A scoot to the south (of Ireland)

Could never pass the ice cream van when I parked the bus at the castle. I would make an announcement “ would all passengers remain seated until the driver is off the bus”. Otherwise I’d be behind 64 hungry people. Of course on Saturday and Sunday the bus bays would be full of cars. Enjoying your report. JJH
 
Could never pass the ice cream van when I parked the bus at the castle. I would make an announcement “ would all passengers remain seated until the driver is off the bus”. Otherwise I’d be behind 64 hungry people. Of course on Saturday and Sunday the bus bays would be full of cars. Enjoying your report. JJH

Cheers JJH! It was great to see the youngsters out and about in the Castle Park enjoying the sunshine.......and the Bus bays were indeed full of parked cars. But you’ll be pleased that I didn’t park there!


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Great to see you on the road again Simon :beerjug:
Even with the big ‘boot’, fair play to ya :thumb

I am greeted by the dog who clearly has not read up on the 2 metre rule
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He/ she is gorgeous...



the 99 we each had at the gates of Kilkenny Castle
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I’ve recently been converted to the joy of a double flaked 99 :D


C’mon, we’re all waiting for an update :rob
 
Thanks Jochen , good to hear from you. The way the mammy demolished her ice cream I think she would have enjoyed the double flake....even if she had to battle JJH in the queue to get it!

I used the bad leg as a good excuse to avoid work when the next big excitement came, a cement mixer turning up at 0800 as we breakfasted
 

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So I sat and observed as my brother in law and my nephew worked hard to get a smooth floor to the old barn
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Good to know I will have a hard standing to park my bike on a future trip.

Then next day I got a text from my GP surgery saying I could book my second vaccination now. I rushed to access the website only to find the only date was about 4 days hence, a bit earlier than I had planned to return. Since I couldn’t locate an alternative date, and did not want to miss out on this, it was time to plan my return to Blighty!


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I was going to miss the delicious mid morning pancakes served by my gourmet nephew
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However, needs must. I discovered Stena did not run a morning ferry on the Monday but fortunately I remembered there was Irish Ferries to Pembroke, 45 minutes longer but at a more sociable departure hour from Rosslare of 0845 (given I had a 90 minute ride to get there beforehand) than Stena’s 0730.

I decided to ask Google Maps and it suggested I cut the long triangle via Waterford by leaving the M9 at Mullinavat


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That would also mean I was confident of enough fuel to make Rosslare without refuelling.

I rose at 0545 last Monday, having packed the scooter the night before, to find frost on the bike. Fortunately the Tucano had a seat cover I had put in place but at the heady heights of 2C I was hoping the leccy jacket was on good form and there were no pockets of black ice on the minor roads I had to take to pick up the Waterford road.

It was a gorgeous (if chilly) morning
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Soon Mr Gerbing’s heated jacket was doing its work and I cautiously went my way, undecided whether to take the Mullinavat shortcut or just belt down the M9.

Indecision is a bad state of mind and I was almost past the exit when I asked myself’why the hell not try it?’...especially since I had studiously ignored it on previous trips.

No sooner taken than I found out ‘why the hell not’.

From a rapid and empty motorway I found myself on a winding and bumpy smaller road - normally something of joy to a rider but when riding into the rising sun whilst fearing black ice, perhaps less so.

So I rode along with one hand shielding my eyes from the dazzling low sun - fortunately the Burgervan seemed very stable on the winding road.

Soon I found myself going right through the centre of New Ross and over the river, finally reaching Rosslare (a little more tired than I expected) in time to refuel and ride straight on to the ferry without any stop other than to confirm my name and get my boarding card.

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The ferry was much more truck oriented and less smart than the Stena equivalent. The signs were in Greek and English and U speculated idly where this ship had lived its life.

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Good man yourself, as we say!

Cheers! Thought of you and that ride out we never actually did when I visited Riyadh briefly many moons ago - eventually got to ride through Saudi on my return from Africa less than 18 months ago.


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Cheers! Thought of you and that ride out we never actually did when I visited Riyadh briefly many moons ago - eventually got to ride through Saudi on my return from Africa less than 18 months ago.


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This post got me thinking, is your 1150 still in Eastern Europe?
 
Indeed it is, Mike. Parked up at Motocamp Bulgaria at Idilevo and awaiting my return in order to head to points East, whenever that may be possible


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Sorry to hear you had to return early
Was looking forward to seeing a few pics of the scooter in familiar locations
Next time ;)


You’re a bad man Simon :rob
I happened to be in Monkstown last evening & nothing would do me but go down to the far end of Dun Laoghaire & get a Teddy’s
Double flake :augie

 
Great report but ... what does that boot remind me of? :augie


Super scoots are definitely the way to go though! Eventually! :D
 
Pete: although the scooter was forced on me in the sense that I could not operate foot controls, it has won me over....fast enough, tons of storage space, low centre of gravity, decent handling...plus thanks to the UKGSER community it is super well equipped with GPS and loud horn, tall screen and deflector, Optimate charging lead, heated grips and the Tucano mitts and apron.

Having said that, I took the plunge today and had my first ride of the year on my ‘super scooter’ . Finally got the odometer over the 100 mile mark! You can see the family resemblance (although one is a Suzuki and one a Honda). It was interesting to experience DCT after CVT!

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Sorry to hear you had to return early
Was looking forward to seeing a few pics of the scooter in familiar locations
Next time ;)


You’re a bad man Simon :rob
I happened to be in Monkstown last evening & nothing would do me but go down to the far end of Dun Laoghaire & get a Teddy’s
Double flake :augie


As you know, Jochen, my mother when living in her own house was only a short distance from Teddy’s...so I won’t be showing her that photo of your ice cream or she will be jumping into her Nissan Micra to decimate the population and drive there.


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Anyway, just to finish off the journey: although the Irish ferries ship was a bit worn, the cabin I booked was palatial:
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So after a shower and a quick snack I dived under the duvet and was dozing by the time we left Rosslare (10 minutes early, again ).

The crossing was very smooth and uneventful and the passage through Milford Haven interesting
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I managed to get off amongst the first few vehicles (after a friendly wave from another motorist, for I had been tucked away out of the main flow).

The Welsh policeman quizzed me about my reason for travelling, kindly asked me how my mother was doing, and waved me on my way.

Customs waved me through (and at Fishguard on the way out they had searched my topbox but not twigged I had a big boot under the seat) I was on my way. I pulled in to put in earplugs and connect the heated jacket and then I was on my way.

To its credit the Burgervan dispatched the 225 miles with just one brief stop for a refill (it), a drain down (me) and a quick snack.
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So bang on 4 hours after riding off the boat I was back home without too sore a bum or back
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Hopefully my next trip will be on the very big scooter but at least I know this one is ready and waiting. And since returning I have fitted a Givi backrest to the top box with a view to carrying a pillion .
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I agree entirely with your view of scoots, Simon. You just have to spend time in Europe to see their popularity.
 
and the Tucano mitts and apron.

The 'apron' is better known here on this site as a shitebag Simon.



by the time we left Rosslare (10 minutes early, again ).

It may not be well known amongst tourist travellers, but Stena are feckers for leaving port early. Irish Ferries to a lesser extent, but if the majority of the manifested vehicles are present they will load up and feck off toot suite. If they can go early and run at fewer knots then there are significant savings to be made on fuel costs. Always best to arrive on the quay in plenty of time.

Thank you for the report of your trip and kind regards to your Mother and yourself.
 


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