Cycling The North Antrim Coastline On A Soft Irish Day

I guess it wouldn't be Ireland without the rain, well, it didn't disappoint. Having driven the North Antrim coastline four years ago, I knew I was in for a real treat. Quiet roads, spectacular scenery and the very friendly Irish make Ireland an ideal cycling destination. 

Rain, hail or shine, this is one of the best streaches of coastline I've ridden in the 5000km I've peddled since leaving home on the 17th of January.

What Should We Do For The Jubilee?

Host a vintage tractor show, what else?

I managed to stumble across another vintage tractor show, they seem to be popular here in the UK. Although an annual event, this years coincided with the Jubilee weekend celebrations and the crowd did not appear to be too concerned about the icy breeze blowing across the event.

Stumbling Across A May Day Celebration

I don't like to plan much on the road as as a result I am often rewarded with a pleasant surprise when I roll into a village such as the day I rode into Padstow on May Day. It's commonly know as the "Obby Oss Day" (Hobby Horse Day for those who speak english) and is a tradition that dates back to 1803 celebrating of the beginning of summer. There are two Oss', one representing the red village people and a the other the blue. From all the locals I talked to, nobody appeared to really know how families were original distinguished as a red or blue. Today, if your born red you are most definitely a proud red villager and vice versa.

As I rolled down the hill into town, the first thing to grab my attention was large groups of people dressed in white sailor type attire walking toward a cemetery. I assumed a funeral was on and being a fishing village this was just tradition. The closer I got to town the penny dropped, music, dance, laughter and people drinking their favourite pints spilled through the streets. The whole town was alive.

I parked my bike against a wall adjacent the harbour and before I could get my helmet off a number of people were talking to me and asking the same questions that everybody puts to a cycle tourist. I soon met Ben and Jess, two locals out having a blowout and why not. Before long Ben had me onto the local Cornish cider Rattlesnake. At 6% it's a tasty drop that has bite drinking it by the pint. After finally leaving the company of Ben and Jess I met dozens of very merry souls. I shared a drink with the majority of them and the last I remember is my head hitting the pillow, the room spinning and then sleeping like a baby.

I met so many fantastic people that day, all out enjoying life and the company of their friends, family and strangers like me. As I sit here typing this post I'm picking through the many business cards in my handle bar bag from skippers of vessels dotted all along the Cornish coast. I can see their faces, hear their laughter and I wonder, will ever see these truly salt of the earth people again. 

A Breakfast Fit For A Cyclist

Cereal, Fruit Platter (Large), Bacon, Eggs, Mushrooms, Tomato, Toast and Tea