6/8/05 First on the agenda was to pack up all my gear, I swear every time I stop everything in my panniers ends up out and on the floor and since I was here for 5 days it was worse than usual. After getting all my gear sorted I paid the hostel bill and was on the road. First order of business was to stop at the BMW dealership to get all the stuff for the 12,000 mile service. After a quick chat at the dealership I paid my 80euros, what 80 euros for oil, air filter, oil filter, and spark plugs, this country is so fricken expensive. I later noticed that they gave me synthetic oil which is quite a bit more expensive. My plan today was to drive across the middle of the country to Kerry, which is the southwest part of the country, where I am going to meet up with a group of GS riders on Thursday for a 2 day ride led by some locals. I had a place to stay with an American who moved over hear several years ago and he was even going to let me use his garage to do motorcycle maintenance. So after looking at the map I had a nice direct route and off I went. Not being to well known for my long attention span I was easily distracted by a neat little road that went off in the wrong direction. The road I was on was a “major” road which in Ireland is only a two lane road with a little shoulder on it, most roads are only really one or one and a half cars wide. So off I went heading south on this single wide road. Still not being so good at the left hand driving thing off I went down this narrow road, I mean if it is only one lane there really isn’t a side to be on right, wrong. I quickly figured out it is best to hug your side of the especially when faced with the numerous farm tractors and trucks on the road. I kept forgetting which side of the road to be on, it really is hard to change something that is instinctive after 14 years of driving. I had stopped to take some pictures and when I got back on the road I went merrily on my way, when I came around a corner there was quite a large truck coming towards me. So as we both slowed down to almost a stand still I though hey idiot get out of my lane, he thought hey idiot get out of my lane pause ..hey you idiot Josh get out of this guys lane. After that incident I finally got the hang of this left handed road thing. The scenery was absolutely amazing with the green hills or roads where the foliage had completely grown over the road forming a canopy that went on for miles or even the old telephone poles that had ivy completely covering, Josh you are saying even the telephone poles were cool looking, yes, you need to spend more time with people and not talking to yourself on the bike, anyways I liked them but my favorite scenery is the old rock fences everywhere. It is funny to think that allot of these fences are older than Americas Constitution, kinda puts things in perspective. Before I knew it was almost 7:00 and I had spent the day driving down the coast and inland and back to the coast, not really getting very far but seeing some beautiful countryside. Quickly realizing there was no chance I was going to make it to Colaghne tonight I phoned Tim and told him I was going to make it but I would be there tomorrow when everyone else was arriving. It stays light till about 11:00 so I still had a couple more hours of riding so off I went. I came across a sign for Hook’s Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in Ireland, and thought to myself that sounds like a great place to watch the sunset from. The lighthouse was quite amazing though it looked pretty new for a 800 year lighthouse, I am pretty sure it has been upgraded a few times. After an amazing sunset I figured I had better think about a finding a place to sleep. As luck would have it about a ¼ mile from the light house I found a nice little spot next to the water. It was actually a “campsite” but to me it looked just like one and worst case scenario if somebody said something I would just play the tourist role. Today’s Specs Weather: Sunny 80F Distance: 180 miles, Dublin to Hooks Lighthouse   6/9/05 After an extremely peaceful nights slumber I figured I had better get my day started. When I got out of the tent I was greeted by a blue sky without a single cloud, the lighthouse, the sound of the ocean, and a local fisherman out setting his nets. I wouldn’t trade camping here for weeks stay at the nicest hotel in Dublin, it was absolutely an amazing way to wake up. So after taking my time packing up and a quick jog I was on the road again. The plan was the same as yesterday stick to the small roads and head in the general direction of Colaghne. After about an hour I came to a ferry that took me across a bay that had gotten in my way. The weather the last two days has been unbelievable, I think the Irish have been lieing about the weather here to keep people away either that or I just got really lucky. The country side here is so amazing that every time I came around a corner I was in awe and had to stop to take pictures, the last two days I have taken almost 200 pictures. With a couple hours of riding done my stomach was informing me it was time to grab some lunch. I came across a nice little fishing village where I found a great outdoor café oh and the love of my life. She was an amazing Irish red head with green eyes and that Irish accent that is sweet as music. I couldn’t get myself to talk to her so I just lurked at the table behind her listening to her accent. I think if I ever grow up I will come to Ireland and find myself a little Irish girl to be my wife. When I finished lunch and was done lurking I realized if I was going to make to Colaghne tonight I was going to have to get on a major road, which still only a two lane road so I wasn’t that upset. I was making pretty good time so I stopped off in Cork to look around for a while. I wish I had a day or two to look around this city, it was a very cool city. After Cork I head Northwest towards Colagne, as I made my way towards Colagne I came across to other GS’ers on the side of the road looking at a map. It turned out they were here for the 3 day ride as well and they asked me if I knew how to get there. I am not sure what part of I just came from America they missed but I confidently said “Of Course”. I think they figured out I really just had the same directions as them but since they had ridden from London that morning they were just happy they had someone else to lead the way, even a lost American. We ended up finding our hostel quite easily and there was a great collection of BMW’s parked behind it. By the end of the night there was almost 20 bikes there for the ride the next day. After I got checked in and showered up it was time to go meet all the other riders in the Pub next door. After a couple hours of storytelling it was off to bed. Today’s Specs Weather: Sunny 80F Distance: 200 miles, Hooks Lighthouse to Colaghne