there and you don't need to do battle with weird languages or signposts it's worth a look.
24/08/2021 13:37:36 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
"Nowt wrong with Wales".
I'm glad you've seen the best of Wales Ed, now never ever go to Rhyl or Merthyr Tydfil or may have to change your view.
Upt'North.
24/08/2021 21:27:06 UTC
Crofty said :-
Great stuff Mick,like the small bike touring. looking forward to the next installment

24/08/2021 21:50:22 UTC
nab301 said :-
Good luck with the trip , nice to see someone who doesn't subscribe to loading the kitchen sink when travelling. (Sorry Ren !!)

Nigel
25/08/2021 13:25:13 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
"I come prepared..." Yeah, OK, I take a bit of stuff with me. Bear in mind though Rev. Mick! ain't camping. Pfffft.

I take your point re Wales Upt' - BUT! Have you been to Rhyl recently? It has improved itself somewhat. It's still very much an old resort filled with bumper cars, tat shops, arcades and hotels. What has changed is that it looks like someone cares now. Fresh paint as opposed to flaking, swept streets rather than rubbish piles, signage now affixed not unfixed and some new things for the kiddiewinks to do. I doubt it'll ever be a beauty spot but credit where it's due - it's a vast improvement by the folks of Rhyl.
25/08/2021 13:46:22 UTC

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