Ireland and Beyond

Welcome back folks to another travel adventure. It’s been some time since I’ve written about my adventures although I have posted some videos on my YouTube channel so you might check some of them out.

Today I start my 78th trip around the sun, which in itself is something to celebrate. On Wednesday the 17th of April, only two days away, I’m heading off for a 6 week adventure to Ireland, Scotland and England. The first leg of this trip will involve a 2 week trip around Ireland, both the Republic and Northern Ireland, with Blue Road Tours. I’ve heard some good things about them and this will be my first organized tour with a group. In this case its a relatively small group of 18 people, with a small travel coach and excellent accommodations…at least that’s what they said in the brochure. There’s a good chance that some, if not most of them, will be Aussies as the tour company is Australian.

I’ll be leaving from Toronto and heading for Gatwick airport, south of London, then on to Dorking to stay with Cat and Neil for a couple of days. I have an early flight from Heathrow on the 21st to Dublin where the tour starts. It’s essentially a tour around the perimeter of Ireland, north and south, with a number of the stops being 2 day layovers so lots of time for rambling and photos. I’ll post more on that as the trip progresses. The tour is over on the 2nd of May and I hope to stay over in Dublin for a few more days as I’ve been advised that it’s worth the visit.

I’ll be flying from Dublin to Aberdeen, Scotland and taking the overnight ferry to Lerwick in Shetland. I’ve got accommodations’ booked in Scalloway and I’m hoping to spend 4 days there then off to Kirkwall in Orkney for another 4 days. After experiencing a bit of North Atlantic weather, I’ll head back to Aberdeen by ferry and take the train to Edinburgh. I’m not sure whether I’ll spend any time in Edinburgh as I do have plans to head south to visit my cousins, Colin and Moira, who live in Clovenfords, which is not far from Galashiels in the Borders Region.

After Scotland I’m heading by train to London for at least 4 days. I’ve got a room booked at the Victory Services Club and I’ve got a list of neighbourhoods I want to visit and photograph. If I can find another fun thing to search for in London, like the Deep Level Air Raid Shelters, I’ll do that as well.

The trip will eventually end in Dorking in the Surrey Hills where Cat, Neil, Carrot and Millie live. The latter two are new additions…meow and bark in that order.

Keep an eye on this blog for more rambling, photography and the occasional wee dram of Irish whiskey and single malts.

Wish me luck.

Ken