Heading for Ireland - news from Saturday and Sunday

It would seem to this blogger that when all else fails and it is raining - go do the washing! Lyndel and Phil rounded up as much washing as possible Saturday morning and headed off on the Indian Vincent to "The Anchor" Caravan park to interact with the local welsh holiday makers and very large front loading washing machines. Much fun and laughter as Phil tried to sort Jim's jocks from his own..... Many of the other travellers went into Brecon to take in the local coffee and sights and Phillip and Dorothy hopped on the local bus and went in to Cardiff - the bus driver said it was a short 2 hours for the trip but, as poor Phillip recounts nearing death from thirst (ie. not a drop of ale from here to Cardiff), this was one way and they were stuck on the bus over the scenic Brecon Beacons (local hill formations used regularly by bushwalkers and insane fell running clubs) with the local ladies who had had a day shopping in the big smoke! This lay day ended well with a cozy meal at our accom and then off to bed early ready for the 9am start on Sunday - do recall readers that the night before the group had "tied one on" and many (especially the Princess of the day - Chris) were feeling a little jaded and needing TLC from their fellow adventurers.

So Sunday morning we awoke to intermittent sunshine and the promise of a big day of riding ahead. Destination - Fishguard - to catch the 14.30 ferry to Rosslare Ireland. Again Tim led the group and one rider was so enthusiastic to get started that she rode out of the carpark and was nearly totalled by a silver vehicle of the 4 wheel variety. This blogger is again reliably informed that Lyndel SWEARS she checked the road before committing to the tarmac and that car just CAME OUT OF NOWWHERE I SWEAR IT DID! So that lucky girl was made Princess of the day at dinner that evening (and I thought I got away with that one! ) The ride was a little damp but not our spirits and we drove through some beautiful Welsh countyside savouring as much of the view as we could - we were pushing hard to get to the ferry as Jim is always keen to make sure that we have lots of time up our sleeve in case of any problems with bookings and ticketing.

So 11.30am saw us heading into the port town of Fishguard - main agenda item for all - LUNCH. Weather in Fishguard - sunny, no cloud; forecast for ferry crossing - force 5-7 gales. The bloke at the little pub where many of us had our lunch told us that Saturday the weather had been torrential rain and gale force winds "you should have been here yesterday" kind of news - not. So after a very delicious carvery luncheon we started up the Indians and rode onto the ferry at about 1.30pm.

Life aboard ferry for the next 3 and 1/2 hours was mixed - Annie and family took Travacalm and so did Peter Van S so the last we saw of him was snoring soundly on a couch in the bar. Those intrepid shoppers Sue and Merredith spent considerable time in the jewellery section of the onboard shop. Jim watched the Aussies flogging the Poms at the cricket, had a nap with Phil P and Brett played the pokies - and lost! Leaving the ferry at 6.00pm we were met by Conor's brother Fintan who led us to our stop for the night at Waterford. Jerry and Greraldine, Conor's parents, met us at the Ramada and gave him a really big surprise. Dinner was at 9.00pm and everyone was very pleased to be in clean, fresh clothes eating a good meal and doing their very best to buy wine in bottles bigger than those you get on the aircraft - yes the Irish have not heard of 750mls sized bottles and Dorothy and Toni were forced to take out a small loan from the local irish money lender in order to pay for enough little bottles to wet their whistles.

Lyndel, as mentioned, was crowned Princess and the weary, but dedicated riders bid goodnight to each other and headed for the vastly improved accomodation of the Ramada Viking Hotel.

Note to reader from Club Captain: Sunday ride out 9am SHARP. Remember that..........