I went on a Cycle with a Social Cycle Group last Saturday Week to the Phoenix Park. That marvelous huge City Park to the West of the Metropolitan Area of Dublin City. It is 1,760 Acres in Total and it has Fallow Deer,Horse Riding and Polo,A Cricket Club, Football Playing Fields,The Police Headquarters/AN Garda Siochana or Civic Guard,The American Ambassadors Residence,The Irish Presidents Residence,The Zoo,and Hundreds of Acres of Fields and Forestry to explore.
There was 8 Cyclists on the Trip or should I say Trek. I started off from Home at about 9.30am and got there after 10.00am after going 9 KM or 6 miles arriving at the Phoenix Monument Roundabout on Chesterfield Avenue otherwise known as the main Road through the Park. I was the first to arrive,and we eventually headed off at 10.45am.
We did 4 Laps of the Valleys and Plains of the Park,it was marvelous as they have closed off most of the Roads to Traffic now over the Years. We estimated we did around 47 KM or 25 Miles ,It was not a Sportif thing more of an endurance Cycle .A leisurely Spin at a fair pace,one Young Chap on a High Performance Bike took off on his own around the Park a few times. The rest of us took our time and enjoyed the view. We stopped every so often for Water and some Bananas and Biccies mainly on the Inner Perimeter Road on the Cabra side.
We eventually stopped off at the Tea Rooms beside the Zoo and had some Coffee or Tea and Lunch we Elected that we would have another Lap and see if we would continue after that.
We then decided to separate and Head off Home after finishing the Lap. We had a marvelous Day out in the warm Sunshine unlike the Previous Day when it came down in a Deluge of Rain.
The New Bike performed great except it developed a Whistling sound off the Mudguard and I tried Bending it as we Cycled along. The Jokes from the Gang were Hilarious about the Whistling Bike. I must have gone 60KM or 37 Miles that Day altogether. I tried bending the Stays of the Mudguard the next Day and it corrected the Whistling.
Pictures are, The New Bike, Two French Cyclists and an Irish Girl in Pink,The Phoenix Monument Roundabout,Two Pics of the Cyclists enroute around the Trails,Group Photo with me on the left and a French Woman and a young French Guy and the Irish Girl in Pink,Two of the Happy Cyclists having Refreshments on the Inner Perimeter Road at the Cabra side of Park,The Duke of Wellington Monument Arthur Wellesy Commemorating the Battle of Waterlo, Park Keepers Lodge at Parkgate Street Entrance to Park, Two Pictures of the Phoenix Park Cycle Hire Company who were doing a brisk Business from the tourists and Locals alike.
4 comments:
It looks really nice to cycle round there. Nice with all the animals too.
Thanks Velochick,Yes you would really like it.There is the Park itself with the Valleys and Plains and the Deer and also Cattle and the Horse Riding.
Then there is the Dublin Zoo,Ashtown Castle,Farmleigh the Former Guinness Mansion now owned by the Government and used for State occasions but you can visit it as well and the Walled Garden with all the Flowers and Vegetables.There is also a Farmers Market in the Grounds at the Weekend.
Also you can go Bike Riding in it.
Looks quite nice and relatively peaceful as well.
I always enjoy cycling through certain parts of the city here because of the different wildlife you can encounter.
I must post more Pictures of the Park these ones do not do it full Justice.
It is hard to do when you are in a Group Cycling along and trying to take Pictures as well. It is always very Pleasant not much problems with Traffic on the Roads they are allowed to drive on.
Although I have posted before about the Park,one part that showed rush Hour Traffic taking a short cut through the Park.
The Phoenix Park is one of those special Places worth Visiting in Dublin at any time of the Year.
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