Biking IRELANDS Northwest Coast - Panoramas, Poets and Pilgrimage

Notice: This web page is designed so that you can only put yourself on the waiting list. Once I verify that you satisfy the registration requirements I will move you to the list of participants. See registration requirements below.

Ireland is known for its breathtaking panoramas and iconic poets. No where on this storied island is that more true than the Northwest Coast. From the famed Wild Atlantic Way (including the desolate beauty of Connemara and the Cliffs of Donegal) to Ireland's Nobel Prize winning poets W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney (more on them later) it doesn't get more "Irish" than this. And it wouldn't be "Irish" without a stop or two at some pubs.

We will experience these panoramas and poets on a pilgrimage of sorts, via the only way possible to smell the depth of peat bog while still making tracks, e-bikes.

E-bikes: As you may know, e-bikes allow you to fully peddle but also can assist. They look and work like regular bikes (hand breaks and pedaling) but have a small battery pack on a rear frame bar that can easily be partially or fully engaged. We will have some rolling hills and e-bikes will help us stay together.  Also, in the flat parts we can clip along if need be. (They go up to 20 mph and have a range of 60 miles.) There will be places to recharge overnight at each night's stay. There will be helmets and saddlebag (panniers) rentals available included in the costs. 

Terrain: Seventy-five percent of the time the terrain will be fairly flat along gentle rolling hills and valleys on secondary paved roads, some single lane and less travelled. Riding into and out of towns will be on well-marked two-lane roads with bike lanes.   

Accommodations: We will be staying at hostels so be prepared to sleep in rooms with a few beds. All of the hostels are highly rated in several review type websites.  Many of them have kitchen privileges for breakfast (or breakfast is included )before we get started for the day. 

Distance: The total bike miles of the journey is about 180 over 4 day or roughly 40 to 50 miles on any given day - a moderate miles per day and moderate pace. We will be getting on and off the bikes during the day to take short walks to overlooks, eat, stretch legs, etc. The total actual riding time each day will be about 3 to 4 hours. 

DAY 1 - Tues 7/24: Air Travel to Dublin. (There has recently been a non-stop flight from Atlanta to Dublin available for reasonable fares on Delta leaving at 8:08pm Tues. and arrives at 9:00am Wed. 7/25 Dublin time). 

DAY 2 - Wed. 7/25: Travel by rail from Dublin to Galway (2.5 hrs. including a couple of stops.) Here, we will be able to enjoy this bustling seaside city of 80,000 founded in the 13th century. From mid-afternoon through the evening we can explore its labyrinthine of cobbled streets, colorful shops and busy cafe/bar culture. The last days of the annual Galway International Arts festival will be showcasing great dancing, street performance, music and art exhibitions. We will be staying at the top rated Kinlay Eyre Square Hostel in the heart of city center. How about a night cap at the famed Tigh Neachtains and/or O'Donnell's Pub?

DAY 3 - Thurs. 7/26: We take an 8:30 am bus ride to Clifdon on the Western shore, pick up our e-bikes around 10:30 and begin our travels on the backroads through the hills of pastoral Connemara. We will experience Ireland the way it has been for centuries, including charming fishing villages and views of the sea and mountains. We will make are way to the town of Delphi in the pastoral region, where we will spend the night. 

DAY 4. Fri. 7/27 We will continue on the backroads along panoramic river valleys spotted with lakes, farms and sheep in a day long loop to Leenaun a quaint village on Killary Fjord to stay the night. 

DAY 5 Sat. 7/28 We will bike the relatively short distance to Connemara National Park and walk the 3.5 mi. loop trail to Diamond Hill for an incredible view of sea and mountain . We will return to Clifdon, turn in our bikes and take the return bus ride to Galway where we spend the night.  

Day 6 Sun. 7/29 We will take a bus to Donegal Town in the morning. There we will have an afternoon and evening to enjoy Donegal Castle, Donegal Craft Village (the real deal), Donegal Woolen Mill, Olde Castle Bar for dinner and Reel Inn for Craic (Gaelic for dancing and fun) and Irish music.

Day 7 - Mon. 7/30 We pick up our bikes early morn and bike part of the Wild Atlantic Way into County Donegal where we will marvel at Glengesh pass and Sleive League, the cliffs in the above picture. We will return to Denegal Town, turn in our bikes and spend another night at the same hostel. 

DAY 8 Tues. 7/31  We will take a short bus ride to Sligo. We will have lunch and a drink (or two) at Hargadon's in Sligo Town (Rated the #1 pub in all of Ireland by IB4UD - Ireland Before You Die)  We will take a 3 hour train ride back to Dublin and spend the evening on a yet to be determined excursion. (We may even break up into smaller groups to do whatever floats our boats.  We will stay at Abbeys' Court near city center for 2 nights.

DAY 9 Wed. 8/1  More of Dublin with a twist. For those who want to attend the ceremonial opening of the National Library of Ireland Exhibit of Nobel Prize winning poet Seamus Heaney on the College Green of Trinity College, I can get tickets from a connection at Emory University. 

DAY 10 Thurs. 8/2: Head back to Atlanta on a 11AM flight 

Registration Requirements. Note: to be officially registered a deposit of $400 is required (see below)

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT:

1. You must be either an AOC trip leader or be recommended by an AOC trip leader. This requirement allows event TLs to verify that you have the necessary level of fitness, will get along with others and follow TLs instructions. Please put yourself on the waiting list, and if you are not a trip leader please ask one to send a recommendation to Lindsey Williams (event TL). If you qualify, you will be moved to the list of participants, provided the maximum number of participants has not been reached. People that put themselves on the waiting list before you will have precedence.

2. After you are moved to the list of participants please send your $400 deposit by PayPal to Lindsey Williams.

3. Additionally, Send to Lindsey Williams the following information: a. Your name as it appears in your passport; b. your nationality and passport number; c; your passport's expiration date; d. your date of birth; e. Your occupation. Your registration for this event will be considered complete once your deposit and personal information are received. The order of precedence for this event is determined by the date and time your registration is completed. The balance of $295 must be received via PayPal to Lindsey Williams by June 15, 2018 to maintain registration. Otherwise you will be removed from participants list and forfeit your spot for the trip.

Additional Notes: This event is rated as Difficult (D4) because of the multiple days of bike riding of 180 miles. 

The expiration date of your passport must be at least six months after the date you leave Dublin. Therefore, you cannot be included in the trip if you do not have a valid passport by the cut off date. It may take up to twelve weeks to get a US passport. 

The lodging  will be paid directly by TL event organizer to hostels. You have to pay for any additional hotel expenses (meals, laundry, telephone calls, etc.).

DISCLAIMER: The Trip Leader for this event has elected either to personally collect the funds that event participants are required to pay, or to require participants to pay funds directly to a third party. No funds will be paid to the Atlanta Outdoor Club for this event. Therefore, by registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: (1) the monies paid by registrants will not be monitored, managed, or otherwise accounted for by the Atlanta Outdoor Club; (2) that the Atlanta Outdoor Club bears no financial responsibility for this event; and (3) you waive any and all claims against the Atlanta Outdoor Club, and hold the Atlanta Outdoor Club harmless for the loss of any monies you paid for this event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any paying registrant may request directly from the Trip Leader, prior to the event, a breakdown of funds collected, estimated expenses, and deposits made in anticipation of the event. Following the event, the Trip Leader must complete his or her financial accounting for the event, with supporting documentation, within 30 days of the completion of the event, and a paid registrant may request a breakdown of funds collected, money spent and supporting documentation after that time. If you are unable to obtain requested documentation, please contact the Director of Paid Events.

COST INCLUDES: -

Transportation including costs of bikes (helmut and saddlebag) for 4 days; train costs from Dublin to Galway and Sligo to Dublin; bus fare from Galway to Clifdon and return; bus fare from Galway to Donegal; Bus fare from Donegal to Sligo; cab/uber fare to hostels, transportation hubs, bike rentals when needed; $20 Admin. fee

All overnight accomodations (hostels) 

Cost does NOT include: - Airfare: Atlanta/Dublin - Hotel miscellaneous expenses. - Personal Expenses. - Meals - Beverages - Tips - cab/uber fare in cities for meals, entertainment, things to do. 

Travel and Trip insurance are recommended. Can be purchased at: http ://www.travelguard.com/

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:

If you cancel on or before 6/30/2018 you will receive a full refund, less $20 admin. fee. There are NO cancellations after 6/30/2018 unless we can find a replacement for your spot, less $20 Admin. fee.