O.k. This thread is in response to separate the discussion caused by me saying Sylvia and I will be in Renvyle next week end (17th - 20th Oct). 

Tea & scones seems to be the order of the day.

I just need to make sure we turn up at the same venue as any of the Irish Eccentrics...........

We can make either the Saturday or Sunday.

Mike

Mike,

Saturday or Sunday good with me. I was talking to Comberjohn this morning he mentioned either is ok with him too, I didn't make it to Dublin today mainly due to a plumbing problem at home. Old house simple jobs become more major, just like a K. And so replacing a ballvalve has required repiping the tattic cold suppky pipework.

Need to check with Cheryl at Craggy island as one doesn't simply turn up. Her number on her website is +353879214694. I will add an email address later.

Comberjohn will have quite a run down for a day trip so he mentioned an overnight. . . . .not sure how his wife will see an overnight as being reasonable for meet a few guys for a cup of tea but, what the heck its a great idea. Also allows for an earlyish start.

Keep an eye on weather maps might be an idea as its so much nicer there in the sun. I am about 3 hours from Galway but that reduces to about 2 1/2 hours at the weekend.

Not sure about other takers but you are very close to Reg and he also has a rather nice K! He is game for anything and also knows the area well.

Looking forward to it already!!

Olaf

I'll throw my hat into the ring, too.
Already have the royal seal of approval and, of course, an overnight stay on the grounds of safety.
She's already used to me driving hundreds of miles for very little reason. 
Think Irish Photo Rally.
Think she enjoys the peace and quiet. 

Any other volunteers? Any preference for which day?
We'll need to move quickly on this as there's not much time.
After the lovely run to Dublin today I'm really looking forward to it.
It'll help to shorten the winter.

If Comberjohn can produce the weather he did today I am also in.

Permission has also been granted.

Such sacrifice. Gonna miss the mother in law's visit then?
Any preference for which day?

Saturday or Sunday are both good - she is here for 2 days - but don't forget we need good weather

Update.
Going to have to be Sunday for me. I want to travel down the day before as it's quite a run and I would have a very early start.
Just been reminded that we're babysitting on the Friday evening so can't travel down Friday.
Can get a single room b&b in the Hydro Hotel in Lisdoonvarna for £32. Stayed there in August and it was fine.
So. Shall we call it for Sunday?

Sunday will be fine for us, although may have to go a little easy on the Guinness on Saturday evening (we have a group dinner organised).

I'll post a note about this trip on the BM riders Club forum (it's where all the riders are members) and see if they want to join me in the ride.

Will we need to give numbers to the tea room?

Do I need to wear a red carnation button hole or maybe shamrock  

Mike

mike d wrote:Sunday will be fine for us, although may have to go a little easy on the Guinness on Saturday evening (we have a group dinner organised).

I'll post a note about this trip on the BM riders Club forum (it's where all the riders are members) and see if they want to join me in the ride.

Will we need to give numbers to the tea room?

Do I need to wear a red carnation button hole or maybe shamrock  

Mike

Sunday ok for me too. Its 2 1/2 hours for me. Have to book Craggy island and numbers too.

I only mentioned the possibility of a Connemara trip and within 3 minutes I literally heard swords clashing and shields cracking - Gerda trying to sort out the others (shortlisting the viking way )

This in practical terms means that I may turn up on 4 wheels as no sidecar and / or no childminder available (unless someone in Galway / Mayo lends me a bike for the day).

Checking the possibility of getting a sidecar as too much of this happening recently. A bike for Ditte may be an easier / cheaper way though.

That's me booked into the Hydro Hotel inn Lisdoonvarna for Saturday night. Going to travel down on Saturday afternoon.
Seeing as you started the ball rolling on this one, Olaf, can you contact Craggy Island to confirm if we can go on Sunday?
We need to firm up how many there will be, as well.
Looks like about five from the eccentrics and at least two, probably more(?) from the BM Riders. Need some numbers soon.
And, of course, the weather will be good. 

Unfortunately I have to visit aged parents and won't make this meet. Enjoy.

Mike

Delighted to! I think to stay up near Galway, if you guys are coming down from Renvyle.

Any suggestions for times? You have to pass Oranmore on the way which might be a good meeting point so we all get a ride in the Burren.

I think we might hear from one or two more. Corkboy is away for a week but not sure if that was last week or this week.

Olaf

Hi Olaf,

I posted on the BM Bikes forum last night, and saw Comberjohn's posting on there today. No takers as yet but will check later today.

A meet up would be good, just need to find Oranmore. Any idea on riding time from Renvyle to Oranmore?

Where's my sat nav.......

Edit update. It's in the wifes car! She has gone to work and needs it to find her way to a job interview this afternoon.

Mike

Mike

Distance Renvyle to Oranmore is 101 km/62 miles now its not good roads there so about 1 hour 45. On these roads you should consider ride out speed at 50km/h and no more. Ok 30mph in Queen's miles.

I have about 130 miles to Oranmore from home. About 2 1/2 hours for me.

What time do you plan to set out? The perfect days for riding bring a small risk of an early morning frost, we had one Saturday and yesterday but both days were great for a run.

Just been checking on google maps. As you say, looks like 1 hr 45, plus the time from there to Father Ted's place which looks like another 45 minutes.

Meet up time depends on when we want to arrive at the final destination. If we plan to be at the Parochial House for say lunchtime, 1.00pm then we should plan to leave the Cottage by 10.00am, to meet you at Oranmore by 11.45 - 12.00 

We can easily leave earlier of course, but as you have the farther to travel we can align to your travel plan.

Mike

Mike

No need to worry about my time, Comberjohn has booked into Lisdoonvarna and I may do the same. If I don't stay over I have an advantage of main roads early in the day.

Will check with Craggy Island to see what time is good....

Olaf. The Hydro Hotel inn Lisdoonvarna had one single room left last night for €40 b&b. I used booking.com. 
No deposit needed and you can cancel up until 6.00pm on Friday with no cost.
Bargain.

Have fun lads, my weekend is out due to family ties.

Hi All,
         I thought you might like to know that we have a rough bit of weather coming our way for the weekend. It may track further north?
But worth keeping an eye on with this fantastic weather link .....

http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/1000hPa/orthographic=-15.77,52.36,543

You can click on the word "Earth" and advance the weather up to 4 days ahead of present or by 3hr intervels.

Safe riding

Trapper

Are we still on for this?

Count me in too!!

Nuh Trapper. Bit too technical for me. 
My forecast is breezy, possibility of a shower or two and a high of 16-17°C. 
Not bad for mid October in Ireland.

Looking forward to meeting you guys!

Mike

http://www.fathertedshouse.com/

Above link to Craggy Island.

And gps coordinates too.

Given that their preference is for afternoon should we consider a meet up around Oranmore or Kilcolgan, coast ride around the Burren to Cliffs of Moher and Liscannor. There is a restaurant at the Cliffs which looks out over the sea. I have been there and while its not the best for service it has a spectacular view on a sunny day and if the weather is in accordance with Comberjohn's usual arrangements then its probably a good place to stop off. Distance from there to Craggy Island is 40km but the road is such that you need to allow an hour 15 minutes. I have done this and you need to allow for it.

Earlyish lunch? I am thinking meet up at Kilcolgan or Oranmore around 10.30am? Coast road to Cliffs of Moher and time for quick walk about and lunch.....

Craggy Island is well placed to head either east to the main road or north to Kinvara and from there to Kilcolgan and Oranmore and then main Dublin/Galway motorway.

As far as I recall the parking surface at Craggy Island is gravel....Cliffs of Moher car park last time I was there had a tarmac area for bikes €2 and somewhere to leave bike gear....

Olaf.

I posted the last one for if we were having lunch.

Given the 10am start at Renvyle best option may be to stick with a meet up at Oranmore around 12 and go round the coast but skip the lunch and head to Craggy Island for tea and scones and lots of home baking. That would work fine and make the best of the day.

Comberjohn has a great way of finding the best roads.

Olaf

Takers:

Mike
Sylvia
Comberjohn
92KK
Simon
Reg
88KE possible.

What about Simon?
Anyone else fancy it?

I've not had any other takers from the BMbikes forum, will check again later.

Mike

Comberjohn wrote:What about Simon?
Anyone else fancy it?

I am still a definite maybe.

I still can't decide whether to go on the Saturday and join Comberjohn or make a run on the Sunday morning.

Also all my bikes are on the road at the moment so which one to bring.

Decisions, decisions ...

Am in same boat! I may just head straight to Oranmore or Kilcolgan on Sunday morning. Will see how things go. 

I used to be a procrastinator. . . now I am not so sure.

Any takers from Cork? CluainSi and Tom? PatOD? Corkboy? 

Reg?

Did you get a chance to speak too Cheryl about Sunday, Olaf?

Where exactly should we meet?

Mike

Mike/John

Just had an email from Cheryl looking for numbers.

Meet up point could be Oranmore or Kilcolgan, coming from Galway you must pass both.......petrol at both.

Olaf.

Excellent. Looking forward to it.
I'll be in the area on the Sunday morning after my full Irish breakfast so can fall in with whatever arrangements are decided.

Hi Olaf,

Of the 27 in our group, so far it is still only Sylvia and myself. 

We will be leaving tomorrow afternoon to ride up to Holyhead, so I will check again tonight and before we leave an post the latest status.

Where in Oranmore to meet up, the petrol station? 
Is there only one? 
Are we all agreed at meeting there at 12.00?

Mike

Guys
Kilcolgan has a large Topaz station and a mother hubbards gut buster , plus large car park, and easy to find, just before turn off to Kinvara. Have ye decided which place to meet.

Hi Reg

That one sounds perfect to meet. How long would you uggest to allow for going around the coast and a stop at he Cliffs? from there to Craggy Island and eventually back up to Kinvara?

Looks like 6 for Craggy Island at 3pm?

Olaf

The spin to the cliff is easy enough (hour or less),From there you will be able to see inisheer lighthouse ( the one featured in opening titles of Farther ted with the wreck)..But to  Teds house it will be say less than hour. but yet again we will have to follow ye auld K16 with sat nav, cus its in the middle of burren, and I still get lost there..I'd say 40min ish.. small bog roads..

So we are now meeting in Kilcolgan not Oranmore.

At the Topaz filling station. Still 12.00?

Mike (leaving in about an hour).

up to ye guys, I am just saying its very easy to find.. the two places are only 10min apart.. curious, why are you staying out in Renvyle??

Reg. Can you copy me in on your route and times on the Saturday?
If I can get away on time I might join you in the afternoon. Might be more interesting than a straight run to the hotel in Lisdoonvarna.

Reg,

There are 27 of uss from the BMriders club, staying in holiday cottages.

I will be at the Topaz filling station in Kilcolgan at 12.00 on Sunday and will wait for 30 minutes before leaving for Father Ted's

Will ring Reg on Friday to confirm meet up on Saturday.

Mike (now about to get on the bike and depart)

keep her pointing west, and dig up the old rain gear, pity weather was exceptional untill ...yesterday

John, 
I PM'd my number to Mike. He'll ring on Friday night to figure out what to be done. Its a tough call, as where they are staying they can go north towards sligo-Donegal or south to me. They will be heading south on Sunday, but they will have to use main roads to make it to RV at 12, unless they are extremely hardcore??
So What I might propose to them is to meet in Cliften Town, from there then to Galway via WAW, then send them back up to camp via N59 which will bring them to Cliften again.. Nice round trip. just an Idea?? 
About 4hours driving, and add time for stops..
What time can you make Galway or Cliften??

Hi Reg.
Wouldn't be in Galway or Clifden until about one.
Don't worry about me if you and Mike work out a route. I had already planned to make a bit of a run of it anyway and maybe head towards Enniskillen, Sligo and down towards Westport.
Then make my way on down to Lisdoonvarna for the night. 
I'll PM my mobile number to you and if you think there's a chance we can meet up on the Saturday you can let me know. I'm flexible about where and when to go.
Failing that we'll meet up on Sunday anyway.

Reg wrote:keep her pointing west, and dig up the old rain gear, pity weather was exceptional untill ...yesterday

In true K manner I took the K to Dublin yesterday, round trip including some miles up there was near 400 miles. Best way of describing weather was that it was similar to what we had on the run up north.....lots of surface water flooding, torrential rain etc. A new front tyre last week made a big differenc eand the good thing about a lot of water is clean road surfaces.

Anyway I will be at Kilcolgan on Sunday for 12........

Olaf.

good move John,
anything but the Sligo-Galway main road...its the most boring route known to man. Maybe cus I had to do it so many times. I am up for a spin either way. the N59 will get you to Clifden via westport. from there you can make it to galway in 1 hour, or in true Irish style 4 hours, depending if you go left or right. the weather will have a bit part to play iam sure.
Call ya then.
Watch out for the feckin wild sheep, they always scare the shite out of me, they have this weird nobody home look in their eyes

Reg

I would second that comment about the Galway Sligo road.

Westport to Louisburg and down to Clifden Leenane etc etc is rather nicer, provided there is not much rain. I am kind of wishing to be up there and start from Westport but I have to say that after camping trips to Westport House the only nightmare part of it is the main road drive from Galway onwards.

My weekend plans are not sorted yet. Apart from Sunday which I am in for.
I will be aiming for earlier at Kilcolgan.

Olaf

Well if you get to Galway early, we could do breakfast, and head off to meet John on the way down, or the other 25lads in Cliften. I am thinking seafood Chowder in roundstone, with lashings of tea..go on now.....

mike d wrote:Hi Olaf,

I posted on the BM Bikes forum last night, and saw Comberjohn's posting on there today. No takers as yet but will check later today.

A meet up would be good, just need to find Oranmore. Any idea on riding time from Renvyle to Oranmore?

Where's my sat nav.......

Edit update. It's in the wifes car! She has gone to work and needs it to find her way to a job interview this afternoon.

Mike

Tom O Leary and I will be in Renvyle with the BM bikers for the weekend. Had planned a trip further north for Sunday depending on weather so we probably wont backtrack to the burren.