North West 200
13th to 18th May 2009

Crew: Stuart, Richard and Bill

Wednesday 13th May

Meet Stuart & Richard at Stuarts place for 1.30pm depart on the usual route Newent, Leominster, Shrewsbury, Llangollen, Betsy Coed, Llandudno. Stopping overnight at the Rose Tor Hotel. Meet up with John and a friend for a couple of beers and a bite (Thai green curry pie) very strange.
Distance 171mls

Thursday 14th May 

We breakfast at 8.00am then get the kit on the bike to leave for Holyhead for the Ferry to Dublin departing at 10.25am Weather is dry but not looking very promising as we get closer to Ireland it starts to lash down.
The intention is to head to Donegal and see how far we can get, the weather was sort of showery and damp but not heavy rain so we have a reasonable ride and actually get to Donegal and find the Central hotel. Have a wander around the town and find somewhere to eat then return to the hotel and have a couple of beers before retiring.
Distance 193mls

Friday 15th May

Today we ride up to Londonderry weather pretty much the same as yesterday arrive in Derry early afternoon and find the Travelodge check in. Then have a wander around the town which has a very complete walled city on the hill on one side this is overlooking Bogside with big murals on some of the houses depicting the troubles.

Into a café for lunch then more wandering around. Back to the hotel for a spruce up then out to eat at Flaming Jacks have a couple of beers then bed, we need a reasonably early start to get to the race circuit before they close the roads.
Distance 46 mls

Saturday 16th May

Up and away by 8am dry-ish ride to The Metropole at Portrush parkup the bikes and find a reasonable viewpoint with seating for £10.00 each with food and drinks available. The rain holds of for most of the day just a few spits and spots occasionally, watch an enjoyable days racing

eventually leave about 4pm for Marine hotel at Ballycastle. Settle in then out for a couple of beers at the local and then  lovely evening meal at a restaurant on the quayside.
Distance 55mls

Sunday 17th May

Free day today so have a bit of a layin then up for breakfast then wander around the marina before going out for a ride to devils causeway and the ropebridge.

The rope bridge is a hike along the coastal path to a rocky outcrop in the sea linked by yes you’ve guessed it a rope bridge it is very windy and quite scary on the bridge, we walk back to the bikes then ride on to Devils causeway this then involves another walk down to the causeway or the lazy man option of a bus ride which we opt for, quite an amazing natural phenomenon, I’m sure the cover for Led Zeppelins Houses of the Holy album was photographed here.

We then ride back to the hotel just in time for the end of the Moto GP Stuart suggests we have a couple of beers and a Sunday lunch then don’t drink tonight as we have to be on the road at 5am to get the Belfast to Stranraer ferry at 7.25am in the morning. Best plans and all that the Sunday lunch beers go on till early evening and we go to bed wrecked.

Monday 18th  May 

Up and away at 5 am for a quick blast down to Belfast as we near Belfast on the motorway I am getting low on fuel so I guess Richard must be getting very low, I lose sight of them behind me so I slow up but they don’t appear I pull of the motorway at the turn off for the ferry pull in to a filling station and fill up. I manage to get Stuart on the phone and Richard had run out of fuel  but they managed to tip the bike over and get enough fuel to get going again. We meet back up at the Ferry port book in and on to the ferry.
We get of the ferry at 9.30am for the long slog back to Gloucester 100mls of A road to Carlisle then Motorway all the way home a wet and windy ride in the north then staying mainly dry after the lake district. We have to stop several times at services for petrol and a rest eventually getting home late afternoon.
Distance 409mls

Total Distance 774mls