So, the wife has been wanting to go to Ireland, ends up there is a very cool motorcycle race there in May. We are headed over for 2019, anyone been? where to stay? we like the idea of renting the camper van! She won't ride but perhaps I will rent a bike for a day or two. Looking to stay two weeks over there. Really looking forward to meeting Alastair Steeley and the other BMW riders.
Never been to Ireland, but I do know this....
If you are planning to visit that part of the world in late May 2019, then you would be absolutely insane to miss the Isle of Man TT (May 25 to June 7, 2019) which is only 150 miles away. While the NW 200 is an impressive road race in its own right, the IOM TT is the grand daddy of ALL road races and the word Spectacle doesn't begin to describe it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRWp9rhfS_0
Generally, morning and afternoon racing is every-other day to allow for weather postponements. On the 'off days' will be club rallies... the Vincent Club, the BSA Club, the Vintage Club, etc. You name it, there's a rally on the island somewhere. Besides all that, the island is a tourist destination in its own right, so there's plenty for the wife to enjoy too... woolen mills, the home of the Manx cats, the narrow gauge railway, the Laxey Wheel, etc.
And best of all, the race course has a pub at every great vantage point. Find a pub and you've found a great place to watch the races !
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
working on that too. checking the calendars to see how to stitch together a trip. I started with the TT and she had limited interest. I said Ireland and she bit. Now to stitch them together. thanks for the additional info on the Isle. Peter Egan's descriptions from Leanings did nothing for her!
So what is she into ? What does she like ? What winds her clock ?
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
Wasting money on international tourism!!! She just wants to go and see the sights. check out art, good food. So northern Ireland will fit the bill as probably will the Isle of Man. She has bought in to Ireland so far and we are looking at two to three weeks.
Well, that's it !
You're not actually on your way to the IOM. You're using the IOM as a stepping stone to get her over to York, England to see York Minster (built 1220-1472), one of Europe's finest and largest medieval cathedrals. The windows alone are astounding, but then there's statuary and the carved tombs of medieval nobles in the crypt beneath the nave. While in York don't forget the National Railway Museum where resides Queen Victoria's personal coach, and the world's fastest steam locomotive. Then wander over to the York Shambles.
Once finished in York you can head due south to Oxford becasue you're taking her to the Asmolean Museum, where there's more Roman, Greek, and Egyptian art and treasure than there is anywhere else in the world. Just think of all the money you're saving by not having to go to hot, nasty, dangerous Greece and Egypt !! Want to see Cleopatra's obelisk? Well I'll give you 3 guesses where it's NOT located ! That's right, English explorers and archeologists brought back everything of value that wasn't nailed down and it's all on display in English museums, the greater bunk of it in Oxford.
Get your story straight, man !
You're simply making your way to Oxford !
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
So, Northern Ireland. Some touristy things were really nice. Of course the race was better....See the Giants Causeway. Visit the Carrick-A-Rede bridge. Get brave and cross it. See the World of Owls, and tell Mike I said hello. Visit some castles. Drink a Guiness. Visit some more castles, and imagine trying to live there. Go to Joey's Bar, have another Guiness. Go to Belfast and visit the Titanic Museum. (Then go to Pigeon Forge,TN. See a much better Titanic Museum.) Drive the Coast Highway. Carefully.
Orient your trip around getting from Ireland to the Isle of Man. Ferry tickets are like Rocking Horse poo. Very hard to get, but airfare is do-able. Once on the Isle, see all that Wobbly mentioned, but first and foremost, stop at the Fairy Bridge, leave the Little Ones a greeting and ask for a safe trip. Watch the races from the Grandstand, the bottom of Brae Hill, Quarterbridge, the Church Yard , Union Mills, the Ramsey Hairpin, the Gooseneck, the Mountain Mile, the Creg. Don't forget Mad Sunday at the Gooseneck.
The bad news...three weeks is just not enough time. You will HAVE to go back. Enjoy!
Marlin
Absolute Genius!!! that is simply Brilliant! You could charge for this type of advice!
Absolute Genius!!! That is simply Brilliant! You could charge for this type of advice!
I already DO !
That will be $100, please.
🙂
The hardest thing about the IOM is getting a room. You need to rent it right now to be there in 2019. Fly over and then take public transport everywhere. Getting around is not an issue, sleeping accommodations will be.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
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