Mini Adventure 28th June-1st July 2021

Route Day 1:  Dundalk-Drogheda-Duleek-Curragha-Ratoath-Dunboyne-Lucan-Camac Valley Camping 96km

Route Day2: Camac Valley Camping-Saggart-Brittas-Blessington-Hollywood-Wicklow Gap- Glendalough- Laragh-Annamoe-Roundwood 66km

Route Day 3: Hiking Vartry Reservoir 8km

Route Day 4; Roundwood-Kilmacanogue-Bray-Dublin- Whitehall 46km.

Weather; Beautiful and warm

Bike: Holdsworth Buttemere

Comments:

Day 1 : The route on day 1 was on the Duleer road out of Drogheda. with lots of heavy traffic. I choose this route from Google Maps as an alternativeto going through Dublin City.Unfortunately got lost near Lucan due to road closure.

Day 2: Very hard day with a long climb over the Wicklow Gap. Unfortunately made more difficult by my lack of cycling fitness due to various lockdown and restrictions due to Covid 19

Day 3: Hiking day around the Vartry Reservoir

Day 4; Heading home 124km planned. Chain broke in Leeson Street, Dublin. Easily repaired. Then disaster in Whitehall when the read derailleur snapped. It was not possible to carry out repairs and the nearest bike shop was too far away. Only option was to get the bus home.

Camac Valley Camping Site Dublin

Waterworks at 

Wicklow Gap

Wicklow Gap

Wicklow Gap

Wicklow Gap

Roundwood Village

Vartry Reservoir

Vartry Reservoir

Vartry Reservoir

Vartry Reservoir

Vartry Reservoir

Vartry Reservoir

Vartry Reservoir

Vartry Reservoir

Camping Site Roundwood Village

Camping Site Roundwood Village

 

Camping County Wexford. 16th-18th June 2021

 A nice 3 day 750km  motorbiking and camping in Co.Wexford . Beautiful campsite 10km from Wexford Town called The Trading Post.

Day 1 was from Home to Wexford  by the M1 and M50 motorway.

Day 2 Wexford to Duncormick, Wellington Bridge Hook Head

Day 3 Wexford to Home via Enniscorthy, Bunclody, Tullow, Baltinglass, Blessington, M50

The weather was beautiful but nights were on the cool side for June. 

While I love motorbiking my preference is for cycle touring which allows for greater flexibility for visiting different places, stopping to talk to locals and for photography. Wearing full protective clothing on the motorbike, while necessary, is inclined to be uncomfortable of very warm days. 

The Trading Post Campsite Nr. Wexford

The Trading Post Camp site, Nr. Wexford

Hook Head Lighthouse

Hook Head Lighthouse

River Slaney, Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford

River Slaney Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford

River Slaney, Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford

Campsite, Nr Wexford

Mind the Gaps 1st June 2021

 A nice 280km spin today on the Vstrom 650. Dundalk-Blessington-Wicklow Gap-Laragh-Sally Gap-Dundalk. Beautiful sunny weather and a beautiful area for visit on a quiet weekday. 

Changing from Horse Power to Leg Power today

Cycling day 27th May 2021 to Annagassan. 46km. Rapeseed in full bloom. 

Fields of Rapeseed

 

Dundalk=Blessington=Wicklow Gap =Dundalk Motorbike trip

26th May 2021.Since the easing of the Covid19 restrictions took a nice 260km spin on the Vstrom. Weather was beautiful. Busy M50 motorway on way home.

Blessington Lake

Wicklow Gap

Wicklow Gap

Wicklow Gap

 

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.