Thursday 6th June19 Sligo to Dublin Ferry and Snowdonia
As expected it was raining when we woke up; Kevin was last down to breakfast having ended up drinking Poteen (Irish moonshine) with the locals till late!! Fred went to try and start his bike..FLAT BATTERY!!!! It would be virtually impossible to bump start the bike of that capacity so we either had to buy some jump leads, or find someone who had some. I went off to ask reception if they had any; “No” was the answer and there wasn’t a shop nearby that might have some 🙁 Just then a guy who had heard the conversation said “I’ve got some in my boot”..YES, thank you sir!!!
The guy took his golf clubs out first and then found his jump leads; lovely guy, but had never used them and didn’t have a clue what to put where. The bike started immediately and we were back in the game again..we have been so lucky with people to help us out. Must be the luck of the Irish 🙂 shame they can’t work their magic on the weather!!!
We set off to Dublin; the route was the fastest option on N roads, two way with some stretches of dual carriageway. Lots of lorries on this main route, lots of rain and lots of spray..not much fun, especially when the rain drops are on the INSIDE of your visor! We stopped for coffee and a warm up then back into the deluge and spray. The road turned to motorway, some of which was a toll. Didn’t matter, let’s just get to the ferry. Thankfully the rain stopped about 50Kms from Dublin and we were making good progress on the Mway with its 12oKMs speed limit..140kms is only just over 🙂
We made it to the ferry port and were at the head of the queue and got loaded first. This was the fast ferry; a catamaran. We soon left port..goodbye Ireland. More or less straight away the sky turned blue and the sun came out, can you believe it?:) This boat was really fast and just 2hrs 15 we were in Hollyhead in Anglesey, North Wales.
Goodbye Ireland 
This boat is fast
We rode straight off the boat; no passport checks on either side! It was blue sky and sunny, as we rode we could see the hills and mountains of Snowdonia in the distance looking great in the sunshine..3 happy bikers 🙂 I took the guys through some of the most picturesque scenery and best roads on our way to Bala, our stop for the night. It was a lovely evening with very little traffic around; time for a blast!
Snowdonia 
Blue sky in Snowdonia 
We arrived at the White Lion Hotel on high st. Bala, there is really only one street. The sun was still shining, so straight to the bar for some good Welsh beer which we drank outside in outside in the sunshine..YES!!!
That night we ate at the hotel then walked up the road to check out another of the pubs..beer is £2.90 a pint here, fantastic !! 🙂 Looking at the weather forecast it suggested we would start dry in the morning, but then catch some very heavy rain for most of the day. The plan was for Fred & Kev to take their rented bikes back to Bournemouth and then catch a train to London. Our route would take us the first 50miles together, then I would turn off on the A44 to ride home.
Friday 7th June 19..Bala to home..More rain!!
At 9am it was dry as we loaded the bikes; the road to Crossgates (were we would part company) from Bala is a great biking road so we enjoyed the ride. There is a biker café at my turn off point so we pulled in for a last coffee together.
We reminisced about our trip and the upsides and downsides of the Adventure, approx. 1700 miles in all; we all liked Ireland, apart from the weather!! Apart from a bit of whinging Fred coped with his two broken bikes very well; so pleased he wasn’t really hurt in the crash. Many thanks again to the friendly Dutchman and his family for pulling Fred out of the hedge and driving him and the broken bike to Killarney; also the Irishman with the jump leads, saved our day! All in all it was a great trip with plenty of Adventure! 🙂
Fred’s was the strangest crash and we still cant figure it out..check out the video, courtesy of Fred https://youtu.be/CYOdFSL9IVI
The rain had started as I set off on the final lap for home; Fred & Kev were making for Bournemouth to return the bikes and would catch it too. The rain got heavier and heavier, the roads were like rivers. I got covered in spray and splashed as lorries went through the standing water!! Finally, about 20 miles from home the rain stopped and the sun came out; by this time I was thoroughly wet.
No doubt the trip would have been better without the rain every day; and the heated grips never got turned off! But it gave us more time to drink beer and get to know each other better and understand each other’s lives. Fred & Kevin are two interesting guys and I really enjoyed their company. I hope to get the chance to ride with them in their own back yard one day. Fred lives in Malaysia, Kevin in Providence, just south of Boston, USA.
So another Adventure over and I’m already looking forward to the next one which will be the Pyrenees at the end of August. No rain expected there!!!! 🙂 Stay tuned.
