Day 6 York-Ripon

Overcast early but sunshine for the rest of the day. Ride out to Ripon along the country roads and meet up with three riders from Cheltenham in the Cotswolds, Phil Jon and Mark, they had bravely ridden the complete course the previous day in rainy conditions. Not today wonderful conditions. Parked the bikes at thr Ripon Racecourse in front of the big screen, then walked into a position along the side of the road. Great atmosphere people from all over the country and Europe. The local bobby, s in jovial mood. As you can see they are enjoying the event. These two had been brought in from the north east for the day. Bob the one on the left is a macam and tacam! (Sunderland) the other a geordie (Newcastle).

Hello hello hello

Catch up with Phil, jon and Mark for the ride home. A quick photo opp. In the town centre as  Ripon is where I was born. Then hit the road back to York. 3klm later oh there's a pub let's have a pint says Phil. (Sarah Phil is a scouse but has strong links with Australia as his family lived there and his older brother was born in Oz before they returned). At the first stop we had a pint of Theakson which was a family brewery, now a division in the family occurred and the other son started his own brew, which became known as The Black Sheep. So we had to try this drop says Phil, Mark and John. Surprise surprise  7klm later another pub, The Anchor at a small village called Boroughbridge. In true Yorkshire dialect Burrabridge. Thank goodness we were leaving Phil Jon and Mark at this Point
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Thanks for an enjoyable day Boys, you know you ara always welcome in O

Ripon Market Place

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Day 5 York

Thanks again Eileen, Shannon and Philip,  next time a longer visit. Head off about mid day overcast with  showers. Meet Peter Wynne from Lara Australia in a motorway cafe. Arrive in York a quick look around and check the weather for the next day. The morning does not look promising so decide not to ride to Leeds.

St Mary's York Destroyed By Henry VIII

York Minster 13th Century Gothic

The Wall which is 3.5klm around the City

Day 4 Liverpool

Always sad to say good bye, thanks to all especially Lucy and Aaron whose warmth and generosity is greatly appreciated. Declan and Trish what can I say there welcoming spirit in Adelaide continues to move me in the emerald isle. The rest of the Foremans wow how proud there parents would be of they way they welcomed Peter and myself. Thank you.

I have an anxiety about going by boat which goes back to my childhood and the many times I sailed across the Irish Sea to visit family. I was always seasick. The memory of cow pies (vomit) all over the floor and in the urinals made me queezy. However larger ships and stabilizers have obviously made a difference. It was a smooth sailing. Met a lovely family from Texas.  Finally docked in Holyhead, lovely chat with a local Bobby (Heddlu) picked up the car and headed for Liverpool.  Stopped in Chester for bite to eat. Now this is lovely town, founded by the romans it is one of the great  walled cities of England, the River Dee flows through the town and the distinct reddish sandstone is unique in british castles.

 Entered Liverpool via the Mersey Tunnel, remember Gerry and the Pacemakers, Ferry across the Mersey. The first tunnel built in the 1880, s then two road tunnels. Approx 3 klm long.

Great to finally catch up with Eileen (Sarah, s cousin), Eillen lived in Australia for 15 years  but returned England 10 years ago. Head off to the Dock land's which on my last visit was where I caught the boat to Ireland. Boy has this changed. The docks are still there but has now been transformed with apartments, restaurants etc but retaining the original buildings.

Went into town to purchase a sim card for Peter and came across The Liverpool FC shop called Liverpool 1, a few  doors down was the Everton FC shop called Everton 2. Even at that level the bragging rights are high.On the way home after a lovely evening with Eileen, mum,(Eileen), Shannon, and Phillip, very close to where Eileen lives she mentioned , Paul do you know John Lennon, "yes" thats his house, "what Menlove Ave" yeah, this is a photo opportunity. Stop the car. Click, click. "And that's Strawbery Fields behind the house." What the one with the famous gates."  Yep, just in that lane, Mike and Karen my friends live there. Drop in have a drink take more photos.

Let me take you down cause I'm going to..............

Back to Eileen to edit the photos on her laptop. Little bit of inconvenience until we can solve the andriod issue.

Thanks Eileen, who could not do enough for us. Eileen works at the local school and will be on summer holidays next week. Enjoy your well earned break Eileen and also to Philip and Shannon.

Menlove Avenue

Day 3 Dublin

The patience and generosity of Lucy and Aaron has been truly wonderful. Aaron an IT guru working diligently away well into the night to keep his global customers satisfied, as we are disturbing his thought processing with our noisy banter, and  Lucy tirelessly assisting us with apps, map downloads of intended routes, for our days ride.

Early start 6.00am (sunrise 4.45am) after a short night and we have a planned ride down to Glendalough and returning via Sally Gap in the Dublin Mountains. The trip was approx 100klm but the ride was spectacular, mild weather conditions all the way .

Round Tower

Glendalough is an Irish favourite location and has many memories for me as I have visited it many times as a young boy. The famous round tower and the church of St Kevin's dating around 900 AD. Peter who lives in Lara Victoria could not believe his eyes as we passed through the village of Laragh. He was also wearing his Lara Latte Cycling shirt. We saw our first deer and badger on the way as we climbed Mt Sugarloaf.

The Laragh Pub

St Kevin's

Then a steady 7% climb through the Dublin Mountains via the Sally Gap Falls. This was of particular interest for me as I fell in this water when I was rock hopping in 1967 whilst visiting the area. The magic of the Dublin Mountains for us was that because it is 'Bog' country no buildings, defined boundaries, farm settings etc. are possible. This section was approx 40klm long and you had a sense that we could have been on a high plateau in the Andes. One car past us on the whole ride through this region. We rode across the full width of the road as you could see the rode in front of you for miles around, no trees or hidden bends. It also gave us the opportunity to riding on the opposite side of the road in preparation for Europe.

Then a long descent into Dublin. It was hard to grasp that a bustling city was just over the horizon. This would be harsh and windswept in the winter.

Enniskery

Then back to Milltown late morning, freshen up for our second stage of the Hop On Hop Off magical mystery tour. Hopped off for a tour of Guinness, our cousin Deirdre (ex employee Guinness research scientist now retired, rode in from her home to deliver us free tickets to the tour. Deirdre also an exceptional long distance and cross country runner, best time for the marathon 2hrs and 39 mins, circa 1980 beat that!) Then back on the bus via Phoenix Park. This beautiful park so close to the city is 1750 acres in area. Twice the size of Central Park NY. Home of the Irish Zoo, Irish President, and the famous open air mass where Pope JP II celebrated mass in front of 1.25 million people in the late 1970's, which was a third of the Irish population.

It is also the home of  The Wellington Monument. Yes the famous Duke and only Irish Prime Minister of England, Battle of Waterloo, defeated Napoleon, yes that's him. He insulted the Irish when he was questioned about his home country and replied, 'Just because you are born in a stable does not mean that you are a horse.'

Then a brief short cut through the park on our way to Deidre and Dermot's house for tea. Two hours later and we arrive. Thank you for the short cut Declan. Deidre lives outside one of the entrances to this wonderful park. Thanks Deirdre, Maeve, Declan, Brendan Lucy, Aaron and families for en enjoyable night. Good food, great company, endless stories. Now for Day 4 in Liverpool.

Day 2 Dublin

Back into town after a 'Hard Day's Night.' Beautiful warm sunny . Walking through Grafton Street, swarming with people singing, bands playing, entertainers etc. A cup of coffee down by the River Liffey. Meet Trish and Declan in O'Connell Street. Declan our own personal guide, historian and comedian. Fact; 1)did you know The O'Connell street bridge is wider than it is long! 2)The Spire of Dublin which is 121 mtr tall, and made of stainless steel replaced the Nelson's Pillar after the IRA blew it up in the 1960's. 3) Duibhlinn comes from two words meaning black pool. 4) The gaelic word for Dublin is Baile Atha Cliath. 5) Founded as a Viking settlement over 1000 years ago.

The entertaining Michael and Mary O'Neill from Cork

Off to the world famous Temple Bar region of Dublin on the banks of the Liffey, south side. Lunch at the Temple Bar Pub. Fact; also the birth place of Australia's own Anne Wright (formerly Horan) The better half of husband Greg! the well know leader of the Irish band The Liberties.

No 47 Temple Bar Anne Wrights birthplace

Purchased a two day Hop On Hop Off bus ticket. Good value. The bus driver should have been on the stage not driving a bus. Hilarious. He was turning out of a tight parking spot when the passengers felt he was going to hit he bus in front. One of the passengers cried out ' You are going to crash' the driver said I knew that, don't panic my driving test is tomorrow.

Guinness Tour

Arthur Guinness purchased this land for 100 pounds in 1759 and took out a 9000 yr lease for 35 pounds per year (55 Euro) Not a bad deal

We met my cousin Maeve at Trinity College ( founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592) who lectures at the college. Boy what a magnificent college. The grounds and building are spectacular, right in the heart of Dublin. It is also the home of the Book of Kells, an illustrated manuscript of the four gospels created by the monks in 800 AD.

     

Out for tea with Maeve, magnificent food, thank you Maeve. Catch the tram back to Milltown the streets are alive with the young night revellers, the sight of 5 young vibrant lady's trying to occupy a two seater Rickshaw bicycle after a big night on the town was very entertaining.

Day 1 Dublin

Peter and Paul at Melbourne Airport

 I would like to apologise to all our followers personally but I don't know both of you by name. We have had difficulties uploading images to the blog. Unfortunately we can only add photos from a PC with windows base Adobe Flash software and this was not possible with an android unit.

What a flight 14 hours to Dubai, a three transit period followed by another 8 hrs to Dublin. Our flight path was across the Gulf through Iraq and the recent unrest in the region was clearly evident as the oil refineries were still burning. We flew across Europe passing Turkey, The Black Sea, through Germany and onto  Amsterdam over the North sea via The Wash (Norfolk) on the English coast. Hundreds of wind powered turbines are clearly visible below. We continued across the UK via Liverpool on the west coast. It was a beautiful sunny day with the Liverpool and Everton football grounds directly below.

A warm welcome as we arrived at Dublin Airport from Lucy(niece), Trish and Declan (cousin). After disembarkment and a short delay the bikes were delivered. We arrived at lunchtime on Monday the 30th June 2014. Ironically I arrived in Australia 45 years earlier on Monday 30th June 1969 at lunchtime.

As the Irish say 'Caed Mile Failte' (Hundred Thousand Welcomes). A short drive to the home of Lucy and Aaron in Milltown, offload all the baggage and bikes and off to, where else but The Merry Ploughboy.

Outside with a couple of Bikes

Followed in quick succession for lunch at The Johnnie Fox (Ireland's highest pub). We then had a very scenic drive through some of the regions well know landmarks. Power Court & Mt Sugarloaf

                                                      
Back to Lucy's for something to eat. Sunset Dublin on Monday 30th June 9.56 pm. what will we do now Peter? Lets catch the LUAS (Tram 10 mins) into Dublin. We head off at 9.00 pm down to O'Connell St. A brief walk around town as it was Peters first visit. Let's go for a drink in Grafton St. This one will do, sat down introduce ourselves to a couple  and were totally entertained listening to Michael and Mary O'Neil from Cork for an hour who were in Dublin for the night. Catch the Luas back home after 11.00 and a glimmer of light was still visible on the skyline. What a day!