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-   -   ExplorA8tion Ireland! 5th - 15/16th June 2016 - Completed! (https://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11796)

Conan_the_Librarian 19th June 2016 05:50 PM

ExplorA8tion Ireland! 5th - 15/16th June 2016 - Completed!
 
Ok, so I'e been back a couple of days now but it was 03:30 on Friday morning when we finally pulled into the drive!
Angela and I had driven 2630 miles at an average speed of 32MPH and 22.1MPG door to door.

First and foremost I must Thank Neil and Sean for the awesome amount of work they did planning and executing this trip. There wasn't a day went by without us seeing some stunning sights and enjoying great company and experiences.

I'll do a little write up with a few photos in the next few days; but as a taster, Neil, Nick and Ann, myself and Angela spent the last night here, and someone else picked up the bulk of the tab!

CtL

HPsauce 19th June 2016 06:02 PM

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Quote:

First and foremost I must Thank Neil and Sean for the awesome amount of work they did planning and executing this trip. There wasn't a day went by without us seeing some stunning sights and enjoying great company and experiences.
+1 +++

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan_the_Librarian (Post 113838)
but as a taster, Neil, Nick and Ann, myself and Angela spent the last night here, and someone else picked up the bulk of the tab!

CtL

That was pretty amazing, we paid with our own money for both of these on that same night:
http://www.merrionhotel.com/
http://www.restaurantpatrickguilbaud.ie/

View (out of focus!) from our balcony attached:

Architex_mA8tey 19th June 2016 09:26 PM

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Great view from our hotel too Andrew ! +++

Architex_mA8tey 19th June 2016 09:28 PM

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Blinking iPad only let's me post 1 at a time lol

HPsauce 19th June 2016 10:17 PM

I'm only jealous because I paid for mine! :o

(Though I was able to check in and shower mid-afternoon...)

Architex_mA8tey 19th June 2016 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 113857)
I'm only jealous because I paid for mine! :o

(Though I was able to check in and shower mid-afternoon...)

We paid for ours. . . just not what it actually cost lol +++

tonupkid 19th June 2016 10:21 PM

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Here's a few of ours from that last nights palatial pad
Eight foot bed and swamped in downy soft stuff.

HPsauce 20th June 2016 09:23 AM

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We had bowls of fruit on the tables in the corridors, but our garden statues were more eclectic:

Architex_mA8tey 20th June 2016 08:19 PM

Quite a few nice hotels in Ireland. Looks like ours was in at number 8! +++

http://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/t...awesome-views/

HPsauce 20th June 2016 08:39 PM

With the Trump resort (I still feel unclean from driving by it!) at number 3. Credibility of that list needs to be questioned. :tuttut:

HPsauce 20th June 2016 08:43 PM

I prefer this list: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel...Luxury-g186591
Merrion at #1 of course. :cool:

HPsauce 17th March 2017 06:18 PM

BBC2 9pm tonight - Wild Ireland
 
Just a little reawakening of this thread. Small 2-part (2 * 1 hour) series starts tonight about the Atlantic Cost of Ireland at 9pm to 10pm on BBC2.
I've set to record it but may manage to watch the "live" broadcast.

tintin 17th March 2017 07:48 PM

Good spot - on record.

HPsauce 17th March 2017 07:52 PM

Stephen, you should see a fair bit of what you missed. :tuttut:

tintin 17th March 2017 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 125909)
Stephen, you should see a fair bit of what you missed. :tuttut:

Not missed, just deferred ;)

Architex_mA8tey 18th March 2017 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintin (Post 125910)
Not missed, just deferred ;)

I'll come around again if you're going lol was thinking of going back next year after the annual meet again - getting withdrawal symptoms! We just need to do it the other way around so it looks different haha :D

steamship 18th March 2017 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey (Post 125919)
I'll come around again if you're going lol was thinking of going back next year after the annual meet again - getting withdrawal symptoms! We just need to do it the other way around so it looks different haha :D

Just watch all your dashcam footage in reverse! :ROFL:

tonupkid 18th March 2017 04:43 PM

We have already made up our minds to do this again. If it's with company, even better, and with, perhaps, a couple of relaxation days

steamship 1st April 2018 05:47 PM

A Little History Lesson
 
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Was out yesterday for a drive and took in part of the WAW that we covered in 2016. For those of us there, you may remember seeing quite a few Napoleonic Signal Towers dotted along the coast, the first one being the reconstructed one at the Old Head of Kinsale.

They were originally constructed at the start of the 19th century as a coastal defence against French invasion, and stretch all the way from Dublin port on the east coast to Malin Head on the north coast, via the south and west coasts. Their locations were chosen so that the tower before and after them was visible. Since I had the camera with me, I took a few snaps. I didn't have the wide angle one with me to get it all in one shot (and the cliff edge was rather close), so the big tower in each photo is the same one. An ingenuous bit of engineering.

Points on offer if you can name where any of these ones are?

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1522604703http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1522604703

steamship 9th June 2018 05:47 PM

Whilst looking at some of the photos and videos of the annual meet, I was browsing some of the other stuff I have taken in the past, and came across this video that I put together from photos of the Wild Atlantic Way that we did in 2016. It was meant as a teaser.

https://youtu.be/IwCnLMh4P7o

Architex_mA8tey 9th June 2018 05:52 PM

Wow brilliant! we really must get the rest of the pics and footage properly gathered and on record!
:love::D

Spanker 9th June 2018 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey (Post 142529)
Wow brilliant! we really must get the rest of the pics and footage properly gathered and on record!
:love::D

Wow indeed Neil!
Isn't it spooky that we spent hours talking about this last night (and this thread which I've not seen until now), and how I would love to do such a trip of Ireland?
It's as if Sean was listening in!

That's coincidence number 2.

Coincidence number 1 was when Johannes and I sent each other PM's at the same time the other night (not knowing that each was writing) AND signing off the PM's to each other in virtually the same way.

I think there's some glitching in the Matrix. I swear by it :D

tonupkid 9th June 2018 09:32 PM

Sean that's brilliant and evocative. I'm missing Ireland. And Neil I'm still looking forward to seeing those videos of us performing beach ballet :)

steamship 9th June 2018 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spanker (Post 142532)
I think there's some glitching in the Matrix. I swear by it :D

It's ever since you brought together those two red 8s. :ROFL:

HPsauce 9th June 2018 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonupkid (Post 142535)
Sean that's brilliant and evocative. I'm missing Ireland. And Neil I'm still looking forward to seeing those videos of us performing beach ballet :)

Absolutely with you there Nick.

HPsauce 5th June 2019 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 113908)
With the Trump resort (I still feel unclean from driving by it!) at number 3. Credibility of that list needs to be questioned. :tuttut:

Thread revival time; the orange monster will actually be there in Doonbeg this afternoon!

HPsauce 5th February 2021 10:15 PM

Anybody watching Adrian Dunbar's Coastal Ireland on Channel 5? +++
Started last night at Mizen Head (talking about how the bridge to the Signal Station Museum was rebuilt) and pretty much following our route.

tintin 6th February 2021 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 162797)
Anybody watching Adrian Dunbar's Coastal Ireland on Channel 5? +++
Started last night at Mizen Head (talking about how the bridge to the Signal Station Museum was rebuilt) and pretty much following our route.

You beat me to it Andrew! I watch this 1st episode and really enjoyed it & I think the (6 part?) series pretty much follows the route of the Wild Atlantic Way, so the other episodes should be just as good +++

steamship 6th February 2021 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintin (Post 162799)
You beat me to it Andrew! I watch this 1st episode and really enjoyed it & I think the (6 part?) series pretty much follows the route of the Wild Atlantic Way, so the other episodes should be just as good +++

Unfortunately there's only two parts to the series, and even better, you can even watch it online. Decent transport as well.

tintin 6th February 2021 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steamship (Post 162802)
Unfortunately there's only two parts to the series, and even better, you can even watch it online. Decent transport as well.

Actually, 2 parts makes far more sense, given how much ground he covered in the first part ;). What was he driving? It didn't register with me ::o

HPsauce 6th February 2021 02:59 PM

It's a UK-registered Audi Q5, 2-litre diesel...….. :tuttut:

tintin 6th February 2021 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 162807)
It's a UK-registered Audi Q5, 2-litre diesel...….. :tuttut:

Hmm...I'd definitely rather do it in an S8 or MS ;)

steamship 6th February 2021 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintin (Post 162804)
Actually, 2 parts makes far more sense, given how much ground he covered in the first part ;). What was he driving? It didn't register with me ::o

Seems such a shame to only have two parts, as there is so much that he missed, even with the help of Tourism Ireland.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintin (Post 162809)
Hmm...I'd definitely rather do it in an S8 or MS ;)

And so you should... if we ever get to leave our houses again.

Really frustrating for me as two of my 'drive to' locations to clear my head are Malin Head and Slieve League (both in county Donegal and about a 90 minute drive), and I can't get to them. Last trip was March 2020 just prior to the first lockdown.

tc4332 7th February 2021 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steamship (Post 162812)
Seems such a shame to only have two parts, as there is so much that he missed, even with the help of Tourism Ireland.



And so you should... if we ever get to leave our houses again.

Really frustrating for me as two of my 'drive to' locations to clear my head are Malin Head and Slieve League (both in county Donegal and about a 90 minute drive), and I can't get to them. Last trip was March 2020 just prior to the first lockdown.


How do you think I feel.
I didn't only have my car travels I was out and about most weeks on one coach trip or another.
How many of you have left home at 04:00, driven your car to Eastbourne, collected a coach and passengers, given them a day tour from their hotel, then driven back home. Just another day in the office.
Or how about leaving home at 00:10, driven via the Chunnel and been in Hamburg by 16:00.

tintin 7th February 2021 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tc4332 (Post 162836)
Or how about leaving home at 00:10, driven via the Chunnel and been in Hamburg by 16:00.

Left home at 04:00 and been in Hamburg by 20:00 (same route). Does that count? ;)

tc4332 7th February 2021 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintin (Post 162839)
Left home at 04:00 and been in Hamburg by 20:00 (same route). Does that count? ;)


Course it does Steven. Presuming you went from home so the different mileage at each end cancels out.
But that particular one was only one of three the same year and I'm not counting the Dutch weekends.
Then again in years gone by I've averaged five Sorrento trips a year.

Architex_mA8tey 8th February 2021 10:58 AM

I was a little disappointed by the show as it seems ridiculous to cover 50% of a journey like that in one episode and 50% in the second - I guess they were never really going to be able to show that much, but a big chunk of it seemed to be Adrian visiting a couple of mates of his!! :ROFL::tuttut:

But that said, at the moment I'll take any travel shows, especially ones around Ireland!! :D

steamship 8th February 2021 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey (Post 162858)
I was a little disappointed by the show as it seems ridiculous to cover 50% of a journey like that in one episode and 50% in the second - I guess they were never really going to be able to show that much, but a big chunk of it seemed to be Adrian visiting a couple of mates of his!! :ROFL::tuttut:

But that said, at the moment I'll take any travel shows, especially ones around Ireland!! :D

Finally got around to watching it last night and have to agree with you on the 'visiting mates'. A programme called 'Coastal Ireland' should be primarily about the coast of Ireland, but it was more about cookery and visiting old friends. I'm more about the scenery and the history, but still very unbalanced. History of the Mizen Head bridge was good with first hand knowledge, but was too long, and finishing in Yeats country a nice closure, but overall, not enough scenery.

From the map they showed in the first programme, the next one will have even less coast (except the Giants Causeway) and probably more food and drink with friends.

steamship 27th March 2021 10:33 AM

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For those of us who did the 'ExplorA8tion Ireland' road trip, here's a little reminder about it that popped up in my Facebook feed. It's indirectly connected to a pub/restaurant that we visited on our travels.

Here's a snippet from the article:

"A native of Annascaul in Co Kerry, Crean volunteered for Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery expedition in 1901 and for his Terra Nova expedition in 1910. During the Terra Nova expedition, Crean made an 18 hour solo journey in desperate conditions to save the life of a fellow crew member and was awarded the Albert Medal for his acts of heroism. In 1914, he joined Ernest Shackleton on the Endurance expedition and, again, he proved himself to be a much trusted crew member and someone capable of great endurance and heroism."

https://www.marine.ie/Home/site-area...h-explorer-tom

For those interested, check out his Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Crean_(explorer)

HPsauce 27th March 2021 10:48 AM

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For some reason I no longer recollect I took a picture of the wine list there!
(this might appear sideways....)

Beverley just checked her diary, we probably had our evening meal there. It was also "toiletgate" day..... :tuttut:


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