Amarillo
Tom
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Day two
Tryfan, Wales
Tryfan, Wales
Buy all your VW California Accessories at the Club Shop Visit Shop
V
Vagophile
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Looks like they are enjoying themseves; how great was the drop from that rock?
Amarillo
Tom
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Fatal.
Amarillo
Tom
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Amarillo
Tom
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Van to mountain
Mountain to van.
Amarillo
Tom
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Summit photo.
Amarillo
Tom
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@Vagophile
The trick was to get the camera angle right to give the illusion of a long drop. In reality the drop was a few feet onto heather or sphagnum moss.
V
Vagophile
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As I suspected.There's a difference between a sense of adventure and irresponsibility. The first is to be encouraged.
Amarillo
Tom
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Goodbye Wales, we are now on the ferry to Ireland (Holyhead to Dublin). Planning to wild camp in the Wicklow mountains to the south of Dublin tonight.
The Blue Merle
4x4 joker
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Pretty busy place wicklow mountains.
I was woken up by gun shots when I was there. (Hunting deer/grouse), plus lots of boy racers head up there too.
Still felt safe though, enjoy your trip and hikes.
Amarillo
Tom
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Day 3 - Wicklow Mountains.
A good and straightforward drive and ferry crossing from Tryfan to the Wicklow Mountains where we found a perfect remote campsite.
Another family camping there with two boys (cousins 11 and 11). They enjoyed being big brothers to Ben and Jack, and the parents/aunt/uncle gave me a beer by their campfire while the boys ran feral in the woods. Jack pushed Ben who fell over and cut his head. Blood everywhere, but all superficial and cleaned up in no time.
Tinned chicken curry and rice for dinner.
A good and straightforward drive and ferry crossing from Tryfan to the Wicklow Mountains where we found a perfect remote campsite.
Another family camping there with two boys (cousins 11 and 11). They enjoyed being big brothers to Ben and Jack, and the parents/aunt/uncle gave me a beer by their campfire while the boys ran feral in the woods. Jack pushed Ben who fell over and cut his head. Blood everywhere, but all superficial and cleaned up in no time.
Tinned chicken curry and rice for dinner.
BikerGran
Growing old disgracefully
VIP Member
Sounds like proper kids and proper camping! Good for you!Day 3 - Wicklow Mountains.
A good and straightforward drive and ferry crossing from Tryfan to the Wicklow Mountains where we found a perfect remote campsite.
Another family camping there with two boys (cousins 11 and 11). They enjoyed being big brothers to Ben and Jack, and the parents/aunt/uncle gave me a beer by their campfire while the boys ran feral in the woods. Jack pushed Ben who fell over and cut his head. Blood everywhere, but all superficial and cleaned up in no time.
Tinned chicken curry and rice for dinner.
Tracy Paine
living the dream
VIP Member
Good to see your boys growing up and the yellow van! It’s a few years since we met in Tenby and France!
The Blue Merle
4x4 joker
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Lifetime VIP Member
Is Meg with you?Day 3 - Wicklow Mountains.
A good and straightforward drive and ferry crossing from Tryfan to the Wicklow Mountains where we found a perfect remote campsite.
Another family camping there with two boys (cousins 11 and 11). They enjoyed being big brothers to Ben and Jack, and the parents/aunt/uncle gave me a beer by their campfire while the boys ran feral in the woods. Jack pushed Ben who fell over and cut his head. Blood everywhere, but all superficial and cleaned up in no time.
Tinned chicken curry and rice for dinner.
Amarillo
Tom
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VIP Member
No, she’s at home with Clare. She’d never have made it up Tryfan, and dogs are banned from Carrauntoohil.
Amarillo
Tom
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Day 4, 5 & 6 - Clogheen
As we crossed the mountains Ben threw up in the van. It turned out that his Fire Tablet that I forbade him from watching until we were on main roads had been surreptitiously used. I hope the vomit was a lesson worth learning. Fortunately we keep a bucket in the car for “just in case” and he managed to get most of his sick in the bucket. But he still had to change clothes.
Once we started looking for a campsite, earlier than planned, we discovered that it was a bank holiday weekend in Ireland and that everywhere is full. But helped by the green looking Ben the second place we tried allowed us to camp in their farm shop overflow car park with a motley crew of other waifs and strays, bike packers and back packers.
We ate from the on-site chippy, probably not the best idea for Ben.
Next morning I was woken by, “Dad, I feel sick” followed by the sound of vomit. Thankfully all in the bucket this time. We were going no where.
A restful day on the campsite. Little food eaten. Laundry done. Van cleaned inside (outside can wait ‘til we’re home). A beautifully cooked 99p tomato and cheese pizza from Lidl generously topped with extra pepperoni which more than doubled the cost. The Cadac pizza stone is so worth having.
Method:
-Preheat stone on max heat with lid on.
-As fast as possible remove lid, place 99p pizza on stone, replace lid. Reduce heat to min.
-Bake with lid on for 150% of the recommended time.
Sunday
We chose to stay one more day on our 29 Euro per night parking spot.
For that 29 Euros we get unlimited use of a petting farm, plough museum, three playground (including one indoor play area) and a fairly basic campsite wash block.
The toddlers area inside the indoor play area doubles up as the TV room, and this is where we watched the Euro Soccer final with a German solo traveller, also in the overflow car park, who invited us to watch it with her. She was definitely more passionate about football than me, and I kind of felt sorry for her when England scored their second goal. (I was more concerned about how much of her clothing the scorer was going to remove!)
Particularly delicious Lidl Cumberland sausages for dinner, lazily rolled into thinly sliced bloomer bread drizzled with ketchup or brown sauce. (We ate chips while watching the soccer).
Bed at ten.
“Daddy I feel sick” at ten fifteen.
Jack vomited.
*Edit*
Five past midnight
“Dadda…”
Jack is sick again.
**second edit**
Squirting from both ends went on until 3am. The boys had to abandon their lower bed and sleep upstairs with me.
As we crossed the mountains Ben threw up in the van. It turned out that his Fire Tablet that I forbade him from watching until we were on main roads had been surreptitiously used. I hope the vomit was a lesson worth learning. Fortunately we keep a bucket in the car for “just in case” and he managed to get most of his sick in the bucket. But he still had to change clothes.
Once we started looking for a campsite, earlier than planned, we discovered that it was a bank holiday weekend in Ireland and that everywhere is full. But helped by the green looking Ben the second place we tried allowed us to camp in their farm shop overflow car park with a motley crew of other waifs and strays, bike packers and back packers.
We ate from the on-site chippy, probably not the best idea for Ben.
Next morning I was woken by, “Dad, I feel sick” followed by the sound of vomit. Thankfully all in the bucket this time. We were going no where.
A restful day on the campsite. Little food eaten. Laundry done. Van cleaned inside (outside can wait ‘til we’re home). A beautifully cooked 99p tomato and cheese pizza from Lidl generously topped with extra pepperoni which more than doubled the cost. The Cadac pizza stone is so worth having.
Method:
-Preheat stone on max heat with lid on.
-As fast as possible remove lid, place 99p pizza on stone, replace lid. Reduce heat to min.
-Bake with lid on for 150% of the recommended time.
Sunday
We chose to stay one more day on our 29 Euro per night parking spot.
For that 29 Euros we get unlimited use of a petting farm, plough museum, three playground (including one indoor play area) and a fairly basic campsite wash block.
The toddlers area inside the indoor play area doubles up as the TV room, and this is where we watched the Euro Soccer final with a German solo traveller, also in the overflow car park, who invited us to watch it with her. She was definitely more passionate about football than me, and I kind of felt sorry for her when England scored their second goal. (I was more concerned about how much of her clothing the scorer was going to remove!)
Particularly delicious Lidl Cumberland sausages for dinner, lazily rolled into thinly sliced bloomer bread drizzled with ketchup or brown sauce. (We ate chips while watching the soccer).
Bed at ten.
“Daddy I feel sick” at ten fifteen.
Jack vomited.
*Edit*
Five past midnight
“Dadda…”
Jack is sick again.
**second edit**
Squirting from both ends went on until 3am. The boys had to abandon their lower bed and sleep upstairs with me.
Last edited:
Perfectos
Super Poster
Lifetime VIP Member
Looks like you’re having a blast,
Summit photo.
that photo reminded me of this !
edit: just seen the previous instalment. Hope all is well.
some flat coke may help
Last edited:
Amarillo
Tom
Super Poster
VIP Member
Day 6 - Killarney.
A slow start this morning. At 9am I went over to reception with a big bag of laundry including all the downstairs bed linen but reception was still firmly closed. I returned at ten and bought the two tokens, €5 for washing, €5 for drying.
At least the washing machine was big and top loading, and swallowed the laundry with ease. 45 mins later transferred to the dryer for an hour’s tumble. So it wasn’t until about midday that we had any chance of getting away, but in reality it wasn’t until just before 2pm that we finally bid farewell to the campsite.
A quick stop at Lidl en-route and we got to Killarney just before 5.
Setting up without a driveaway awning is a doddle, and I really like the wet weather setup we have. Awning canopy out, a front panel and a side panel.
It gives us privacy with the sliding door open and shelter from the worst of the wind and rain.
We walked the two miles into Killarney to buy a map: Clare had given my map of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks to the local charity shop just one day before our departure
, and I daren’t venture into unfamiliar hills without a good map.
My initial plan had been to complete the Coomloughra horseshoe with the boys, but after our experience on Tryfan decided taking them over The Bones would be a bit too much. Plan B is the Devil’s ladder route to the summit of Carrauntoohil, but looking at the weather forecast we might not manage that either. It is not the rain, it is the wind. The boys are ready for a hike in drizzle, but they are possibly not ready for a hike in winds forecast at the summit to be 50 kph (30 mph)- with drizzle too.
We shall see. I’ll make a decision when we are there.
If we don’t get to the summit tomorrow I’m not sure we will try again on Wednesday when better weather is forecast as we have already lost three days due to sickness and we haven’t yet started the Wild Atlantic Way.
A slow start this morning. At 9am I went over to reception with a big bag of laundry including all the downstairs bed linen but reception was still firmly closed. I returned at ten and bought the two tokens, €5 for washing, €5 for drying.
At least the washing machine was big and top loading, and swallowed the laundry with ease. 45 mins later transferred to the dryer for an hour’s tumble. So it wasn’t until about midday that we had any chance of getting away, but in reality it wasn’t until just before 2pm that we finally bid farewell to the campsite.
A quick stop at Lidl en-route and we got to Killarney just before 5.
Setting up without a driveaway awning is a doddle, and I really like the wet weather setup we have. Awning canopy out, a front panel and a side panel.
It gives us privacy with the sliding door open and shelter from the worst of the wind and rain.
We walked the two miles into Killarney to buy a map: Clare had given my map of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks to the local charity shop just one day before our departure
, and I daren’t venture into unfamiliar hills without a good map.My initial plan had been to complete the Coomloughra horseshoe with the boys, but after our experience on Tryfan decided taking them over The Bones would be a bit too much. Plan B is the Devil’s ladder route to the summit of Carrauntoohil, but looking at the weather forecast we might not manage that either. It is not the rain, it is the wind. The boys are ready for a hike in drizzle, but they are possibly not ready for a hike in winds forecast at the summit to be 50 kph (30 mph)- with drizzle too.
We shall see. I’ll make a decision when we are there.
If we don’t get to the summit tomorrow I’m not sure we will try again on Wednesday when better weather is forecast as we have already lost three days due to sickness and we haven’t yet started the Wild Atlantic Way.
The Blue Merle
4x4 joker
Top Poster
Lifetime VIP Member
Hi TomDay 6 - Killarney.
A slow start this morning. At 9am I went over to reception with a big bag of laundry including all the downstairs bed linen but reception was still firmly closed. I returned at ten and bought the two tokens, €5 for washing, €5 for drying.
At least the washing machine was big and top loading, and swallowed the laundry with ease. 45 mins later transferred to the dryer for an hour’s tumble. So it wasn’t until about midday that we had any chance of getting away, but in reality it wasn’t until just before 2pm that we finally bid farewell to the campsite.
A quick stop at Lidl en-route and we got to Killarney just before 5.
Setting up without a driveaway awning is a doddle, and I really like the wet weather setup we have. Awning canopy out, a front panel and a side panel.
It gives us privacy with the sliding door open and shelter from the worst of the wind and rain.
We walked the two miles into Killarney to buy a map: Clare had given my map of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks to the local charity shop just one day before our departure
My initial plan had been to complete the Coomloughra horseshoe with the boys, but after our experience on Tryfan decided taking them over The Bones would be a bit too much. Plan B is the Devil’s ladder route to the summit of Carrauntoohil, but looking at the weather forecast we might not manage that either. It is not the rain, it is the wind. The boys are ready for a hike in drizzle, but they are possibly not ready for a hike in winds forecast at the summit to be 50 kph (30 mph)- with drizzle too.
We shall see. I’ll make a decision when we are there.
If we don’t get to the summit tomorrow I’m not sure we will try again on Wednesday when better weather is forecast as we have already lost three days due to sickness and we haven’t yet started the Wild Atlantic Way.
Love reading your adventures, hope the boys are feeling better and it wasn’t due to your cooking
Loads of great mountains just of the waw!
Mangerton mountain (off the ring of Kerry just away from the madness), great spot to stealth park too.
Plus mount Errigal was a fav nothing to hard, stunning views. Pic of Errigal (Donegal). Campsite at the bottom, but again loads of stealth spots (2nd pic is where I stayed).
How long have you got to do waw?
P
phil keegan
Day 6 - Killarney.
A slow start this morning. At 9am I went over to reception with a big bag of laundry including all the downstairs bed linen but reception was still firmly closed. I returned at ten and bought the two tokens, €5 for washing, €5 for drying.
At least the washing machine was big and top loading, and swallowed the laundry with ease. 45 mins later transferred to the dryer for an hour’s tumble. So it wasn’t until about midday that we had any chance of getting away, but in reality it wasn’t until just before 2pm that we finally bid farewell to the campsite.
A quick stop at Lidl en-route and we got to Killarney just before 5.
Setting up without a driveaway awning is a doddle, and I really like the wet weather setup we have. Awning canopy out, a front panel and a side panel.
It gives us privacy with the sliding door open and shelter from the worst of the wind and rain.
We walked the two miles into Killarney to buy a map: Clare had given my map of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks to the local charity shop just one day before our departure
My initial plan had been to complete the Coomloughra horseshoe with the boys, but after our experience on Tryfan decided taking them over The Bones would be a bit too much. Plan B is the Devil’s ladder route to the summit of Carrauntoohil, but looking at the weather forecast we might not manage that either. It is not the rain, it is the wind. The boys are ready for a hike in drizzle, but they are possibly not ready for a hike in winds forecast at the summit to be 50 kph (30 mph)- with drizzle too.
We shall see. I’ll make a decision when we are there.
If we don’t get to the summit tomorrow I’m not sure we will try again on Wednesday when better weather is forecast as we have already lost three days due to sickness and we haven’t yet started the Wild Atlantic Way.
Sounds like this will be a memorable trip - thanks for posting. We’ve resisted buying much for our new Coast in an effort to travel really light but I do like the look of your awning side panels (with extra guys). I can’t quite read the brand name in your photo - if you get a moment please could you post the make? Thanks
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Amarillo
Tom
Super Poster
VIP Member
Outwell Fallcrest Side Panel Set For Windout Awnings
BACK IN STOCK! The Outwell Fallcrest side panels for Thule & Fiamma wind-out awnings on Campervans.
vwcaliforniaclub.com
Outwell Hillcrest Tarp Privacy Shelter
The Outwell Hillcrest Tarp is a front privacy shelter that attaches to VW, Marco polo, and other campervans with wind-out awning for added privacy.
vwcaliforniaclub.com
It all packs away to nearly nothing and can be stored with the picnic chairs.
Amarillo
Tom
Super Poster
VIP Member
Hi Tom
Love reading your adventures, hope the boys are feeling better and it wasn’t due to your cooking
Loads of great mountains just of the waw!
Mangerton mountain (off the ring of Kerry just away from the madness), great spot to stealth park too.
Plus mount Errigal was a fav nothing to hard, stunning views. Pic of Errigal (Donegal). Campsite at the bottom, but again loads of stealth spots (2nd pic is where I stayed).
How long have you got to do waw?
View attachment 97057View attachment 97056
Our ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan is booked for 11 August, but we need a couple of days to get to and climb Slieve Donard - unless we abandon that idea.
I think our focus along the WAW will be beaches and playing in rock pools, etc.
I wish we had 3 months not 3 weeks for this trip.
P
phil keegan
Outwell Fallcrest Side Panel Set For Windout Awnings
BACK IN STOCK! The Outwell Fallcrest side panels for Thule & Fiamma wind-out awnings on Campervans.
Outwell Hillcrest Tarp Privacy Shelter
The Outwell Hillcrest Tarp is a front privacy shelter that attaches to VW, Marco polo, and other campervans with wind-out awning for added privacy.
It all packs away to nearly nothing and can be stored with the picnic chairs.
Thanks + hope the rest of your trip goes well
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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