It’s 2.45pm Thursday afternoon and I have finally made it to Cairnryan. The ride just seemed to go on forever, and lucky the roads were quite good. Yet the rain lashed down. I am amazed that it has rained so much… and it only seems to do so when I ride. I wanted to take some photographs (not only for the blog, but for memory as well), but in so much rain, the first was just a misty haze so I thought better of it and rode on. I set off on a 4 and a half hour ride, through some wonderful countryside and over the mountains around the west coast. I rode up and across Ben Nevis (o.k. not all the way, but all that remained above were clouds) and the surrounding mountains, around Loch Lomond and through the villages along the west coast, and still it rained.
Sitting on the ferry I find it quite strange that I am – relatively – dry (except my feet) and early. The map said 4 and a half. It took me 6hours. I have now complet
ed my trip around Scotland. As near as damn it, I went up the east coast, across the north and down the west coast. I love the country, there is something about it that just warms the heart, but the friends I have seen and those that I have made on the way have made it that little bit more special.
ed my trip around Scotland. As near as damn it, I went up the east coast, across the north and down the west coast. I love the country, there is something about it that just warms the heart, but the friends I have seen and those that I have made on the way have made it that little bit more special.I arrived at the port a little early. O.k. very. I was told that I needed to be there between 3-3.30pm, so that’s what I did. However, it turned out I got there at about 2.30pm and they asked me if I wanted to queue jump. Yes please, said I. The next thing… well you get the picture as you’re now up to date. The major difference being that this is the fast-cat. The one that was fully booked and I couldn't get on. It takes just 1hr rather than the 2hrs of the usual crossing. Bonus.
As I look into the distance, I can just about making out the misty, murky shape of Ireland. Time to think, time to prepare and time to get back on solid land.
I rode off the other side excited, nervous with anticipation and brimming with curiosity. What did Ireland have to offer? I found the B&B with little trouble at all. Straight up the A2. So, on I rode. I wanted to do the Giants causeway if I could and really wanted to expe
rience some of the island. Yet, tiredness and hunger has really put paid to the day today. Having ridden some 6hrs already I found that I was beginning to get rather upset with ability of other road users, it might have been the people overtaking me on the bends, on the coast road; it might have been the discourteous way in which people pull out on you on the roundabouts (they just don't look) as you ride in unfamiliar territory, or it might have been the tractor driver that decided he had plenty of time to pull across the road in front of me with his tracker pulling a horrible long trailer, and then just looking at me as if I was mad.
As I look into the distance, I can just about making out the misty, murky shape of Ireland. Time to think, time to prepare and time to get back on solid land.
I rode off the other side excited, nervous with anticipation and brimming with curiosity. What did Ireland have to offer? I found the B&B with little trouble at all. Straight up the A2. So, on I rode. I wanted to do the Giants causeway if I could and really wanted to expe
rience some of the island. Yet, tiredness and hunger has really put paid to the day today. Having ridden some 6hrs already I found that I was beginning to get rather upset with ability of other road users, it might have been the people overtaking me on the bends, on the coast road; it might have been the discourteous way in which people pull out on you on the roundabouts (they just don't look) as you ride in unfamiliar territory, or it might have been the tractor driver that decided he had plenty of time to pull across the road in front of me with his tracker pulling a horrible long trailer, and then just looking at me as if I was mad. I pulled on the brakes and started to slide, there was nothing that I could do. All that I remembered was that as the back-end steps out and begins to come round, you steer into it, thus counter-acting the movement of the bike. It worked – in sorts. The back-end stepped out and with me almost stood straight and the wheels beginning to slide on the wet road, the bike bounced, not much... but enough. I’ve said it before, it’s not the bikes, it’s the bloody idiots that think they own the road. It was disheartening, but after 5 or 6 seconds and the reactionary nods from drivers coming the other way – I think amazed to see me (and the bike) still standing, I decided that I’d had enough excitement for one day, turned and headed back to the B
&B.
I showered and headed down to the waterfront. I wasn’t entirely sure what was around. I had been told that there was a pub, but me, being me, was far more interested in the idea of a castle! BallyGalley has its own castle and it’s right down on the sea-front, looking across to the border-lands in Scotland.
It’s not much of a castle, but it serves Guinness and it also serves food. I drank the first in the bar, then went round for dinner. I walked into the restaurant area and smiled nervously at the matra de (or whatever it is) – the manager to you and I. I only knew they were the same person because of a rather well to do (stuck up) family complained that the lamb was burned. I laughed to myself when the manager came over to apologise and then said that in fact it wasn’t burnt but in fact when cooked in this particular way they use a sauce which caramelises. Why did I laugh, it was a bit of everything. The stuck up family feeling dumb; the manager suggesting that it was caramelised and the fact that ‘caramelised’ is exactly the term used by Mikey when something is burned. Caramelised is chef speak for burnt! Brilliant!
Dinner was a fantastic experience. Everyone else sat in the restaurant were wearing suits. The staff wore shirt and dicky bow and could obviously juggle as a part time entertainment (all the stuff they carried and so elegantly). But my interest peaked when I realised I was the object of interest for so many people. It was as though they expected me to rob them. Gentlemen sat in suits, ladies in dinner dresses and me in jeans and a jumper, sporting a wind-swept beard. You can imagine how I took to it and played along as best I could. Dinner was served with proper – real silver (hallmarked) – cutlery. The manager stayed very close by. Opposite me was a young couple, possibly late 20s and it seemed obviously that nervous as he was this was the night. The intension was there to propose. He kept fiddling and fidgeting, checking that his hands weren’t too sweaty and checking his pockets every few minutes. Now if I hadn’t been there and his young lady not quite so nervy would he have had the problems he had...? Who knows. What a laugh. The poor girl sat in her dress, pearl necklace on, jewels dangling from her arms and she couldn’t stop looking. The manager edged a little closer. ‘Everything to your satisfaction? Your meal is good?’ ‘Excellent’ I replied. From nowhere a young waitress appeared to remove the plate. She smiled. I think she may have been on my side, as to the horror of the manager, she did her job... ‘Would you like dessert sir, coffee?’ I smiled back... ‘I think I will, what’s on tonight?’ She went and retrieved the menu, the smile still stretched across her slim Irish face. ‘Oh, could I have another Guinness whilst I wait.’
The manager turned green. I had reserved my table from the bar. Nobody saw me or how I was dressed and I was sat before the manager had a chance to do or say anything. I just drank my Guinness and had a good look around the place. As people paced out of the door and left me to eat the dessert I was reminded of the Trading Places film... I really didn’t fit in and $1 dollar wouldn’t have changed me. I finished and gave in. There s only so much you can eat, before you realise that the fun really i
s starting to drop off. So, with the best of intentions I asked for the bill. As expected it took no time at all. I paid and made my way out. A wonderful night, a great start to the next part of the adventure. Cheers! Here's to all of you.
&B.I showered and headed down to the waterfront. I wasn’t entirely sure what was around. I had been told that there was a pub, but me, being me, was far more interested in the idea of a castle! BallyGalley has its own castle and it’s right down on the sea-front, looking across to the border-lands in Scotland.
It’s not much of a castle, but it serves Guinness and it also serves food. I drank the first in the bar, then went round for dinner. I walked into the restaurant area and smiled nervously at the matra de (or whatever it is) – the manager to you and I. I only knew they were the same person because of a rather well to do (stuck up) family complained that the lamb was burned. I laughed to myself when the manager came over to apologise and then said that in fact it wasn’t burnt but in fact when cooked in this particular way they use a sauce which caramelises. Why did I laugh, it was a bit of everything. The stuck up family feeling dumb; the manager suggesting that it was caramelised and the fact that ‘caramelised’ is exactly the term used by Mikey when something is burned. Caramelised is chef speak for burnt! Brilliant!
Dinner was a fantastic experience. Everyone else sat in the restaurant were wearing suits. The staff wore shirt and dicky bow and could obviously juggle as a part time entertainment (all the stuff they carried and so elegantly). But my interest peaked when I realised I was the object of interest for so many people. It was as though they expected me to rob them. Gentlemen sat in suits, ladies in dinner dresses and me in jeans and a jumper, sporting a wind-swept beard. You can imagine how I took to it and played along as best I could. Dinner was served with proper – real silver (hallmarked) – cutlery. The manager stayed very close by. Opposite me was a young couple, possibly late 20s and it seemed obviously that nervous as he was this was the night. The intension was there to propose. He kept fiddling and fidgeting, checking that his hands weren’t too sweaty and checking his pockets every few minutes. Now if I hadn’t been there and his young lady not quite so nervy would he have had the problems he had...? Who knows. What a laugh. The poor girl sat in her dress, pearl necklace on, jewels dangling from her arms and she couldn’t stop looking. The manager edged a little closer. ‘Everything to your satisfaction? Your meal is good?’ ‘Excellent’ I replied. From nowhere a young waitress appeared to remove the plate. She smiled. I think she may have been on my side, as to the horror of the manager, she did her job... ‘Would you like dessert sir, coffee?’ I smiled back... ‘I think I will, what’s on tonight?’ She went and retrieved the menu, the smile still stretched across her slim Irish face. ‘Oh, could I have another Guinness whilst I wait.’
The manager turned green. I had reserved my table from the bar. Nobody saw me or how I was dressed and I was sat before the manager had a chance to do or say anything. I just drank my Guinness and had a good look around the place. As people paced out of the door and left me to eat the dessert I was reminded of the Trading Places film... I really didn’t fit in and $1 dollar wouldn’t have changed me. I finished and gave in. There s only so much you can eat, before you realise that the fun really i
s starting to drop off. So, with the best of intentions I asked for the bill. As expected it took no time at all. I paid and made my way out. A wonderful night, a great start to the next part of the adventure. Cheers! Here's to all of you. 
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