A hostel...which was full...shame as I wanted to ride my bike throught the door!
Another Pub near the Welsh border
The castle in the centre of Cardiff, Wales
The dirty old road...I don’t know where it’s taking me but I know heading north that I really got to get some where cheap and warm, showers of leaves rain down on me as I pass wooded sections, they were soon to turn to showers of rain, fortunately I had brought a rain jacket and pants from a bike store in Cardiff, very cheap but they kept me warm and dry, my suit is Gore-Tex but there is an certain point where the rain gets too much and it leaks to the best place of all...my crotch!..Arghh
I was with some Welsh friends at the bike store in Cardiff trying on different pieces of rain gear, there was a one piece suit which I tried on...took me about 10 minutes to get into it, now after turning umpteen times in front of the mirror I suddenly caught out of the corner of my eye Howard pretending not to really pay attention to how I was looking, I asked him suddenly “Howard what do you think” Howard had a sort of sheepish look on his face and said “Have you tried the two piece rain gear on?” he replied...it was at this point that I realised that I had really only been thinking about how warm and dry it would keep me, in the back of my mind I knew Howard was thinking “You look like a 200kg Black Teletubbie” he was right I looked completely ridiculous! Thank god he said something because I would have probably bought it!...oh the shame!!
The Welsh Band
This 15th century carving from Cornwall is a prevalent Celtic image going back to pre-Christian Celtic Europe. Several tri-cephalic images have survived in Cornwall and the surrounding area but are rare in Britain. As Celts mixed with Romans, the triple head was associated with Mercury, the god of prosperity. Many Celtic gods and goddesses existed as a triad. The head itself was greatly revered by the Celts as the seat of the life force and in mythology the severed head had powers of prophecy. The number three had magico-religious significance and bestowed great power in many instances.
The newest member!...Keep up Howard!
Spreading it all out in another empty hostel
Medieval Church tower...cool
Waiting to load the bike on the ferry to Cork, Ireland
Strapped and ready for the rough seas!
The coast of Ireland on my arrival
Made it to the Motherland!
Now where to put my tent?
I wasn't joking about the tent site, even when I have the whole campground to myself I will walk around in circles (Similar to a hound) trying to eye the best patch for my tent...takes around ten minutes this process, this tent is from the early 1990's (Macpac) and is really due for replacement, retains more water than it sheds!
Overloaded?
Naaaa Bro!
My Great Grandfathers home city...Cork!
I was bored..really!
Couldn't help wondering if ever my Great Grandfather had wandered these Cork streets...Drunk maybe?
Or took a whizz there?
On my arrival to Limerick I was greeted by a Parade in my Honour...Patrick must have organised this?
No one puts baby in the corner!...and I.....
They left without me?...what the.....
"Paudie"...my riding buddy from South America getting his teeth into what he loves...oh wrong picture!
Pat just loves his pants...I saw these for six months in South America...guess what he was wearing when I arrived?
The lads having a quiet "few" before heading out...top blokes!
Paudie doing what he does best!
The Black stuff!
The Blue stuff!
The White...sorry....no it's Northern Ireland!
Shankill Road Northern Ireland
The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in late 1965 or early 1966 and named after the Ulster Volunteer Force of 1913. The group's volunteers undertook an armed campaign of almost thirty years during The Troubles. It declared a ceasefire in 1994, although sporadic attacks continued until it officially ended its armed campaign in May 2007.
The UVF's declared goal was to combat Irish republicanism, particularly republican paramilitaries.
The vast majority (more than two-thirds)of its 481 known victims were Catholic civilians. During the conflict, its deadliest attack in Northern Ireland was the McGurk's Bar bombing, which killed fifteen civilians. The group also carried out some attacks in the Republic of Ireland, the most deadly of which were the Dublin and Monaghan bombings which killed 33 civilians, the highest number of deaths in a single day during the conflict. The no-warning car bombings had been carried out by units from the Belfast and Mid-Ulster Brigades.
The group is a designated terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom and United States and a proscribed organisation in the Republic of Ireland.
The UVF's nickname is "Blacknecks", derived from their uniform of black polo neck jumper, black trousers, black leather jacket, black forage cap, along with the UVF badge and belt.This uniform, based on those of the original UVF, was introduced in the early 1970s.
Its motto is "For God and Ulster".
Mmm lovely!
Way off subject but hey..What is with you disorganised smokers!..I was standing outside a bar watching some Irish dancers through the window (Cheap bastard) and out comes a smoker "You got a light"...why can't you guys get sorted if your going to smoke....I don't buy a bike then start asking people on the street if they have any gas for it do I?....well maybe soon!
Troubled waters?..think not but it is a bridge!
800 year old family castle...Alas no blood lines to me!
That's one large clock tower...no glasses 800 years ago ya see!..Aye!
Run Forrest Run!
Just wondering if fired at the same time would the cancel each other out?
Heading towards John O Groats...top of scotland...Lucky just missed the rain!
Lucky..Lucky...me
Probably these are my blood relatives!
Yep not so much to see!
Good day...no work!
Almost there!
John O Groats!
A wee dram to keep me warm...yes very ugly picture...sorry didnt have another!
"Hello to all in NZ"
In case you were also wondering.."How far from top of Scotland to...?"
Ok time to go...see you J.O.G
Whiskey Country!...oh yeah!
Some guy Johnnie's place
The Pyramids of Whiskey Barrels at Speyside Cooperage!..I love this cultural stuff!
A quick mental calculation can make you feel dizzy. There are about 100 active distilleries all over Scotland. The average production of each of them is between 1.200.000 and 2.000.000 litres a year. To deserve the "Scotch label", whisky must stay at least 3 years on the Scottish territory in oak casks. Assuming that the annual production is about 150.000.000 litres, the absolute minimum of whisky stored in Scotland is 450.000.000 litres This only to guarantee the legal right to be called Scotch whisky. This is without taking in account the huge quantity of whiskies which are aging for 10 to 30 years...On the other hand, the casks used for storing whisky are never new casks. It is thus very important to maintain the casks in good state. Some distilleries have their own cooperages (like Balvenie or Bruichladdich for instance), but most of them prefer outsourcing this to specialized companies. There are lots of cooperages in Scotland, and the most famous of them is the Speyside Cooperage, situated half way between the Glenfiddich distillery and the centre of Dufftown. This cooperage has about 300.000 casks in stock. All of them need reconditioning. There are about 20.000.000 cask all over Scotland. A cask can be (re)used for a maximum of about 60 years
William Grants place built in 1886
The whisky is the only Highland or Speyside Scotch whisky to be distilled, matured and bottled at a single distillery.Like other distilleries, such as Glen Grant and Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich uses a single source of natural spring water.This source is the Robbie Dhu springs. Glenfiddich is matured in oak casks such as rum casks from Cuba (in the case of Gran Reserva), Burbon Whiskey barrels from America (Ancient Reserve), or sherry butts from Jerez in Spain.
And lets see whats through the round window today children?
God dam right kids....its Whiskey!
Same Stills from 1886 "Still"working and fired by gas!
Same guy from early 70's "Not working" also fired on gas!
Dufftown
Duffuss in Dufftown!
Now thats a Whiskey bottle!
Glenfiddich means ‘Valley of the deer’ in Gaelic, hence the presence of a deer symbol on Glenfiddich bottles.
And the 30 year old bottle that goes with it...sorry Papa it was 523 pounds!!
The Speyside Glenlivet Distillery from 1824
Oh Garmin...actually it was correct...makes it interesting sometimes!
Scottish Highlands...it was blowing an absolute gale!
Cannot you not see how windy it is?
If you notice in the video..I rode past the "Pot o Gold"......well I like silver anyway!
Edinburgh Scotland
Isle of Man...setting up camp at night...whooh what's that?
Ahh just an Elephant and his mates?
Isle of Man TT course!
White stripes so when you are doing in excess of 200km/hr it will all be fine as you can see the edge?
For your viewing pleasure I have slowed the video down I was actually doing 280km/hr but the video would been very short...so job done!
Nomadonwheels lap record 45mins (Stopped for Gas and this picture)...time to beat 17mins...mmmph
A two lad deal!
Mini me's castle
The travel worm of Europe
Castle Grey Skull...or something like that?
Spooky eh!
Most of what has occupied my mind for the past four weeks has not been the Celtic nations but the potential trip east, the money has essentially dried up and also the original vigour I had for the trip at the very start, it has been replaced by a sheer determination interrupted occasionally by doubts to actually complete this trip, I do not know what the end result may be or how I will feel but I know I must complete what I set out to do, a lot of people remark when I make my augmentations to continue the trip, I mostly hear the typical answers “Money is not everything” or “Live life to the fullest” kind of statements I think well yeah but I am burning my life savings in my campfire, Iknow they are right but sometimes you think ”Well if you were actually in my shoes you may think differently” but after all is said and done I am extremely lucky and fortunate to be making this journey, I know not everyone who dreams of this kind of travel can do it so for that I am grateful and also whilst I am on the subject I would like to thank everyone who has supported me so far either with words of support and encouragement or simply a bed for the night...this trip wouldn’t have half as good if it wasn’t for you all......cheers!
Cheers thanks for visiting!
And a final blast from the past..The real "Run Forrest Run"
