Gino's Travels: Kilmac Southern Ireland

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

Kilmac Southern Ireland

Late Bank holiday weekend brings the annual Irish Norton meeting at Kilmac, just south of Kenmare, we decided we should go as its been a couple of years since we were last there. Leaving after work on the Wednesday we headed through the rush hour traffic in Glasgow but I have to say most people made room for us to squeeze through so it wasn't too bad. Fuel at Girvan for the bikes and a stop at the chippy for fuel for us, a very pleasant trip down the Ayrshire coast to our accommodation at Cairnryan. Alex arrived eventually and we spent a couple of hours in the pub getting the banter. Very early start the following day, up before 6am to ride the couple of miles to the ferry, still dry so that's a bonus.

Sunset at Cairnryan

Alex adopting a weird stance

Fiona looking happy despite the early start

Two hours on the ferry saw us deposited in Larne around 9.30am and two hours later we arrived at Mickey McEneaney's place at Castlebellingham in the Republic. The bikes seemed to be going well which was good, its always a worry when you ride bikes almost half a Century old, despite preparation shit still happens. Fiona's bike has the 2 1/2 Gallon tank so after 100 miles its good to fill up, 120 miles and its a panic, 150 miles and your sitting at the side of the road wondering why you didn't stop 50 miles ago.
After an excellent lunch courtesy of Mickey's wife Pat we set of for Nena in County Tipperary for the night.Going through a particular town whose name escapes me but who obviously don't vote for the right people there was a particularly potholed and rough bit of road, this plus the vibration colluded to break the indicator mount on Fiona's bike, it fell of and some kind soul ran over it. Of course at this point the rain got heavier which is to be expected, parts of indicator retrieved we set off again and at a fuel stop we had a Bizarre moment when the forecourt felt like a scene from and early 70's movie as it filled up with old Vauxhalls going to a Vauxhall rally in Tipperary , without further drama we arrived at our B&B just before the landlady, it was just starting to rain heavily again so probably good timing. The Landlady remembered us from our last stay, great to have a nice welcome, an evening in the pub and then the following day after a hearty breakfast (Friday) some rain to greet us when we set off.

The Dayglo brothers

Is it the 70's?

Photo-bombed by Michael

Just weird now

Really busy heading down to Kenmare probably because of the 5000 cyclists who have hijacked our weekend for a cycle race around the Beara peninsula, lunch just up the road from Kilmac and we arrived at 4, perfect time for a beer, the weekend was spent socialising and talking nonsense, great to see Martin Connachy as he has been in the wars and great to see him managing a few pints of Murphy's and on top form. We didn't go out on the run on Saturday as to be honest doing battle with 5000 lycra warriors isn't my thing, a great time was had despite that and my thanks to Martin who despite having other things to worry about managed to organise a great meeting again .

Sunday we left at almost dinnertime due to our good friend Alex having no concept of time (nothing new). A hard 370 mile run up to Ballygally just North of Larne for the night, as the day wore on the tiredness and the cold started to get to us, we arrived at 7.30pm having been on the bikes all day. A pleasant evening before the ferry back on Monday, we parted company with Alex in Glasgow and as we headed North near Stirling the sky looked like the Apocalypse , then the torrential rain, the road turned to a river but we plodded through and glad to say the bikes never missed a beat. We arrived home at 8pm, cold but happy, thanks to all for the banter.