Around Ireland: Cycle, Camp, Eat... Repeat

Finnian Bicycle

Description

A bicycle is a great way to explore a country.
Be it here, there or anywhere.
It can be challenging and demanding at times but there is nothing to be proven and if you have the time, you can explore a little more.
This book is about the travelling done from the north of Ireland to the south of Ireland on the east coast and then on the west coast.
I didn’t see everything nor was I travelling to see everything, there may be some places that I visited that may not be included on an itinerary.
This is 40 days around Ireland.
This is Ireland, but not all the island has to offer.

Sujets

• Acampada
• Bicicleta de montaña
• Travel
• Cycling
• Independent
• Freedom
• Tent
• Bicycle
• Solo
• Camping
• Progress
• Fiction
• Europe

Informations

• Publié par: Partridge Publishing India
• Date de parution: 14 décembre 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781543708134
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

Around Ireland: Cycle, Camp, Eat... Repeat
Finnian Bicycle
Me, my bicycle and I: Part One: Through Europe
 
Coming soon:
 
Me, my bicycle and I: Part Two: Middle East and Asia
Me, my bicycle and I: Part Three: South-South-East Asia
Me, my bicycle and I: Part Four: To Be Confirmed
Around Scotland: Cycle, Camp, Eat… Repeat.
Around Morocco: Cycle, Camp, Eat… Repeat.
 
What’s next?
 
The future.

Copyright © 2021 Finnian Bicycle . All rights reserved.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
www.partridgepublishing.com/india
 
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
ISBN
978-1-5437-0814-1 (sc)
978-1-5437-0813-4 (e)
 
 
 
07/25/2022
 
 
 
 

Contents
Disclaimer
Preface
Part One—Portrush to Bangor
Day 1: Portrush to Torr Head
Day 2: Torr Head to outside Waterfoot
Day 3: Rest Day
Day 4: Waterfoot to Bangor
Part Two—Bangor to Rostrevor
Day 4: Bangor to Slans Graveyard
Day 5: Slans Graveyard to Newcastle
Day 6: Newcastle to Rostrevor
Part Three—Rostrevor to Cork City
Day 6: Rostrevor to Carlingford
Day 7: Outside Dundalk to Dublin
Day 8: Dublin City to outside Glendalough
Day 9: Outside Glendalough to Gorey
Day 10: Gorey to New Ross
Day 11: New Ross to Waterford
Day 12: Waterford to Cork City
Part Four—Cork City to Donegal Town
Day 13: Cork City to Innishannon
Day 14: Innishannon to Clonakilty
Day 15: Clonakilty to Lough Hyne
Day 16: Lough Hyne to Mizen Head
Day 17: Mizen Head to Outside Bantry
Day 18: Bantry to Ballylickey
Day 19: Ballylickey to Allihies
Day 20: Allihies to Kenmare
Day 21: Kenmare to Waterville
Day 22: Waterville to outside Dingle
Day 23: Outside Dingle to Tralee
Day 24: Tralee to Kilrush
Day 25: Kilrush to Cliffs of Moher
Day 26: Cliffs of Moher to Coral Strand
Day 27: Coral Strand to Dog’s Bay
Day 28: Dog’s Bay to Cleggan
Day 29: Cleggan to Carrownisky Strand
Day 30: Carrownisky Strand
Day 31: Carrownisky Strand to Mulranny Beach
Day 32: Mulranny Beach to Keem Beach
Day 33: Keem Beach to outside Belmullet
Day 34: Outside Belmullet to near Céide Fields
Day 35: Outside Céide Fields to Donegal Town
Day 36: Sligo Town to Donegal Town
Part Five—Donegal Town to Portrush
Day 36: Donegal Town to Fintra Beach
Day 37: Fintra Beach to Ardara
Day 38: Ardara to Bunbeg Strand
Day 39: Bunbeg Strand to outside Kerrykeel
Day 40: Outside Kerrykeel to Outside Moville
Day 41: Outside Moville to Portrush
Disclaimer

Water is an important resource that requires replenishment when required.
Disclaimer
When cycling, you should not feel pressured by the cars that are behind you.
You should be aware of all your surroundings.
If there are cars behind you, stick close to the edge; wave them onward if it is safe to do so.
Make eye contact with the person, as you are a person too.
Don’t ignore.
Accommodate when you can.
There is nothing worse than a person who cycles a bicycle on the road who is not accommodating for the vehicles. Though they are probably what they would describe themselves as a ‘cyclist.’
It is disrespectful, arrogant, and downright atrocious behavior.
We share the roads; accommodate.
Preface
Through loyalist Lisburn I cycled, and straight to the train station I went. I had decided the night before that I would board a train to Portrush. It would save the hassle of the Mullaghglass road by bicycle. Who would want to do that? Quite sure I have seen people on road bicycles cycling up and down one of the national roads, but that wouldn’t be for me! It wouldn’t be a fun ride; from the rolling hills to the busyness of the road, it would be a drain on energy, mostly due to commuting and commercial vehicles.
Now, having to is another conundrum. Luckily, I did not have to and opted for the train instead.
I would say I would find it easier to travel in a country where I don’t speak the language; you get more information there, in my opinion, more direct. Here, they seem to expect you to know where you are going, to have an itinerary of sorts, or at least to have the latest application installed. What about the people who do not have access to this technology? They are being left behind! This time around, I do have the technology, which is comprised of a mobile device that will act mostly as a navigator and communicator to the outside world; it will certainly make it much easier than without. Still though, not everyone can follow direction, be it on-screen or dictated.
The train went to Portrush. Few changes along the way, but it all worked out in the end. Trying to get the train throughout the week was tough enough, always missing it by the skin of the teeth. Today the train was made. I have low expectations for this traveling session. I don’t know what to expect as I travel through the counties. I have traveled in a car through many; I don’t think all.
As I travel through the various counties, I will be able to see the landscapes and how they change, if they change. I will be able to see much on the island where I was born.
I am not following an itinerary or a guide. A paper road map. Me, my bicycle, and I, starting from Portrush, County Antrim.


Part One—Portrush to Bangor


Day 1: Portrush to Torr Head

The train arrives at the station and everyone disembarks, some slower than others, some older than others but everyone walking the one way and toward a set of gates about three and a half foot wide, like a tube of toothpaste being pressed at one end with the cap off. The people left the station one by one. And there was me with a bicycle, trying to get on through. I leave the train station and head to the watering hole across the street.

I head into the watering hole, restaurant, and beer garden for a lovely pint and a few sips. May as well have another. Some people may say that I am on holiday. I laugh. This isn’t a holiday. On a holiday, you don’t cycle many miles/kilometers per day! On a holiday, you relax.
On the roads of Ireland, I don’t know what to expect. To me, this is like going through any other country with a bicycle, with a few exceptions. The country of Ireland I have not traveled through solo. Still, I don’t know what to expect. I would say meeting a load of gypsies would be great craic. I would need to be careful though. I would assume that as long as you don’t annoy them or steal from them, you should be golden. I’m not thinking about gypsies, but they are native to the island. Or I should say; travelling community. To be more precise and down with the time. Although I have seen british media in recent times referring to them as big and fat and gypsy. Though there is no comparison here.
In Quays, it was looking doubtful that there would be any work available for a feed or a few pints, as there were staff members on the floor as well as kitchen staff. No chance. “Clean your tables,” though. I digress; the place was a functional establishment. There was a slim chance that I would be able to negotiate with a watering hole half full of people, regulars and all. “Who does this person think they are?” or “Why hadn’t I thought of that?” It really would have been cringeworthy to ask; there was no need. I had money in my pocket, and I was willing to shell out £3.50 for their cause. There will come a time when I may need to use this method to see if I can barter with the people instead of paying for the goods, by using manual labor as a form of payment, which has been done before and can be done again; consistency is another matter.
Forgot to say I am traveling by bicycle and a train here and there, and I am fairly certain Ireland is not flat! I wonder if a Giant front-suspension mountain bicycle will be the right bicycle for the task, though if hitchhiking is possible, then I will take advantage and travel at speed to the next destination if that is an option. Haven’t given it too much thought, but if I am injured and feel a need to flag for a lift, then I will have no problem putting the right thumb out or throwing the tent up for a period of rest and recovery.
Before entering Quays, I really should have walked for a wee while before settling down, but I have been here recently and there is not too much to see at the wee seaside town; therefore, it does not really deserve the exploration, and it wouldn’t take much time to explore the town. Getting ready to leave soon, I can feel the water flowing through my system; it is doing the job to hydrate. Good job. May as well have another one for the road, as they say. A truly remarkable, quenching, and hydrating pint. Pity I have to cycle now, though I would rather get out of this place than stay! All there is here is water. And the water is salted and I am not a fan; mineral water is best. I have two liters; that should do me throughout the day and night, all being well. It has been a while. And I do not think I have really prepared for this venture, from training to