2022 Trips

Just read this post, first off, RIP Ade. Sorry for your loss Beefus. Glad I read it this Saturday not last.

Just back from an epic life affirming week on bikes with gang of mates, this puts a bit of a dampener on my buzz, but then again, life is too short, etc.. I work way too hard, single dad (63 with 14 year olds) pay lots of rent & maintenance & don't do enough for myself, worry too much about money. But I'm fit, healthy and a good earner. Neighbour is big bike and racing head like me, great craic, likes his pints and has a great wife who keeps him on a long leash. His mates are similar, great bunch of 50-60 y/o reprobates. Colm's wife took off with kids to Algarve and he planned a wild Atlantic way trip with good stop offs 🍻🍻🍜🍛. Trip was; Monday-Killibegs, Westport, Doolin then Dingle. Friday back to Dublin. Good skilled bunch of riders & bikes, 2 were Irish championship level in 90's, Colm was 4th in manx taking Phil McAllen's newcomers lap in process, I've done Marlborough clubman and ACU star, which is like bsb support level. Bikes were; top spec Multi-strada, 3 x v4 Tono's, my k1300s and a faired bandit 1200. Bandit rider was by far least experienced but sensible bloke and with no ego. Thats the secret to riding fast in groups. And believe me between the stops we were properly flying, but here's the rub, we all rode well spaced out, no dodgy overtaking if group got split cos of coming upon slow cars at a twisty section, bikes were quick enough to catch up at next straight. Bandit guy Steve, played tail end charlie, went at his own pace and generally turned up at fuel stops 3-5 mins later. We did lots of those, Tuono's are thirsty with small tanks. Evenings were brilliant craic with lots of pints & good food. Didn't generally hit road till 12 though, after full Irish for soakage so were good to go. West of Ireland is fantastic if a bit pricey and food is spectacular, Wild Atlantic way was percusor to NC500 and hotels & restaurants have stepped up to the plate accordingly. Recommend it thoroughly, heatwave probably helped too.

Only near miss of the trip involved myself and what I'm sure was a tourist which is why I'm putting this here and not in a separate post. I've lived in the West (Galway) and generally drive country roads a certain way cos of tourists in rentals this is from an incident in the past. Was once driving in Clare very soon after moving back here, coming around a blind RH corner one day I was confronted by car well in middle of road and over the white line, I swung over almost into the ditch, he didn't move and I lost my wing mirror on his. Was a murican, had just, landed in Shannon and picked up a rental. He had space to miss me but didn't so gave him some severe verbal. Turns out they are paranoid about running off the edge of road, can only drive freeways. Since then I can spot tourists from miles, they all hug the white line in the centre. Locals go way quicker and hug the verge. The problem has got worse recently cos hire companies have switched to pseudo 4x4's Ford Kuga's Seat Altea's and the like. Those fuckers are even wider. Even with the heatwave Westport had a short overnight sea squall come over which freshened they air but roads were still damp under trees in the gutter. Went through a blind right hander in middle of my lane further right than usual cos of a big wet patch, and there he was, offside wing level with my headlamp, couldn't brake and didn't fancy wet patch, so I picked bike up sharpish tucked knees in but still clipped his mirror with my shoulder. Thankfully my mirrors were higher than his, if they hit they may have dragged my bike into the car. Lucky escape. But worth remembering if you do Wild Atlantic Way or NC500 or anywhere in rural Scotland or Ireland, look out for any clean and newish reg car. Its probably a tourist concentrating more on grappling with a stick shift than on the road ahead. Fuckers can't drink for shit either.

As I said life, affirming trip and straight away, our bike WhatsApp group was planning next one. Kevin may be banned though, had planned to leave early but stayed exta day despite no pass from HID. She wasn't happy. End of day were were having fun and not chasing skirt (we did fair amount of good natured chatting & banter though 😉) He'll be a happier more relaxed person and better husband long term, she just doesn't get it.

Another thing that put this trip in perspective after reading about Ade is this. I missed first day in Killibegs, met up with this bird I've just started seeing in a hotel in Carlingford, she's from Belfast, good half way point. Thing is, I'm first relationship for her since her husband died 6 years ago (First shag in 6+ you can imagine 😜, how I managed 4 hrs in saddle next day says a lot about comfort of BMW). She was properly devastated, husband died of bowel cancer so spent time before nursing him and watching him fade away. Both had good jobs, pensions ahead and kids at college so were looking forward to future. She ended up on antidepressants which fuck you up. Came out the other side thankfully. Met her on weekend in Dublin with load of girlfriends all hiding from marching nonsense around the 12th. Meeting her and Ade's story came on the back of a mate having massive stroke out of the blue (non smoker but toxic wife and equally toxic divorce so well stressed). Reinforced that you never know whats around the corner so enjoy life and don't put stuff off. Also get screened. Its been mentioned before here but all 50+ should be checked yearly, its only a digit up yer jacksie and a camera there too. The shit in a bag test is cheapskate and useless, her husband passed that test not long before being diagnosed with non-operable advanced cancer. If you can afford it go private and have the camera. Sorry for possibly draging and already sad post down but there is a positive side, enjoy life, take care of yer heath and keep up with good mate's (blokes are bad at this). I was the posh boy in the group these were all Colm's mates, people who he'd been to school or lived in rough estates together done apprenticeships with each other, raced with each other, cried with each other when mates got killed on bikes, looked after each other when paralytic. I'm a public school boy, guys I used to hang out with are in the main rich, sucessful stiff and up their own arses a but good for getting unobtainable rugby tickets though. I value that these guys let me in, took a fair amount of slagging for being a lightweight drinker though.

So go out there enjoy life, stay safe and hopefully take some lessons away from all of this. Here endeth the lesson.

Must admit she makes me wear Union jammies (she bats for t'other side), its a bit of a buzz kill.

Something admirable in that brave/stupid idealism. Think we've lost that sense of adventure now with our technological advancements and all too ready AA card.
Saying that, a mate had a Jota for years and his annual pilgrimage to the TT was always a stressful occasion inevitably ending up in tears.