June 12th Odyssey around Dublin in search of the perfect Bicycle.

Saturday was a perfect Day lovely and warm with the Sun Splitting the Tree's.I had heard the previous Day there was to be an Phillipines Independence Day Celebration in St Annes Parkland Raheny, The former Estate of a Relation of the Guinness Family and I wanted to have a look at it.

The event started after 10 O Clock Mass they are very Religeous The Phillipino's. I arrived after 12.00am and I was surrounded by Thousands of Phillipino's from the Four Corners of Ireland. There was Pavillions all over the Park Celebrating all things Phillipino,Food,various Groups like Photography,Nursing,Culture Etc. I then went down to the Red Stable Farmers Market and had Lunch of a Crepé and Coffee from the Creperié then headed off to the south side of the City to Sandymount.

There was hardly any Traffic on the Roads it was perfect for cycling. After Coming across the Liffey at Ringsend (Called Ray Town by the local's because it was once a Fishing Centre)The Toll Bridge and Shipping in Alexandra Basin.

I wanted to have a look at the New Bicycle Shop in the Village of Sandymount ,in Sandymount Green( twowheels.ie ). I was very impressed by the amount of Bicycles and the great amount of Dutch Bikes for Sale particulary this Bakfiets from Gazelle. I asked them about a Touring Bike and they mentioned a Trek I think it was a 520 that they took on Touring themselves. I said was it Steel and he said it was. Trek does not do Touring specific Bikes as far as I know but most bikes can be used for Touring ,they said they could get one on Order if I was interested. So I started to head off when I spotted this Cycle Chick in the Village looking at the Art on the Railings and took a Picture. Statue of a Girl in the Village Enjoying the Joys of Spring,must be a Cyclist after completing her Ride and is Happy. Childrens Bikes outside the Spar Shop in the Village.

Coming up the Ringsend Road over the Grand Canal Bridge,Bicycle Tour Group of the City,nice Bicycles but why do they have to wear those Stupid Helmet's. Nice Road Bicycle in an Apartment Window about 4 Floors up about 2 Hundred Metres further on in Pearse Street. I arrived in Merrion Square Park and took a Photo of Oscar Will's Fingal O'Flaherty Wilde otherwise known as Oscar Wilde The Great Irish Dramatist and Writer of the 1880ties then some Photo's of the Memorial to the Irish Defence Forces Commemorating the Personnel who Died on Active Service mainly with the United Nations.

I then went off to Penny Farthing Cycles in Camden Street to see what they had and had a look at MC Donald Cycles in Wexford Street. Then back to the City Centre and City Cycles in Parnell Street,I ended up buying a new Pump and a Jar of Assos Cream then I went Home.It was a Brilliant Day,the next Day Sunday it was back to the Wind and Rain but after 4.00pm it has stopped and it is getting nice now.So I will have to think about getting a new Tourer,it involves some Monetary Pain.

I mean to do a lot of long Distance Cycling and my Bottom End Tends to get very Sore so the Assos Cream will Alleviate this hopefully .Last Pictures are,I got this Magnetic Saucer lately to prevent my Screws and Nuts and Bolts getting lost while I am Fixing the Tyres and Punctures on my Bikes,two new Inner Tubes for the Brompton I have been meaning to change the Inner Tube for this Bike for a few Months now,the new Specialized more compact Pump and the Old Zefal Pump. The New Pump fixed on the Trek.

Bicycles,Dogs and Demonstrations.June Bank Holiday Weekend.

Last Saturday during the Bank Holiday Weekend there was a large Demonstration in Dublin Protesting against the Israeli Government Hijacking the Humanitarian Aid Ship to Gaza and Killing 9People in the process. So I decided to take part in it and I went off on the Trek into the City to the Garden of Rememberance. On reaching Fairview I noticed this sign warning Motorist to be careful of Cyclists and Pedestrians. This is a new thing lately but they do not leave it up all the time unfortunately,it is only because of the Holiday when they are surmising there are Pedestrians and a lot of Inexperienced Cyclists on the Roads and they change the sign after the Holiday is over.

The last few Years because Cycling has become so Popular,People are taking their Bikes everywhere and it is not unusual to see loads of Bikes at Demos as well as Dogs and Children. This is me in the Red Shirt with the Cycling Gloves and the next Picture is my Bike beside someone else's. The Procession eventually Ended up at the Department of Foreign Affairs,Iveagh House on Saint Stephens Green . There was many Speeches calling for the Government to Expel the Israeli Ambassador and a Boycott on Israeli Goods,but the Government was Fudging as usual.

They Condemned the Israeli Government but did not do anything else ,it is just typical. After awhile it will be all forgotten about except that there is a Load of Pressure Building up to do something about it. Certainly the ordinary People will be having a Boycott of Israeli Goods and these are the ones that will force the Government to stop doing nothing.

Everywhere you go Bicycles are everywhere,this is a new Golden age if only the Infrastructure would improve it would be really great.

Leisurely Cycle to Howth and back to Clontarf,Wednesday 2nd June 2010

The Weather is Beautiful for awhile with no Rain and Warm and Sunny so I decided to go for a Spin and see where it would take me. I eventually Ended up in Howth Fishing Village in Nth County Dublin. There was a slight Headwind on the way out and I decided to take it nice and easy no rush. If you decide to go fast in these conditions you only succeed in tiring yourself out and you do not enjoy the Ride. I eventually left the House at 3.40 pm and was in Howth around 4.30pm. I had got a New Camera on Thursday and tried it out taking Pictures on the way out and back. I was in Sutton where the Road is bad for a few Years and the Camera hopped out of it's Bag in my Pocket and bounced off the Road. I said o no it is bashed up what a waste,but it was just scuffed on the side a bit and is still working. I left Howth at 5.10 pm and got Home around 6.10. I decided to go the long way back to Clontarf to enjoy the off Road Cycle Way on the Seafront. I eventually had my Dinner at 7.00pm,Cabbage and Potato with Onion and Garlic with some Cottage Cheese on top and Roast Chicken. Washed down with some Polish Beer which tasted like Stella Artois the Belgian Beer very nice and some Brie Cheese followed by a Mug of Coffee.

Pictures are Me at the small Lighthouse in Howth,The main Lighthouse,The RNLI Lifeboat Roy Barker 11 arriving in the Harbour, Fishing Boat with the Immortal Words( Póg mo Thoin )Presenté á vous bises sur mon fessee, two pic's feeding the Harbour Seals with Plaice, Sign on the Cycle way in Sutton Enroute to Howth Slí na Slainte the Healthy Way and the unhealthy way in the Texaco Garage across the Road ,Two Pictures of Dublin Cycle Chic's on the Cycleway at Sutton, 5 pic's of Cyclists in Clontarf and you can see all the Traffic coming from the City it is Chockers, Pothole stretching the width of the Road at the entrance to my Estate,it has been like this now Months, Dinner.