Scottish Borders and the 'The Long Way Home ....

[Micky]

Set off in the morning for three nights at Moffat in The Scottish Borders and then 'The Long Way Home" on my CT 125 'Adventure Cub'

Long Way Home I was in 2005 through Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, Gobi Desert, China ... return through Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, all the Stans and Europe. With girlfriend Sue riding her own motorcycle.
Long Way Home II was in 2009 through Europe, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan .... heading for India but an accident on the Karakoram Highway in northern Pakistan put Sue in hospital and she had to be flown home! Both over sixty years of age by this time

Long Way Home III .... just myself these days, age now catching up, 78 years old, CT 125 'Adventure Cub' to The Scottish Borders (tomorrow Friday 25th) and then the ferry Cairnryan to Larne in Northern Ireland, to return home via the northern Antrim Coast and the west coast of Ireland 'The Wild Atlantic Way', returning to the UK via south east Ireland to Wales and home!

Report and photographs to follow ....

Micky

 

[Tman]

Alright Micky, have to say I admire your style. Over the last sixty years I've taken a few long(ish) trips but nothing on the scale of yours. I love my CT 125 but sometimes it's just not quite enough so I purchased a TW200 as a complement on my 80th birthday last November. Now I'm torn between choosing but use the CT for shorter rides and running errands. Just yesterday, had a woman pull right out in front of me and had to brake hard to avoid hitting her. She never even acknowledged me. Still have to stay alert. Stay safe out there and keep riding! Glenn.

 

[Micky]

I'm now at Annagry on the Donegal coastline of Eire. The hotel looks out over the Wild Atlantic Way.

Good run up to Bonnie Scotland just a week ago almost.
I stopped at my usual farm shop on the A66 heading north from Yorkshire ...

For the ubiquitous bacon sarnie ...

.... and so to The Buccleuch Arms at Moffat. A biker friendly hotel run by a motorcycling family. Everyone else were on the larger touring bikes, but all fell in love with the likkle Adventure Cub

Did I say 'biker friendly' ....

Old derelict barn now pulled down and a bike port being made. There are about fifteen tin huts specifically for motorcycles.

The Buccleuch Arms is situated in some of the best motorcycling territory in Europe. But most miss it because they're heading north west for Loch Lomond and the Highlands. Dumfries and Galloway is totally unspoilt and beautiful.

Sunday afternoon walk round Moffat ....

Clint, son of Dave, the proprietors ...

So Monday morning an easy ride to Cairnryan for the ferry to Ireland

Two lively ladies going to a lively ladies meeting in Ireland ...

The boat is ready for boarding...

.... and so in to the Port of Larne, Northern Ireland

To be continued .... don't go away

 

[bryanchurch06]

I'm now at Annagry on the Donegal coastline of Eire. The hotel looks out over the Wild Atlantic Way.

Good run up to Bonnie Scotland just a week ago almost.
I stopped at my usual farm shop on the A66 heading north from Yorkshire ...

For the ubiquitous bacon sarnie ...

.... and so to The Buccleuch Arms at Moffat. A biker friendly hotel run by a motorcycling family. Everyone else were on the larger touring bikes, but all fell in love with the likkle Adventure Cub

Did I say 'biker friendly' ....

Old derelict barn now pulled down and a bike port being made. There are about fifteen tin huts specifically for motorcycles.

The Buccleuch Arms is situated in some of the best motorcycling territory in Europe. But most miss it because they're heading north west for Loch Lomond and the Highlands. Dumfries and Galloway is totally unspoilt and beautiful.

Sunday afternoon walk round Moffat ....

Clint, son of Dave, the proprietors ...

So Monday morning an easy ride to Cairnryan for the ferry to Ireland

Two lively ladies going to a lively ladies meeting in Ireland ...

The boat is ready for boarding...

.... and so in to the Port of Larne, Northern Ireland

To be continued .... don't go away

When I grow up I want to do this

 

[blod]

Hi, I have just joined this forum and I am expecting to get my ct125 in about 2 weeks time after ordering it in December.
I live about 2 miles from the cafe which you posted on the a66 so the next time you pass let me know and I would like to join you for a cuppa and bacon sarnie.
Hope to catch up with you soon and keep riding safe!

 

[Micky]

When I grow up I want to do this

At 78 going on eighteen and three quarters Bryan I haven't grown up yet myself

Thank you 'blod' post #5 above

.... and 'Tman' post#2 above

I couldn't get in to The Fullerton Arms at Ballintoy on the north Antrim coast ... it was full. So I was given the contact details of the Sheep Island View Hostel just 100 yards away .... what a superb place that turned out to be.

No place at the Inn...

But for £35 for the night (self catering) the Sheep Island View Hostel was excellent value. Spacious and clean.

I dropped the CT125 Hunter Cub in the car park, overbalanced on the poor side stand. Oh dear never mind ...
Just a scratch on the front mudguard and a broken horn button ...

I recovered the button piece and it will go back in


A walk down to the Fullerton Arms for something to eat .... and a pint

Once at the pub it was a bit of a disappointment. Been coming here over the years but the Guinness was £1.00 dearer than at home in the UK and not nearly as nice The Traditional fish and chips weren't as good as they could be either!

I'm given to understand that the front door of The Fullerton Arms was featured in The Game Of Thrones ...

A walk down to Ballintoy Harbour ...

To be continued .... I'm hungry ;-)

 

[Kritou]

At 78 going on eighteen and three quarters Bryan I haven't grown up yet myself

Thank you 'blod' post #5 above

.... and 'Tman' post#2 above

I couldn't get in to The Fullerton Arms at Ballintoy on the north Antrim coast ... it was full. So I was given the contact details of the Sheep Island View Hostel just 100 yards away .... what a superb place that turned out to be.

No place at the Inn...

But for £35 for the night (self catering) the Sheep Island View Hostel was excellent value. Spacious and clean.

I dropped the CT125 Hunter Cub in the car park, overbalanced on the poor side stand. Oh dear never mind ...
Just a scratch on the front mudguard and a broken horn button ...

I recovered the button piece and it will go back in


A walk down to the Fullerton Arms for something to eat .... and a pint

Once at the pub it was a bit of a disappointment. Been coming here over the years but the Guinness was £1.00 dearer than at home in the UK and not nearly as nice The Traditional fish and chips weren't as good as they could be either!

I'm given to understand that the front door of The Fullerton Arms was featured in The Game Of Thrones ...

A walk down to Ballintoy Harbour ...

To be continued .... I'm hungry ;-)

Missing Marmite …

 

[Micky]

Good bacon doesn't need sauce and certainly doesn't need Marmite .... crap bacon might, but not good bacon

Now down in Bantry, Co Cork ... hope to put some photographs up later today.
Two nights here, so will be checking the Likkle Adventure Cub over and otherwise getting up to date.

 

[Micky]

A steady ride across the AntrimCoast line through Londonderry (known locally as just Derry) and cross the border in to the Republic or Eire.
Now on the Euro and kph not mph, to the Caisleáin Óir hotel at Annagry, County Donegal.

Stayed here several times, with quite often live traditional music being played.

The view from my room ...

A lovely evening ...

On one occasion I was staying Daniel O'Donnel (the heartthrob of Ireland was performing) but a small Traditional three piece group were playing in another room. Most people were more interested in them singing all the Mary Black songs, and being as we're on The Wild Atlantic Way I make no excuses for ...

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Two nights here ... check the Adventure Cub over and have a walk on a day off the 'bike.
The food and drink were up to standard...

Have Cub must travel ...

Clancy's at Glenfarne. Started by Jim's grandparent in 1919. His grandmother started the business by taking a window out and selling bread and other necessities out of it. My Adventure Cub was in the garage next to his R1250RT

A locals pub and bar across the road...

Owned and run by Sue...

.... and the Guinness was pure genius

Let's have a look to see if that link to Mary Black worked

 

[Micky]

It's a Bank Holiday and I'm having problems sorting onward accommodation out. Everywhere is full, no vacancy's

Coaches everywhere ... there were six in convey returning from The Cliffs of Moher as I rode towards Doolin, my next stop! We're still on The Wild Atlantic Way. There was a warm welcome waiting from Loraine and Jimmy at 'Nellie Dee's B&B' at Doolin, a lovely quiet small village.

... with a bottle of bier thrust in to my hand, albeit Heineken. It was most welcome though

Shower and a walk down to the McDermot's Pub and bar ten minutes down the hill.

Have you notice a common denominator running through this Ride Report

Now that Cottage Pie with a side salad is one of the best I've ever tasted ... and the Guinness was superb

But then I was hungry and thirsty ...

 

[blod]

hi, the ct looks at home beside the bmw

 

[Micky]

We head south, along The Wild Atlantic Way and take the ferry across the River Shannon rather than the long way round on busy roads and through Limerick ...

Past Spanish Point where in 1588 some ships from the Spanish Armada making a run for home foundered in bad weather. Those that survived were executed!

I just let the GPS lead me over Molls Gap and via a small single track mountain road with grass running down the middle and gravel everywhere else over the Priests Leap ...

... and in to the town of Bantry, Co Cork, where I have a bed and breakfast for a couple of nights.

On the edge of town, I think this old building will have a few tales to tell...

Despite the condition of the sign the B&B was very pleasant and welcoming ...

... and the dog greeted me with a tail wag.

Twinkle is very much like my chocolate coloured Cocker Spaniel I lost over a year ago

So today I had a ride round the Sheep's Head peninsular...

Back down the road for a few miles to a quieter cafe for lunch ...

Head off in the morning to a small village just outside Cork for a night with good pal Decky.

Stay tuned

 

[Micky]

Good pal Decky repairs my horn button .... I knew he would /could

He and his good lady Theresa have a lovely cottage in the country outside Cork ... his staircase is made of old railway sleepers

There's some weight there!

 

[blod]

Hi,
good to be able to fix something (not always with a hammer) rather than have to buy a new one .
Keep the posts coming its good to see how the trip is going .