Nice day for the Motorbike 14th May 2021

 Touch of summer in the air today so off for a nice spin to Greenore, Co.Louth

Just entering Greenore

Seatruck leaving Greenore

Heading Home

Tain Bridge, Dundalk

Not much joy on the Covid front.

 Some small relaxation of Covid restrictions in the following weeks but still many no's and dont's.

From the 12th April travel is to be allowed within each County of 20km from home. This will allow a bit more freedom.

Pubs, restaurants and hotels still closed and unlikely to be opened until end of May. 

Some loosening of restrictions for Elite sports. Schools to open up fully on the 12th May..

Vaccination programme going slowly with approx 620,000 first vaccinations completed. 

Case numbers are averaging 600 per day.

Its just a case of wait and see from Government/Health updates on a two weekly basis from now on.

We should be back flying on the 12th May but only within the County.

more updates to follow in the weeks ahead

Virus Update

  and the lock down continues. We are now almost into April 2021 and are still in lockdown. Restrictions include travel limited to 5km from home which impact on my many adventures. Unfortunately outlook is not looking great due to the high virus numbers.Currently 600+ daily cases. Government are due to update the position during the week. Might only be a few less restrictions. The vaccine rollout is progressing slowly at present. Have been doing a lot of walking with the dog and cycling around the town area. 

More photos of these Castles on my Instagram and Facebook pages.

Also more information can be obtained by Google-ing the castle names.

Seatown Castle, Dundalk

Dunmahon Castle, Heynestown, Dundalk

Killally Famine Graveyard, Ardee Rd. Dundalk

Cuchulainn's Castle, Dundalk

Cuchulainn's Grave, Dundalk

Heynestown Castle, Heynestown, Dundalk

And lockdown continues

 Unfortunately due to lots of people socialising over the Christmas 2020 period has resulted in a major increase in Covid19 transmissions and unfortunately a large number of deaths. Hospital ICU departments have reached critical levels. As a result we are now back in Level 5 lockdown. Limited travel allowed within 5km of home for exercise only. This evening (26th Jan 2021) Government have announced extending the lockdown until 5th March 2021. I think we will be lucky to get back to any type of normality by summer 2021. Hopes are that the vaccines that are coming on stream will help but different strains of the virus are now emerging and who knows where that will lead. Lots of time photographing and watching the activity of our feathered friends.

Missing my cycle touring and all the plans for 2020 and 2021. Not looking good for some more adventures to foreign parts. Hard to keep motivated while restricted to the 5km limit. 

Wee cycling trips in the wee county

 Covid 19 is still impacting on all our lives. Due to the increase in infections a 6 week lockdown (Level 5 up from Level 3) was imposed by the Government on the 22nd October 2020. This lockdown limited among other things travel to within 5km of home. This has severely curtailed almost all outdoor activities including cycling. Trying to keep up my level of fitness is difficult with these restrictions, however, I do get limited cycling both on indoor trainer (boring) and within the 5km  of home. Here are a few photos from my recent travels around Dundalk. 

Heynestown Church

Castle adjoining Church

St Oliver Plunkett Shrine

Covid 19 Coronavirus

Sadly the Corona virus is still with us. Travel restrictions are in force countrywide. Only travel within our county allowed.

Unfortunately due to increasing number of cases the Country has been moved to level 5 and now travel is only allowed within a 5km radius of our home for 6weeks to early December.

Businesses are forced to close on a temporary basis and sadly many are going through very hard and depressing times. I fear many will not survive.

This restricts cycling and plans for a cycle tour around Ireland in October had to be shelved. Similarly travel abroad is also a problem due to increased cases and likely quarantine requirements either in the visited country or on returning home. 

Have to be content with cycling within a Radius of 5km although this is not as bad as it seems and can manage around 50km while keeping within the regulations

Horse Power rather than Leg Power Roadtrip

 A  3 day 759km road trip on the Suzuki VStrom to Wexford. Camping at the Trading Post near Wexford town.  With good weather forecast from 14th September headed off on a 3 day roadtrip on my new VStrom. A different experience to cycle touring and at times uncomfortable due to the very warm weather and the need for protective motorbike gear. Nice to visit my home town Enniscorthy and Wicklow where my carest started.

Route Day 1: Dundalk, Dublin, Ashford, Wicklow town, Brittas Bay, Arklow, Gorey, Camping site 255km

Route Day 2: Enniscorthy, Monart, Caim, Curracloe, Wexford, Rosslare, Kilmore Quay and back to campsite 190km

Route Day 3: Wexford, Enniscorthy, Ferns, Gorey, Arklow, Woodenbridge, Laragh, Sally Gap, Blessington, M50 to home  305km

Weather: Beautiful autumn weather with daytime temperatures 20degrees. Foggy mornings until sun burned off fog.

Covid 19: Due the the virus Covid19 had to restrict contact with others and care needed with hand washing/sanitisation, mask wearing etc.,

Comment: While I enjoyed motorbike/touring I enjoy cycle touring more as it gives greater flexibility and freedom. Wearing the heavy motorbike protection gear, while necessary,was at times uncomfortable in the hot weather.  

Wicklow Harbour

Black Castle Strand

Black Castle, Wicklow

Camping at the Trading Post

A foggy Kilmore Quay, Co.Wexford

Caim Church, Co.Wexford

Monart Forge, Co.Wexford

Curracloe , Co.Wexford

Sally Gap, Co.Wicklow

Sally Gap, Co.Wicklow

Sally Gap, Co. Wicklow

Sally Gap, Co.Wicklow

Sally Gap, Co.Wicklow

 

Whats another year 2020

What a year and its only into its 8th month.

Had planned another cycling tour to Spain for 3 weeks at the end of February 2020 but then went and dislocated my shoulder a week beforehand. So trip had to be cancelled.

Had hoped to do the trip in April/May 2020 but then the beast from the east arrived named Coronavirus - Covid 19. This nasty virus caused major disruption to our lives not alone in Ireland but around the world.

New words became the everyday norm such as Cocooning, Washing Hands, Coughing/Sneezing in Elbows, Face Masks, Social Distancing, Clusters, Lockdown, R -numbers, Infection Rates, ICU, Ventilation and sadly deaths. Daily updates gave a myriad of statistics regarding new cases, new deaths and clusters of infections. 

Lock Down: Schools, Shops, Pubs, Social Gatherings, Travel,Restaurants, Hotels, Airlines, Public transport all closed or were severely restricted on 19th March 2020. 

Currently Infection Rates and deaths worldwide stand at 20 million and 750,000 respectively.

The Government/Health Services provided for a 4 phase reduction in the march lock down. 3 of the 4 phases went to plan but an increase in the number of new cases and clusters resulted in the deferral of phase 4 from the 10th August to the 31st August 2020. New clusters in Counties of Laois, Offaly and Kildare have resulted in lockdown of these three counties for 2 weeks from Saturday 8th August 2020.

Government advice is that no unnecessary travel should be undertaken and anyone arriving back from generally the popular destinations  are required to quarantine for 14days. 

Schools have been closed since March and are expected to reopen in early September.

At the time of writing the whole situation is fluid and who knows what in on the horizon.

3 day Cycling mini Tour 23-25July 2019

Comments: Decided on a 3 day cycling mini tour as weather was variable. Also wanted to try out my new MSR Exilir 1 tent.

Route: Day 1. Dundalk, Castlebellingham, Dunleer, Drogheda, Balbriggan, Swords, Santry, Dublin City, Naas Road, Camac Valley Camping site. 100kms

Route Day 2: Camac Valley Camping, Saggart, Blessington, Valleymount, Wicklow Gap, Laragh, Annamoe, Roundwood, Camping 65kms

Route Day 3:  Roundwood Camping, Kilmacanogue, Bray, Shankill, Dublin City, Santry, Swords, Balbriggan, Drogheda, Dunleer, Castlebellingham and Dundalk 130kms

Average per day: 98kms

Distance: 295kms

Bike: Holdsworth Buttemere

Weather: For the first 2 days I cycled into a strong southerly headwind with temperatures of 25degrees. The final day I had a nice tail wind (southerly) and 25degrees. A little overnight rain in Roundwood.

Camac Valley Camping Site, Dublin

On Blessington Road

Wicklow Gap

Wicklow Gap

Wicklow Gap

Wicklow Gap

Roundwood

Roundwood

Roundwood- Coach House on Right side.

The Coach House Restaurant, Roundwood

Farmers are busy these days