I have opted to call this day, Day Zero. That’s really because it is a day that doesn’t count. The WAW starts in Muff, Co. Donegal or Kinsale, Co. Cork depending on whether you are travelling north or south. Given where I live that meant a few hours travel either way and as I had opted for the South – North route it meant travelling to Kinsale, Co. Cork from Northern Ireland, about 30 miles north of the border. So I had about a four hour trip ahead of me. About 260 miles.
Pretty much all of these 260 miles were on dual carriageways or motorways and passed through 3 toll roads, each one costing a whopping 90 cents each. Not a big deal on one trip but I can see how this could easily mount up for local commuters. Thank goodness we don’t have any toll roads in Northern Ireland. Yet.
I was all packed and ready to go, with only one problem, rain. It had been raining all day and although not heavy, when you factor in travelling into it face first at 70 mph it wasn’t all that appealing. The rain continued, and continued, it became a case of having to go regardless. So off I went.
So having just recently completed my trip of the West Coast of Ireland in 1 Week, along the longest Coastal Route in the World – The Wild Atlantic Way, taking in over 2,600km it is now time for me to put this trip into some sort of words, and more importantly share my photographs of this stunning area with the rest of world, and hopefully inspire a few more of you to take on this route.
The route itself is no secret, it is brilliantly signposted from start to finish and is easily completed without a sat nav, map of even the slightest clue about the geography of Ireland. There are numerous towns and villages that you will pass through and the options from accommodation range from a bit of wild camping to official campsites, or gorgeous little family run B&Bs right through to Hotel Resorts and Spas. Brilliant. Initially I had planned on completing this trip with my only accommodation being at the side of the road where I stopped. Just prior to my trip I decided on changing this due to the predicted weather, and the constant rain the Met Office told me I would be facing. It turns out on this trip over the one week timescale the change to B&B style accommodation was a good one!
This first post though will cover the gear that I used on my trip, it will touch on my motorcycle, and the gear I used for the daily ride and how it held up with the weather of an Irish ‘Summer.’ Summer in this case needs the ‘ ‘ marks, as at the time of typing I think we are somewhere close to Day 60 of consecutive rain falling somewhere in the country (its a small country) and having just passed the coldest, wettest July since 2003. On saying that as you will see over the up and coming #WAWIn1Week posts I was pretty lucky with the weather. I did get a good, in fact severe soaking, twice – enough to test the gear to the absolute limits, but for most of the time I was only hitting passing showers, or trying to keep them in my mirrors! With this route hugging the West Coast of Ireland and therefore the limits of the Atlantic Ocean it is subject to some pretty extreme weather conditions and one thing to remember if you are over and on the route what looks grim ahead may take a dramatic change around the next corner. The weather is really that changeable and if you just look out over the ocean you will get a very good idea of what the jet stream is bringing across to you over the next couple of hours.
So here we go, the gear I used and how it coped with taking on the world’s longest dedicated coastal route, 2,600km and six days on the coast…
Just by way of a quick update I have finished my trip of the Wild Atlantic Way in 1 Week.
It was an epic journey along the West Coast of Ireland and I will be posting a full ride report very soon, but in the meantime please have a look at my Twitter and Instagram accounts where you will find a large selection of photos using the hashtag #WAWIn1Week
I will also be uploading my complete route from my GPS in case anyone fancies doing the same route.
If you do fancy doing it let me know as I am considering am starting a wall of fame for the adventurers who complete this journey in the timescale.
Today my journey along the West Coast of Ireland begins.
I was planning on waiting for the perfect weather but so far this summer has been terrible and there is no sign of an imminent improvement! So I decided it was time to bite the bullet and go for it. I booked the time off work and today is Day Zero. I call it that as it isn’t really a day on the Wild Atlantic Way. It is just a day of travelling to get to the start of it. So after 260 miles and 1.25 tanks of fuel I finally have arrived at Kinsale, County Cork.
So far I have experienced every possible weather except snow and ice! The first 90 miles of my journey were wet, nah they were soaking wet, wet is actually drier that how wet it actually was! If you can work that out, and as a chap in a garage said to me, ‘At least it can’t get any worse.’ After that it got dry and windy, which I welcomed as it dried me out quite nicely and just as I got dry it got wet again, only this time wetter! Visibility was about 100 metres at best, it could only be described as grim, really really grim! Then I got to Cork, the rain stopped and the sun actually came out.
I arrived in Kinsale, Co. Cork which is a gorgeous little harbour town. It has loads of quality Irish bars and with it being a Sunday night every one of them was pumping out live music, the town was buzzing! It really is a crackin’ wee place, with loads of bikes zipping about and loads of tourists hopping from pub to pub. I threw my stuff into B&B and found a chippy called Dino’s and if you are ever here it is simply a must!
Then I took a walk about the town snapping a few photos before retiring for the evening to do this, update the Twitter and Instagram to set me up for a good night’s sleep before actual Day One!
It it with great sadness that I post these two articles, one from BBC News and another from the Ballymena Times. The BBC News article posts the news side of events, the Ballymena Times Article is much more personal, and written by one of the Doctor’s friends in a way that only someone who knew him would be able to do.
It is enough for me to say that this is a tragic incident that has rocked the motorcycling and Road Racing Communities. My thought and prayers are with the Doctor’s family and friends. He save many lives, and impacted on many more. As is said far too often, ‘It’s always the good ones!’
Please have a look at this petition, it was Dr John’s ambition to see this a reality so very signature helps!
Dr John Hinds in action at Fenton’s Leap during the 2013 Mid Antrim 150 at Clough. Picture: Stephen Davison (Pacemaker).
Roy Adams’ tribute to ‘Flying Doctor’ John Hinds (Original Article can be found at : http://www.ballymenatimes.com/sport/local-sport/roy-adams-tribute-to-flying-doctor-john-hinds-1-6835699)
I never, in a million years, thought I would have to write this.
As we all know now, Dr. John Hinds, part of the MCUI Medical team, died as a result of a crash at Skerries last weekend.
In a sport where the term ‘legend’ can be defined by the fact that you are recognised by your first name, we have Joey, Robert, William, Michael and, in the same breath, Dr John.
Dr John, whose day job was an anaesthetist in Craigavon Hospital, was recognised at one of the best trauma doctors in the world.
Just a couple of weeks ago I saw him work with Ian Morrell after his crash at Kells.
When he arrived at the scene he asked me how many riders were down. I said ‘Just one. Ian Morrell’. I told him what I had seen. He simply said ‘Good man. Thanks.’
He worked for almost 45 minutes before transferring Ian to a helicopter. Ian is alive now because of that.
What John Hinds did for bike racing can never be overstated.
A few years ago I undertook a solo run round Ireland on my bike to help the MCUI Medical Team.
I was in touch with both Dr Fred McSorley and Dr John a number of times before it and he called me the morning I left to wish me all the best. The call was at 6.00am. He never stopped.
When I crashed myself at Bishopscourt a couple of years ago, I had an ankle and some ribs broken. Just seeing Dr John put me at ease. I knew how good he was.
There are literally dozens of riders who are alive today because of his intervention. He helped to pioneer treatment on scene, and this is, as we know now, often the difference in a fatality or a recovery.
What John Hinds and the rest of the Medical Team have done for bike racing is impossible to quantify.
Doc John was, more recently, growing concerned that Northern Ireland had no medical helicopter service and indeed he had already began to campaign for one to be established, after the time it took to bring one from Sligo to the North West circuit this year. He had already had meetings with various government officials about this.
John, who was just 35 and wasn’t married, had a longtime partner in Janet, who works at Daisy Hill hospital.
I can’t even begin to understand what his family are going through now. I am totally gutted by the news that John had passed away.
I’m sorry, but the ‘died doing what he loved’ notion isn’t enough. Dr John had so much more to give and I have no doubt would have gone on to be a world teacher.
John’s mentor, Dr Fred McSorley had to come out retirement at the weekend to stand in for John.
We can only imagine how hard that must have been for him, but we are thankful that he did.
To Dr John’s family and Dr Fred, Caroline and the rest of the Medical team, I’m so sad, but hoping you can find the strength it takes to carry on in his name.
The Causeway Coastal Route, in Northern Ireland currently sits at Number 3 in the Top Ten Driving Roads in the world! That is amazing, and it has been in the top ten consistently for the last 10 years!
It runs from Belfast to Portrush and takes a good couple of hours to complete, or many more hours if you decide to check out the numerous scenic points and forest drives along the way. It truly is stunning and on a bright, sunny day it is simply outstanding. If you ever have the privilege of visiting Northern Ireland the ‘Coast Road’ is an absolute must.
However as you travel along it you will come across a sign post for Torr Head Scenic Route, this is one of many brown ‘Tourist’ Signs dotted along the Causeway Route, and it can be hard to decide which ones to go for and even harder – which ones to miss.
Torr Head Scenic View Point, Ballycastle
This is one you can not miss. This is one of my favourite roads in the country and although I love the Causeway Route I often drive it just to get to the Torr Road. The views here are breathtaking as you weave up and down the mountains before arriving at Torr Head View point. An old abandoned Coast guard post remains, and when the weather is good you can clearly see Scotland, which sits a mere 12 miles in front of you. It is a nice climb to see the Coast Guards’ Station but truthfully it is all about this road, it is like something in the movies, honestly, drive it, you will not be disappointed!
Further to my previous posting in relation to advertising spots available for my forthcoming #WAWIn1Week Trip I am pleased to share with you all the Pannier Slot availability. Please note this is subject to change and operates on a first come first served basis.
Please contact me to confirm and provisionally book availability.
WAWIn1Week Pannier Advertising Slots
The process is very simple :
1. Contact me and inform me of the positions you would like. There are two options.
a. A single slot.
b. A twin slot, which can only be a pair. So for example 2 and 2b, or 7 and 7b. Combinations of slots will not be accepted.
2. I will confirm availability and provisionally book you that slot.
3. You will then have your vinyl advertising stickers made up and sent to me.
4. Upon receipt your slot will be confirmed and your stickers added to my panniers.
5. Away we go.
A few other points…
Firstly Why!?! Thats simple this is my first such trip, but hopefully not my last. If I can cover this trip with some form of sponsorship, and this is shown in the associated media, it puts me in a much better position when the next trip comes along so I can approach people with a proven track record and hopefully some good reports from the sponsors, who knows next trip it may even be my current sponsors (you) who cross over to the the new plan! And also importantly I won’t forget my original sponsors when it comes to offers for the next trips, oh and of course there will be no expectation from anyone involved this time round to stay around. People always say if it is too good to be true it probably is. This is good and true, neither of us have anything to loose. I am looking to the future and trying to build a reputation and you are being given the opportunity of free advertising along the World’s Longest Coastal Route in Peak Season!
I am offering this as a freebie, from me to my sponsors. Therefore it is not open to everyone or everything. Put simply I am interested in motorcycling, tourist, travelling, well branded and trusted advertisers, but am more than open to helping out newbies in these industries.
No adult material will be accepted.
No pro / anti political, sexual, lifestyle, religious, non religious, sectarian, bigoted, racist, or in any way questionable (by me or otherwise) material will be selected. After all it is a freebie on my bike so to avoid any confusion, I have the ultimate and final say, if you don’t like that I’m sorry but you can always pay for your advertising elsewhere and then have the rights associated with it.
No contract is being made between me and you, I am offering some free advertising for you along a brand new tourist attraction, the longest coastal road in the world. 1500+ miles of free advertising along with my social networks and tagging etc. If I don’t make it, have to stop or turn around and quit I’m sorry but sometimes real life gets in the way. After all you have lost nothing it was a freebie.
I don’t want this to sound in any way negative it should be a great trip so let’s get it rolling rolling right.
So I was lucky enough to see the Riut Bag at the Gadget Show Live 2015, and I was very impressed. A simple but brilliant concept, a bag made for travellers that makes the stuff inside safer. How? By having no zips on the outside, so unlucky pick pockets, opportunistic thieves and other general scum, this bag makes your pathetic little lives that little bit harder.
I think what makes this even cooler is the fact that it is a successful Kickstarter Campaign, an invention by someone with an idea, who pitched it to the world and the world said yes!
So there we have it a great concept, now how does the inventor make us want one, well she makes it desirable by making it good looking and even more desirable by making it practicable.
And this is the feature list the inventor has packed into one back pack that makes it practicable…
RiutBag specifications
– No outer zips, they are all against your back
– 20 litre capacity, weight 1.06kg
– Holds up to 15 inch laptop: 16.14 inch or 41 cm diagonal measurement across outer laptop case
– Invisible strap lengths
– Waterproof material: base and outer shell
– Sturdy handle and hook for hanging
– Hidden ticket pocket in each strap
– Foam lined throughout for comfort and protection
– Water bottle holders: up to 750ml capacity
– Adjustable chest strap
– One model available
– One colour available
With my #WAWIn1Week trip rapidly approaching I am looking some sponsors. Basically I am offering your company’s branding on a spot on my bike / helmet.
Believe this when I tell you the deals I am offering are unreal and start at… FREE!
Yes indeed… FREE!
I am offering limited sponsor spots for free on the panniers of my bike, so if you are interested in having your brand tour along the World’s Longest dedicated Coastal Route and one of the hottest places in the world to be right now please get in touch.
Spaces are of course very limited and all applications will be considered however my decision will be final and you contact me knowing and accepting that. No adult related sponsorship requests will be considered!
I will be commencing my Wild Atlantic Way trip hopefully within a month. As long as the weather looks good I will be aiming to do the 2500km road trip in seven days on a motorcycle with no plans in place.
No B&Bs booked. No hotels. No plan!
I will be using the hashtag #WaWIn1Week so follow that as I will be live tweeting throughout the journey.
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Today my journey along the West Coast of Ireland begins.
