Motorcycling in the Emerald Isle – make life a ride. Part 3.
I wrote earlier about this trip in two earlier posts, f you want to check back on those you can use these links to go back to Part 1 and Part 2. This part (Part 3) kicks off after I had spent two nights at the Kees Hotel and was heading off to the small seaside town of Kilkee in Co. Clare.
As I was loading my luggage onto my bike I saw the tamest of robins hopping around underneath the exhaust. Had I had some food available I’m sure it would would have been tame enough to jump onto my hand. You can see some pictures of the robin underneath my bike in the first picture set below
A bright start
As I readied my bike, the weather was bright and really did look as though it was set for the day.
However as the day wore on and the miles rolled by the weather became pretty mixed really. For about half the journey it was overcast and with the threat of rain. Thankfully the rain only materialised as a period of light drizzle for about 15 minutes or so when I was around the area of Knock in Co. Mayo. And even better for the ride, was that for pretty much the second half of the journey the weather was bright, sunny and generally ideal for being on a bike.
Click any image to open a picture gallery that can be scrolled or clicked through.
Plan for the day and leaving the Kees Hotel
My route down to Kilkee would mean covering about 215 miles. My preference is always to take the ‘back roads’. Typically I will only ever choose to take motorways/autostrada/autovia/autopista etc when I have to. Invariably that would be when heading down to Portsmouth or Plymouth for a ferry or perhaps on the last day of a trip if the weather has turned and a ferry check in time is at risk. A motorway can be a great way to travel when you want to get somewhere quick – but mind numbing on a bike, especially when the travel is more about the journey rather than the destination.
The rhythm of the ride
My route down to Kilkee initially took me towards the towns of Donegal, Bundoran and Sligo. Then it was on towards villages, towns and locations with names that begged you to try and remember them at the same time as making me think of other connections.
Not for the first time in my life did everything I thought about fail to make much sense.
A younger person than me, or perhaps one with a more modern take on life might use the term ‘mindfulness’ for the relaxation and pleasure I get from being on a motorcycle trip.
To me riding a motorbike for days on end is just a really good way to sometimes almost think of nothing at all.
It’s certainly a way to think of what lies ahead and not what lies behind. It can provide a Zen like state – one where what you do becomes intuitive rather than conscious and your day is driven by a certain rhythm.
I wonder if that makes sense to you or does it sound like me rambling?
Colourful, charming, curry and quilts
In my mind the town of Tobercurry in Co. Sligo made me think what a Toblerone curry might taste like; the village of Claregalway sounded like a women’s name Lisdoonvarna in Co. Clare sounded like a nice name and just brought back memories of Dingle with its pretty and brightly coloured houses and then the village of Quilty also in Co. Clare just made me think of … quilts!
Relaxation from doing
I suppose thinking about what I’m saying, I would probably say that ‘doing’ is always better than not doing.
For some folk it might be losing themselves sitting for hours fishing, for others losing themselves in books or music, walking, photography or whatever.
I don’t really think it matters much what the ‘doing’ is as long as the doing outweighs the not doing.
Scenes on the way to County Clare
The images in the following picture set were taken in a variety of places on the day’s journey down to County Clare.
The reality of travelling in Ireland is that you can never really capture all that you see – it really is a terrific place to motorcycle. It’s probably fair to say the first part of the days ride was quite routine from a road and scenery perspective and the second half was just a joy. Not only did I enjoy fabulous roads and stunning scenery my route was littered with the prettiest of places.
Click any image to open a picture gallery that can be scrolled or clicked through.
Bell Harbour
Towards the back end of the days ride and some 50 miles from my destination I stopped at a place called Bell Harbour.
The harbour is on an inlet to Ballyvaughan Bay and fronts the harbour village of Bellharbour (sometimes written Bell Harbour).
The location is on the route that is widely known as the Wild Atlantic Way. The Wild Atlantic Way (WAW) is actually about 1,600 miles long and is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world.
Bell Harbour is also located in the the world famous Burren region – an area that is beyond rich in ancient heritage and the small harbour was an ideal place to stop and take a break.
It was also a good place to get the drone in the air for a few minutes.
Click any image to open a picture gallery that can be scrolled or clicked through.
Kilkee an old fashioned seaside town
After leaving Bell Harbour it was onto my destination and a three night stay at Lynch’s B&B in the seaside town of Kilkee.
The town is located on the N67 between Kilrush and Doonbeg and I sensed some familiarity with some of the roads and some of the scenery, which maybe isn’t so surprising given that I have now travelled pretty extensively in Ireland.The town itself is set in a naturally shaped horseshoe bay.
In parts it’s quite spectacular with it’s reef and wave patterns, and is well place for a ride out to the Loophead Peninsula (a place I had visited on a previous trip). The beach itself was quite impressive and it just struck me as a happy and safe place to be – a sort of classic, traditional old fashioned sort of beach holiday place.
The accommodation I stayed at in Kilkee has been established and family run for around 30 years or so. On my arrival I received as warm a welcome as I have ever done at anywhere I have stayed and it’s certainly a place I would go back to if travelling again in that area.
My needs were met
Bike parking was really good and very secure in the yard/garden at the back of the property. Although my single room was small it was perfectly adequate for my stay and the shower was first class. The hosts were kind and friendly. My needs had been met what more could I ask for.
Click any image to open a picture gallery that can be scrolled or clicked through.
Evening stroll and a …
I ended my day with an evening stroll along the prom’ and then along the beach with my walk rounded off with two pints of perfect Guinness at Hickies Bar.
I just enjoyed sitting and watching life without a care in the world.
It had been another fine day on a motorbike.
After checking out the picture gallery you can go to Part 4 by clicking here
Click any image to open a picture gallery that can be scrolled or clicked through.
It’s a lovely country. Thanks for the pictures
I’ve think I’ve now been in most of the Irish counties now (including Northern Ireland) and it’s more than decent. Much of the coastline is just fabulous – a place worth going to