adventure Archives - Page 2 of 4 - TBNI.Blog

Castles of Ireland 2016 : Tullynally Castle, County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland :

September 1, 2016 by TomBoyNI

Introduction :

My Castles of Ireland 2016 Tour is part of a larger UK & Ireland run Challenge as can be found on Adventure Bike Rider.

I will add the add the castles to this blog along with a little bit of their history to wet your appetite as to just another thing that Ireland and Northern Ireland has to capture your imagination and set your sights on. You can take in all of the castles on this island in on one trip of 676 miles, that according to Google will take you 14 hours 50 minutes. Of course that means no stops, food, leg stretches, or photo ops.

Castles in Ireland / Northern Ireland - The Route — Castles in Ireland / Northern Ireland – The Route

Castles of Ireland 2016 : Ballinafad Castle, County Sligo, Republic of Ireland :

August 17, 2016 by TomBoyNI

Introduction :

My Castles of Ireland 2016 Tour is part of a larger UK & Ireland run Challenge as can be found on Adventure Bike Rider.

Castles of Ireland 2016 : Enniskillen Castle, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

August 10, 2016 by TomBoyNI

My Castles of Ireland 2016 Tour is part of a larger UK & Ireland run Challenger as can be found on Adventure Bike Rider.

New Year – New Gear (Part II) : Helmet – Arai X4 Detour

October 21, 2017May 1, 2016 by TomBoyNI

The official line from Arai pretty much says it all…

Adventure, grand touring or off road, no matter the riding conditions, the Tour-X4 motorcycle helmet is ready for anything. The Tour-X4 has a complete new outer shell. Redesigned to be tougher, stronger and stiffer than ever. As the Tour-X4 may be used under extreme conditions, the ventilation system has been redeveloped for maximum efficiency. The new Facial Contour System (FCS) offers more support and comfort to the lower jaw and creates a tighter fit. For an even better personal fit, there is a removable 5 mm surface foam layer on the cheek pads and temple pad from the headliner. Wear the Tour-X4 with or without peak, with or without visor and combinations of these two. The large visor opening offers plenty of room for motocross-style goggles when riding without visor.

The spec listing is as follows :

Honda Announce Pricing for Africa Twin CRF1000L Travel Edition :

December 22, 2015 by TomBoyNI

Honda announces the prices for the Travel Edition of their all-new, highly anticipated CRF1000L Africa Twin, a bike that comes in standard and DCT trims, and which is equipped with travel-focused accessories.

The CRF1000L Africa Twin Travel Edition package consists of a pair of side cases, a top case, crash bars, heated grips, central stand, LED fog lights, and a 12V socket. Bought separately, these add to the sum of €3,152, the equivalent of £2,320. The package is €2,750 ($2,024), and you don’t have to do any self fitting.

Honda are offering four models that can be equipped with the Travel Edition, and this doesn’t include the basic version. ABS and DCT models are the only ones than can be had in Travel trim, for the following prices:

– 15,650 euro(ABS flat color), equivalent to £11,519 / $17,000
– 15,950 euro (ABS Tricolor), equivalent to £11,740 / $17,327
– 16,800 euro (DCT flat color), equivalent to £12,365 / $18,250
– 17,100 euro (DCT Tricolor), equivalent to £12,585 / $18,576.

Of course these prices have not yet been confirmed in the UK, and with the fact that Rip-Off Britain will no doubt be a factor take these GBP prices as a best case scenario, remembering they are likely to be much more!

It does look great though…

Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L – Release Imminent

December 22, 2015 by TomBoyNI

With the imminent (UK) release of the new Honda Africa Twin (CRF1000L) I thought it only fitting to throw together a little gallery to wet your appitite towards what is one of the most highly anticipated adventure style / dual sport motorcycles to be released in a decade.

As an owner of a 2002 RD07a Africa Twin I am excited, but will it be enough to draw me away from my excellent BMW F800 GSA Travel Edition? Who knows!

In the meantime and on the run up to release here is a little teaser…

Instagram : HondaAfricaTwinCRF1000L – Follow this Account on Instagram from more photos of and dedicated to the New Honda Africa Twin :

Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way : The World’s Longest Dedicated Coastal Route – In 1 Week : #WAWIn1Week

July 8, 2023November 17, 2015 by TomBoyNI

Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way :

Here are the links to the complete ride report on my #WAWIn1Week Trip, there is plenty of other interesting stuff on the site, I hope, so feel free to have a look about, but if you have come here for the Wild Atlantic Way reports, here is everything you need. Thanks for stopping by and having a look and hopefully you enjoy the photos and reports!

#WAWIN1WEEK – WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK – THE GEAR… : https://tbni.blog/2015/08/10/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-the-gear/

#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 0 – TRAVEL DAY : https://tbni.blog/2015/08/18/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-0-travel-day/

#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 1 – KINSALE TO KENMARE : https://tbni.blog/2015/09/02/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-1-kinsale-to-kenmare/

#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 2 – KENMARE TO BALLYBUNION : https://tbni.blog/2015/09/13/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-2-kenmare-to-ballybunion/

#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 3 – BALLYBUNION TO CLIFDEN : https://tbni.blog/2015/09/20/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-3-ballybunion-to-clifden/

#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 4 – CLIFDEN TO SLIGO : https://tbni.blog/2015/10/11/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-4-clifden-to-sligo/

#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 5 – SLIGO TO LETTERKENNY : https://tbni.blog/2015/11/06/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-5-sligo-to-letterkenny/

#WAWIN1WEEK : WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 6 – LETTERKENNY TO MUFF (DONEGAL) : https://tbni.blog/2015/11/17/wawin1week-wild-atlantic-way-in-1-week-day-6-letterkenny-to-muff-donegal-2/

Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way - The Route — Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way – The Route

Please feel free to tag your images with the WAWIn1Week hashtag!

INSTAGRAM #WAWIn1Week : https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/wawin1week/

TWITTER #WAWIn1Week : https://twitter.com/search?q=WAWIn1Week&src=typd

Wild Atlantic Way In 1 Week : DAY 6 – Letterkenny To Muff (Donegal) : #WAWIn1Week

August 6, 2023November 17, 2015 by TomBoyNI

WILD ATLANTIC WAY IN 1 WEEK : DAY 6 – Letterkenny To Muff (Donegal)

Update : The YouTube video of Day 6 is now available for your viewing pleasure…Enjoy!

It is now Saturday 1st August 2015, the last day of my Wild Atlantic Way Trip. From start of the trail to this point has been five full, long days, today being the sixth. My target – The Wild Atlantic Way in 1 Week. I have only one more leg to do and it will be achieved, with a full day to spare. Result, almost.

Today’s leg looks a short one, Letterkenny to Muff in Donegal. Muff as you can already expect must be one of the most photographed town signs on the whole island. It is called Muff after all! I estimated today leg about 200 miles, for once this estimate was reasonably accurate!

Yesterday’s horrendous weather is a distant memory, but there are still a few very dark and ominous clouds floating about. Fingers crossed!

WAWIn1Week – Letterkenny to Muff – Day 6

One Signature Point on the Route today : (The most Westerly point on the above map is Fanned Head which was covered on 31/07/2015).

Malin Head :

Rugged yet inviting, Donegal’s Malin Head is steeped in history and offers activities such as walking, fishing, swimming and bird watching. Here, north of Trawbreaga Bay, you can view Five Finger Strand, home to some of Europe’s largest sand dunes. At low tide, you can even spot the wreckage of the ‘Twilight’, which sank in 1889 while sailing to Derry. For more history, follow the coast road. You’ll pass the old radio station, built in 1910, and The Tower, a derelict signal station located on Banba’s Crown, the most northerly point in Ireland. It’s the perfect place to relax with a picnic, as the stunning panorama includes Inistrahull and Tory islands, as well as the Scottish hills on a clear day. Plus, you can work off any extra indulgences with a walk along the cliffs to Hell’s Hole, a chasm where the tide rushes in with impressive force. If treasure hunting is more your speed, head east to Ballyhillion beach, which dates back to the ice age and is known for its many semi-precious stones.

Wild Atlantic Way In 1 Week : Day 5 – Sligo to Letterkenny : #WAWIn1Week

July 8, 2023November 6, 2015 by TomBoyNI

Wild Atlantic Way In 1 Week : Day 5 – Sligo to Letterkenny

Update : The YouTube video of Day 5 is now available for your viewing pleasure…Enjoy!

Friday 31st July 2015 takes me onto the penultimate day of my Wild Atlantic Way adventure. I mentioned previously that by Day 4 I was really enjoying myself and after a long day yesterday, and a night in a great hotel I am thinking I need to get back here and do this whole thing a whole lot more slowly. I remember the few things that were annoying me over the first couple of days and now realise they weren’t really that annoying, just a fact of travelling on a tourist route growing in popularity.

I take a look over the map, the route taking me from Sligo to Letterkenny, and it looks like it is another long day, but then I look at the weather. Oh dear. This does not look too promising, there is a yellow warning for rain! I’m going to get wet! Also my initial and completely inaccurate distance calculations have me travelling 186 miles today. So I’m definitely more than that!

Leaving the hotel and things are dry, however the sky is very dark, grey and ominous and it doesn’t take too long for the skies to open and boy they open! I got wet on my journey down to the start of the WAW, and that only took me 4 hours, today I’m sure I have 10 -12 hours of it it looks like the only question will be how will the gear hold out?

WAWIn1Week – Sligo to Letterkenny – Day 5

Three more Signature Points to visit today (Downpatrick Head is the most Southerly Signature Point on the map, however it was visited yesterday). Today’s points are :

Mullaghmore Head.
Sliabh Liag.
Fannad Head.

(The other point on the map above between Sliabh Liag and Fannad Head is Donegal Airport – a small airport with services Dublin with two daily flights.)

Wild Atlantic Way In 1 Week : Day 4 – Clifden to Sligo : #WAWIn1Week

July 8, 2023October 11, 2015 by TomBoyNI

Wild Atlantic Way In 1 Week : Day 4 – Clifden to Sligo

Update : The YouTube video of Day 4 is now available for your viewing pleasure…Enjoy!

Thursday 30th July 2015 and we have safely arrived at Day 4 of the #WAWIn1Week Challenge, and at this stage of the game I am really enjoying myself. The niggles I had over too much traffic and what can only be described as piss poor driving are still there but only so very slightly. I am much more in tune with it, I know what to expect and to ‘get out and round’ as soon as possible and when ‘they’ are holding me up, to just relax and take in the breathtaking scenery. All is good as we commence Day 4 and I am now finding it all going a little too quickly, when you look at the map this journey is not too far away from being completed and that’s actually a little sad. So best get enjoying it!

Today the journey takes me from Clifton, Co. Galway to Sligo, Co. Sligo. My panning stages have me to be believing this section of the route to be about 250 miles but if I have learnt one big thing from planning this trip is that I have always under estimated. Normally by a good amount, Day 4 was actually closer to 300 miles, it was a long day and that was the greatest downfall of the day.

This is also the Day that instead of booking into a B&B I got a cracking deal on a hotel and stayed at the Yeats Country Hotel at Rosses Point, Sligo. This is where the long day fell foul, this hotel is lovely and I would have loved to have factored in an earlier finish so I could have relaxed and enjoyed their facilities. The bar looked great, there was a brilliant fitness centre and the restaurant as I was arriving was closing but the place smelled great!

I ended up with a curry chip from the only take-away in the town, a Chinese that was getting ready to close as well. As I say that is the only disappointment and it was self made, I didn’t get enough time to enjoy this brilliant spot!

Although from the route above it looks like there are four signature points shown on this section there are again 3, the one closest to the bottom is just before Clifden and it was done the previous day (Derrigimlagh).

Killary Harbour.
Keem Bay.
Downpatrick Head.

Disclosure :