O/T...a few pics from Irish road trip....
09-17-2012, 09:58 AM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
O/T...a few pics from Irish road trip....
I have not been in Western Ireland for decades, and do not get back to Ireland often (left in 1975). However, I went to see a few old mates and decided to rent a car and head West. Obviously. the birth, roar, and death of the Celtic Tiger is very apparent, the impact of the EU on building modern roads is enormous, but I was in search of slower and quieter stuff. Dublin is quite different from when I lived there, but I took the opportunity to visit the Transportation Museum in Howth. THis is very much an amateur effort with unpaid volunteers and very little money, so many vehicles are unrestored. Its purely commercial and public service stuff, so really more of interest to people who like trucks and buses
an AEC bus used by the GNR
a CIE Leyland
Bedford
Morris artillery tug...I think I had a Dinky toy of this when I was a child
Albion Guinness truck
A magnificent wooden tram under restoration
I lift Dublin having rented the worst modern car I have ever driven.
This was something called a Renault Fluence. More like effluence. With the seat as far back as it would go. my knee bashed against the non adjustable steering wheel when I moved from accelerator to brake. The pedals felt a bit offset and it was notably uncomfortable. In any case, I arrived in the West to the normal weather...rain
Coming around a bend at 40 km/h I was confronted with a dual wheeled tractor, and pulled right to allow him through. Drove slightly onto the verge. Big mistake that, as the verge was a two foot side, five foot deep ditch. On the we grass I slid ,dropped a front wheel and then slid quite a long way with nothing to slow me down. Well, not quite, as the steep banking ripped the passenger side to bits. The was no impact, no airbags, no injuries.
It'll buff out easily
Replaced it with a Peugeot 308, a vastly more pleasant little car to drive.
The weather briefly improved:
Speed limits are amazingly high on primitive roads...
You will find animals wandering or being herded on many roads, or behind low stone walls...
Weather on the coast changes by the hour
Kylemore Abbey is beautifully located, now used by the nuns as a girls' school
You can drive across to an island near Clifden when tide is low.....
Remains of old homes litter the area
Clifden and Roundstone are attractive small towns:
and of course, the pubs are great fun,many tiny places with peat fires:
This one is panelled with original panelling from the Mauritania
They don't really do traditional garden gnomes, though
Still, I was quite impressed that there is lot of the countryside that is quite unspoiled and thew small towns are not that different from long ago memory. Well worth a visit.
an AEC bus used by the GNR
a CIE Leyland
Bedford
Morris artillery tug...I think I had a Dinky toy of this when I was a child
Albion Guinness truck
A magnificent wooden tram under restoration
I lift Dublin having rented the worst modern car I have ever driven.
This was something called a Renault Fluence. More like effluence. With the seat as far back as it would go. my knee bashed against the non adjustable steering wheel when I moved from accelerator to brake. The pedals felt a bit offset and it was notably uncomfortable. In any case, I arrived in the West to the normal weather...rain
Coming around a bend at 40 km/h I was confronted with a dual wheeled tractor, and pulled right to allow him through. Drove slightly onto the verge. Big mistake that, as the verge was a two foot side, five foot deep ditch. On the we grass I slid ,dropped a front wheel and then slid quite a long way with nothing to slow me down. Well, not quite, as the steep banking ripped the passenger side to bits. The was no impact, no airbags, no injuries.
It'll buff out easily
Replaced it with a Peugeot 308, a vastly more pleasant little car to drive.
The weather briefly improved:
Speed limits are amazingly high on primitive roads...
You will find animals wandering or being herded on many roads, or behind low stone walls...
Weather on the coast changes by the hour
Kylemore Abbey is beautifully located, now used by the nuns as a girls' school
You can drive across to an island near Clifden when tide is low.....
Remains of old homes litter the area
Clifden and Roundstone are attractive small towns:
and of course, the pubs are great fun,many tiny places with peat fires:
This one is panelled with original panelling from the Mauritania
They don't really do traditional garden gnomes, though
Still, I was quite impressed that there is lot of the countryside that is quite unspoiled and thew small towns are not that different from long ago memory. Well worth a visit.
09-17-2012, 11:17 AM
#3
Race Car
my knee bashed against the non adjustable steering wheel when I moved from accelerator to brake. The pedals felt a bit offset and it was notably uncomfortable.
Nice pics!
09-17-2012, 01:13 PM
#5
Thanks for sharing Ronan. I love the majestic coastal scenery and the undisturbed little towns Clifden/Roundstone. Even the recycled Mauritania panelling tells a great story while having a pint.
Awesome pics. sorry about the rental car
Awesome pics. sorry about the rental car
