MX5Ireland

I wondered the other day as I drove across the Wicklow gap. One of my fav drives which has only got better now I'm doing it in my MX on it from time to time... Not my old jeep or transit.

The routh was just from Courtown, Arklow(where the drive really comes into it's own) Rathdrum, Laragh across the gap down into Hollywood... It's a drive I've been doing 15 odd years quite often. It alway has felt good doing it and look forward to doing it again..

So I guess if you've been on a nice drive, anywhere... long or just for the milk... Some drives just stick in your mind. Plus I'm looking for some new or scenic drive. Any reason for a spin.

Wicklow Gap..a favourite of mine and one we've often done as a group on runs but NEVER do it from Glendalough to Hollywood in the late evening as the sun is setting..it would blind you most of the way down from the top, VERY dangerous

John

Heading to Achill next weekend and luck to be staying around for a week. Any one know some nice drives over there if the surf ain't working?

Hi Sabik,

I was up there last week and there are plenty of nice drives but take the coast road drive on Achill and you could pick your surf anywhere along the route. Really beautiful clean beaches and not a sinner on them. Hope the sun shines.

Tom

Ya looking forward to it esp the Atlantic drive on the south of the island between the sound and Minaun. I've spent a little time over on the island as my girlfriend's parents have a house there and visited for the surf the odd time. First time bring the MX over normaly it a transit... But have my board been brought over so I can bring the 5 for the week.

Also going down to Galway for a night so if theres a nice drive anyones done between the two places I'd love to know and give it a go... I'm thinking myself Westport, Cliften and Galway...

Glen

Glen,

Stick to the coast road all the way down to Galway via Killery harbour and the fiords.

Tom

Yup, the R335 .. such a class road!

I drove back from Lahinch on Sunday in an M5...

Very enjoyable!


g

have taken to driving to/from Belfast on the B-roads parallel to the M1 - Trim, Slane, Kilberry, Ardee. Surprisingly good - would be worth doing some Sunday !

Nice one Frank..... I've found the do come into the own on the B roads. Thinking of doing the shortest routh to Achill and see what I get!

On my week of hard a great time driving... Not easy to have a heavy foot on Achill due to sheep and tourists... But the view are well worth it... From Keem beach to the Atlantic Drives winding roads , just lovely. The weather didn't really plan ball for the week for either roof down driving or surfing. But that Ireland for ya.

The road the surprised me was a little road that I think was missed on the Galway run this year the R344 from Recess to Kylemore nice road not much traffic and between the mountains... So if your in the area might be worth a look!

Glen

Was out last night, top down, running a few errands around town, about 10:30pm.
Was on my way back home from the town centre and took a right-hand turn at a junction, quite sharply, as only a 5 can do! Didn't "cut" the corner or anything like that but I didn't see the squad car in the shadows until it was too late. A quick look in the rear mirror confirmed my fear..he was coming after me!! For one split moment I contemplated making a run for it, but decided it wouldn't really be worth the effort..or the points and possible sentence!!
He flashed me and turned on the blues so I pulled over and waited for him to approach. It really is a weird feeling when that happens.
Anyhow, it was a young lad, fresh out of Templemore and I thought to myself,"sh*t, he's gonna throw the book at me".
conversation went like this:

Me: " Good Evening Garda"
Him: " How's it goin'?"
Me: "Not too bad"
Him: "you got your licence with you?"
Me: "Nope, but I'll drop into the station in the morning if you like"
Him: "Any idea why I stopped you?"
Me:" Probably because I took that last corner a bit sweet??"
Him:"That's right...your car, is it 4 wheel drive? I know a bit about cars and I'm sure that yours is well capable of taking a corner the way you did, but you really should not drive like that in an Urban environment"
Me:"It's not 4wd, and taking corners at pace is what it does best, sorry about that Garda"(Humble Pie anyone??)
Him:"OK, but just be careful, a pedestrian might have stepped out in front of you"
Me:" Do I have to bring my licence to the station in the morning?"
Him: "No, you do have it insured?"
Me: "Of course"
Him:"That's ok then , good luck"

And so we parted.Thank God he didn't look at my tax disc, out since end June (Paid it online tonight) and my recently acquired NCT cert is still sitting on my desk at home.
I was tempted to let him take a spin in it as it struck me that he really only wanted to look at the car, but I doubt he'd have let me take the mondeo at the same time
My young lad , John, was in the car with me when this happened and when we got home he burst through the door to tell everyone that his Dad was stopped by the Garda...His mother was not impressed!!!

God Bless the boys in blue!

What made him think that the car was a 4WD??

John

As I suspected. All the nice Gardai are down the bog.

I got 2 summonses pushed through my letter box the other day for no NCT Cert when stopped twice in a week at Tax checks last November. No mention of that from the Gardai at the time, just drop by Station with your Licence and Insurance and get that NCT Sorted.

Disgusted, particularly as i'd already done the NCT week before I got the summons.

Move out of Crumlin and get to Newbridge...my wife did , and no, I'm not asking you to marry me!!

John

Excellent story John - maybe he was'nt expecting to see a 2wd drive been driven a county road by a culchie....runs for cover

Robin