ERIN Trip Report

[Martin Barrett]

As mentioned else where, and will be covered in a bit more depth here (when link added). I did as last year RBR'd Southern Wales on the Thursday before catching the middle of the night ferry. Arrive early in Rosslare and make my way straight to the site.

 

I set up camp casting an eye over the bikes already there. Seeing if I can put a bike to a probable name. I spot Guy's (Guzzirider) and Helen's and takes me a moment to spot them and they're over by a Scura R deduced possibly Jim Fordham? I'm concentrating on getting my tent up and have just about done so when a Cafe Sport arrives, parks up next to me, a Scots accent he recognises my bike and I guess at Grossohc ( Gary). By the time we've set up Guy and Helen have gone out for a ride. Despite feeling guilty that it's such a nice day and not going for a further ride keep to the plan and have a siesta.

 

A further wander around looking at the various bikes including "Californias and other old shite" renew a few acquaintances from the previous year. Speak to Jim it was his R.

 

The rest of the day is filled with anticipation, who will arrive. I'm checking out the green V11's I don't see Gary (Wambiker) one is probably Paul Smart. As the evening draws on news filters in that the BFG is having difficulties but is struggling on ( he can explain).

 

There's now dark and there's a very brief heavy shower and as soon as it's finished John O'Sullivan arrives on his Centaurno. I help him pitch his tent, the site is filling up nicely,and back to the bar. A bit latter the BFG arrives. Back to the bar for a little while.

 

From L-R, Gray (Grossohc)'s Tent, John O'Sullivans Centaurno, I think his tent is next followed by my bike and tent.

 

Saturday one all up and Breakfasted we: me; BFG; Gary (Grossohc) and Gary (Wambiker) who I'd missed arriving the previous evening and hadn't spotted in the pub (too much Guinness) head out for a ride escorted by John.

 

After a short while I notice that the occasion flicker of my instrument back lights which I'd tried to sort before heading to Ireland has got worse and I've now got no indicators except when the bars are fully right. I'm told I've no rear light but my stop is working as is my head light, as we pull off I can't engage first but change up to 2nd, I can go up but not down so I bring the procession to a stop again.

 

The bracket that attaches the change lever to the rod has snapped just like Guy's (Guzzirider) had done in Scotland 3 weeks previously.

 

I'm about to call it a day when John O'Sullivan says we're only 10 miles from his home and we can rob the one off his Scura which is currently on blocks awaiting a fork seal change. We 5 horsemen of the apocalypse descend on the O'Sullivan household.

 

The culprit.

 

Once changed we're back off, conscious that there are rain clouds following our every move.

 

The hero of the weekend.

 

Gary winning hearts and minds of the locals.

 

He was very impressed that it has two exhausts but surprised that wasn't a four cylinder.

 

We'd just done some dirt road and now this recently resurfaced mountain road(track). Were taking in the view not walking the section (trials)

 

A (very) late lunch, when we come out the hotel the rain has arrived. We decide to head straight back. The rain is so heavy Noah would have felt at home. It must be a hours ride back and were all soaked to various degrees. John's Aerostitch did the best and hardly breached. I recommend dump helmets in tents and straight in to the Pub, body heat will help dry out the gear. We get in and able to get in front of the log fire in the lounge. Handily someone has left a copy of the Irish Times there so we can mop up the puddles on the floor. I think we did just under 200 miles.

 

Sunday morning everyone packing up to go. In the end I decide to go for the earlier afternoon ferry so I arrive in Wales in daylight with my dicky lights and can make progress north before it gets dark.

 

I finally get to speak to Paul Smart on the ferry. There's a slight swell and one huge wave which shakes the boat badly. Unfortunately three bikes go down, all returning from the ERIN two Guzzi ( Spada II and a Lemans III (Magnus' Guy's friend)) and a Bandit (also in Guy's group) The ferry company seem to be doing the right thing by them.

 

I make it to Llanberis and can camp there, foot of Snowdon. I exposed too much flesh at the wrong time and was eaten alive by the midges. Didn't get much sleep due to heavy winds and heavy rain so was up at 5, the rain had eased so was off by 6 for a bit more RBRing. Made it home just in time to collect the kids from school.

[belfastguzzi]

Disgusting

 

 

 

 

ah, that's more like it

 

MB can't wait to get home and tell the Chief Constable about his great idea for a Rapid Response Traffic Cone Unit.

 

 

Did someone mention BFG's delay on the the way down?

[belfastguzzi]

there are rain clouds following our every move

91827[/snapback]

Look so, Officer

I'm telling you, there are rain clouds following our every move!

[Martin Barrett]

I now know why my suit leaks at the front

[Orson]

There's a slight swell and one huge wave which shakes the boat badly. Unfortunately three bikes go down, all returning from the ERIN two Guzzi ( Spada II and a Lemans III (Magnus' Guy's friend)) and a Bandit (also in Guy's group) The ferry company seem to be doing the right thing by them.

91827[/snapback]

Yikes!

 

The ferry company doesn't suppy straps?

 

I'll have to remember to bring some rope when I go to Ireland.

[Martin Barrett]

Yikes!

 

The ferry company doesn't suppy straps?

 

I'll have to remember to bring some rope when I go to Ireland.

91971[/snapback]

 

They did the strapping down with the ratchet strap over the seat. I don't know what went wrong. It was a very big wave.

[wambiker]

Hi all, had a great time at the rally and was great to put faces to different forum members. There must have been a representative of just about every V11 sub-species available at the event, certainly the most V11s I've seen in one place. Martin I did not realise the route I had set out to do was also the route to Rosslare or I would have ridden back with you for part of the way, see you next time. Martin's description of us a the horsemen of the apocalypse was a great description, I was ridding at the back on the run back to the site and the noise rolling back from the buildings as we went through the villages and towns was spectacularI. 've got some photos from the saturday run.

This where we encountered the character who liked exhaust pipes!

This is the view from this layby back to the Dingle penninsula.

Martin attempting to appease the Guzzi Gods with a spot of pennance.

View from Dingle to Ring of Kerry, not long before the heavens opened.

My bike.

 

Cheers Gary

[wambiker]

Last couple of pictures

This probably my personal favorite of the V11s the Cafe Sport, just a shame it's not green.

Lastly John's V10, the first one I had seen in the flesh.

 

Cheers Gary

 

[Orson]

Martin attempting to appease the Guzzi Gods with a spot of pennance.

92079[/snapback]

I hope he was facing Mandello!

 

Great pictures

[gallo_se]

Hi all, had a great time at the rally and was great to put faces to different forum members. There must have been a representative of just about every V11 sub-species available at the event, certainly the most V11s I've seen in one place. Martin I did not realise the route I had set out to do was also the route to Rosslare or I would have ridden back with you for part of the way, see you next time. Martin's  description of us a the horsemen of the apocalypse was a great description, I was ridding at the back on the run back to the site and the noise rolling back from the buildings as we went through the villages and towns was spectacularI. 've got some photos from the saturday run.

This where we encountered the character who liked exhaust pipes!

This is the view from this layby back to the Dingle penninsula.

Martin attempting to appease the Guzzi Gods with a spot of pennance.

View from Dingle to Ring of Kerry, not long before the heavens opened.

My bike.

 

Hi Gary, what kind of luggage system do you have on your acid green V11?

Is it an adapted GIVI one?

 

Cheers Gary

92079[/snapback]

[gallo_se]

92191[/snapback]

 

 

Seen your thread about the hard pannniers just now, thanks.

[grossohc]

Hi

Yes it was a good rally, weather was good on the way down and apart from a small deluge late afternoon on the run out it stayed fine, it was good to see the people who post on here and even met a couple of lurkers, I liked seeing the v11s and the mods people had made(BFG,s quat d system looks and sounds great).I left the site at 10am on the sunday, got to larne and got on an earlier troon ferry (it left 5 minutes after i boarded) arriving home at 11pm. Bummer being back at work, Will post some photos when i get home if the camera has dried out by then. 1270 faultless miles covered , oh and the back tyres shagged.

Gary

 

 

 

Note to self - keep camera / mobile phone in a waterproof pocket/case

[Guzzirider]

Just got back from Europe this morning- came back a few days early for the sake of my health- I think my liver was at breaking point and I was exhausted, sunburnt and have a bad chest infection which I can't shake off. Magnus is a broken man- the final night at Boxmeer was just too much for him- he officially had the worst hangover in history.

 

Had a great time though- enjoyed Erin, had a great time in Normandy drinking Calvados and camping next to Omaha beach where there is a great and fitting memorial.

 

Had a wet 450 mile ride to Aachen where my starter solenoid packed up. I abandoned my bike at the roadside and I called HTM in the morning, who I was due to visit anway. Hartmut came out in his van, picked up my bike and fitted a used solenoid he had hanging around. All for 20 euros!

 

He then repogrammed my ECU and set new fuelling and ignition curves on the dyno. I'll post more about this in the Techy forum when I have got some sleep, but basically the guy is a genius and has a great set up.

 

Then headed to the Boxmeer Rally in the Netherlands- great weather, great company, met some mad people and spent three days on the lash.

 

Magnus ended up falling on his shelter and breaking it. I had to carry him into his tent and he puked all over his sleeping bag, and also outside.

 

We had terrible hangovers the next day and decided the best thing would be to head for home- there is only so much your body can take and I want to be fit for my trip the the USA on 1st July.

 

Pics to be posted when I get around to it. My bed beckons.

 

Guy

 

P.S. Won longest distance travelled award at Boxmeer, and also accepted a trophy on behalf of the Guzzi Club GB for branch turnout. Both trophies need glueing back together again after getting broken in my panniers.

[Guzzirider]

Some Erin photos:

[Guzzirider]

Some photos from France.

 

The shot by the seaside is me standing on Omaha beach near Port-En-Bessin.

 

The pic with the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack is the Royal Marine Commando memorial at Port-En-Bessin.

 

We also went to Ste Mere Eglise and looked in the airborne museum there.