Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

 

Mark Twain...

So whats a long weekend without a bit of biking, or a lot if biking if you are so inclined..
Taking a few extra days off we headed for Limerick, first stop, Ballyhoura.
Sure we've been there plenty of times, but with such sweet trails that are both well maintained and provide hours of fun, why the hell not!

Arriving around lunch time, we parked up and got ready to hit the trails. Despite the misty rain we set out on the 'White' loop. 35k's of fast flowing single track, some fire road and plenty of North Shore style boardwalks. The all weather trails are great. Not to every one's liking as they are waymarked, but after trekking from Dublin it's just what you need. These are really well looked after, and apparently the forest manager, an avid mountain biker himself, is currently expanding and upgrading the already great network of single track.
We stayed over night in Kilmallock at the Deebert Park Hotel. It's a mountain bike friendly hotel, which has a bike lock up and drying room. Pretty decent and very friendly.

Next day we heading for Galway. Plenty of sunshine, blue skies, and cold enough to freeze the nads of a brass monkey. Destination Derroura. Another Collite venture set out near the hills and mountains of Connemara. We had heard mixed reviews, but there's nothing like experiencing it first hand. Stopping in Galway for an Insomnia coffee we drove out past Oughterard on the western shore of Lough Corrib and found the car park area.. Only one other rider was there. Good or bad??

Derroura Trail, Co. Galway

After gearing up we set out on a very a short fire road spin before entering the trails. First impressions, it's OK. Well graded single track, lots of gravel. But as we headed further out it only got better. The trails turned and twisted over yet North Shore styled boardwalks, some of the longest I've ever ridden and great sections of both rocky and flowing single track. But best of all were the views from the other side of the park. Truly the most scenic trails in Ireland, and on a day when the sun is shining, there's no better place to be. So may photo ops, and with all the work they have done recently on the trails, it makes this one of the must do rides in Ireland. Despite the fact it is only 17k's long, it deserves 4/5 for effort.
After one ride around we grabbed a coffee and set out again, even though Esther's gear cable had a total blowout so she couldn't change from the small ring at the front. We cruised along and took in the great views. But the cold wind was starting to bit as the sun sunk lower in the sky.
The trail here is fast and flows really well, and it's enough to keep you on your toes. There are some sketchy sections, but hey, it's all about the adventure and not the perfection of waymarked trails. The raised wooden boardwalks wind their way through forest and over marshes. they are epic in length, but could be a bit dodgy in the wet. Having had a few bad falls myself after badly judging just how slippery they can be.

It's all about the bike...

I guess what this trail lacks are facilities like Ballyhoura, and being more remote it could do with more publicity. On saying that, there were about a half dozen cars in the car park when we got back. Great to see. It seems the guys over this way have a few other trails in the area which we never got to ride, such as Moycullen and Roscahill. Both may be short in length, but I reckon once they are coupled with Derroura, it could be a great day out.
Over all, it's good that the both purpose build and more natural forest trails are picking up pace here in Ireland. Considering what our closest neighbors in the UK have, it's a great start.. But we are still worlds apart.

Leaving the trails behind we heading for Mayo, and the town of Claremorris. Esther's brother works in a hotel there, so it was a good chance to catchup. A few drinks and a late night. Feel like a grownup again, YUCK!
Next day we motored on over to Westport, apparently the best place to live in Ireland, so it was voted. It is a nice wee town, and was chockers, but given it's a long weekend it's not surprising.  We walked down to the shore front to stretch our legs. Views of Croak Patrick on a grey overcast day and a brisk wind coming of the Atlantic was refreshing to say the least. I did climb this rugged peak when I was a boy scout, many years ago. That should have started, 'Once upon a time'..
What this called for was a hot coffee. So finding a quiet coffee shop wasn't hard. With no more than a few tables and conversation from the owner, we drank our average tasting coffee, wrapped the day up and headed back to Dublin. It was a long 3 hour drive as the sun disappeared and night time crept in.
But getting back was nice.  Unpacking our bike gear, we make something to eat and cracked open a bottle of wine. And to think, the weekend was far from over, sweet.