Thistledown

Vintage Run

On Saturday afternoon a large number of old bikes arrived in the car park opposite where we were staying. I think that they were all members of the VintageMotorcycle Club (NI) and they were meeting up for a scheduled run.

Although predominantly old British Bikes there were a smattering of Japanese classics, as well as a number of modern bikes. So, something for everyone, then.

Unfortunately, having made the starting point the owner of this lovely Triumph Tiger found his electrics playing up, eventually suffering the ignominy of going home on the trailer that was sensibly on hand (see last picture).

Triumph Saint TR6P

Honda 400/4

Yamaha RD350

With added "YPVS"

Suzuki GT250 X7

Triumph Tiger Cub

Triumph Speed Twin

I am constantly surprised at just how small some of these older machines are, and not just the British ones.

BSA A7

Honda Gold Wing Trike

Irish Bikes

Three MZs: ETZ250, TS250/1 & ETZ251

A small selection of the bikes at Garrison.

MZ RT125 Roadster & NRX Rotax 500

MZ ES250/2

Rare Beast: MZ 1000ST

Vincent Comet

Half a Vincent Engine

John on his MZ Skorpion Sport


Saturday Ride-Out

Emerald Isle

Been a bit busy of late so, a bit later than planned, here are some pictures of my recent trip to Ireland.

Badge and Sticker

The MZ Riders Club (NI) have held a rally at the outdoor centre on Lough Melvin in Garrison for as long as I can remember. This year was their 25th anniversary, there was even a cake!

(Photo courtesy of Sandy's facebook page)

Once in Northern Ireland, the run to Garrison from Larne is fairly straightforward, but as the sun had came out of hiding for a change I headed the MZ Skorpion west and took the longer, more scenic Antrim coastal road rather than head there by a more direct route.

I also made a slight detour to have a look at the Dunlop Memorial Garden in Ballymoney.

Archway between two parts of the garden

I haven't been in a couple of years and wanted to see the newer addition dedicated to Joey Dunlop's younger brother Robert (more of which in a later post).

Eventually, if you head far enough west along the coast road you leave Northern Ireland entirely and enter the Republic of Ireland in Co. Donegal for the next part of the journey.

Welcome to the Republic of Ireland

Someone has put GAA jerseys on these guys

There's no point in wishing these folk a "Good Morning"

Welcome to Donegal

Border Station. Pick a pump for the currency in your pocket

Early morning on Lough Melvin back in NI

It's a hard life

Some old politics

All too soon the weekend is over and it’s time to come home, this time by a more direct route. On the way to the ferry I had one minor problem when the hose to the radiator split at one end. This was quickly fixed and the rest of the journey passed off without incident. Not bad for a 20 year-old bike.