D-Day has arrived!

Finally the day of the trip has arrived. After 9 months planning and many many zoom calls on a Saturday night we will be starting our adventure later this morning. However we are lucky to be going at all.

Two weeks ago one of the gang was tested positive for Corona Virus even having been fully vaccinated. I have had a horrible virus in my respiratory tract and this has led to horrible dizzy spells. I was put on antibiotics a few weeks back but that did nothing as it wasn't a material infection. The dizzy spells just kept getting worse. I damaged my left ear years ago while scuba diving and it has never been right since. Anyway getting tinnitus is bad enough but vertigo on top of it is terrible.

Two days ago I paid another visit to VHI and it seems I have a viral infection in my upper sinus and ears. I have all types of drops and tablets to take and while they are starting to work I'm still a little concerned about the 4,500 km trip on my motorbike. Dizzy spells and motorbikes don't go well together.

Anyway, Klas the Swedish Chef, living in Edinburgh ,is now making he way across the Irish Sea too Belfast. I have arranged to meet him at Junction 11 on the M50 and we will head down to Cork on a nice route along the N81 towards Carlow visiting Baltinglass, Ballon, Gowran, Thomastown and on towards Clonmel avoiding the motorway and taking in the scenery along the way. From Clonmel we head over the famous R671 and join the road to Dungarvin. We then head towards Youghal and on towards East Cork where we join up with the East Cork brigade.

Ivan has arranged to cook us a fabulous feast and to mark the occasion I am bringing down two nice bottles of Chateau Talbot from Saint Julien on the famous left bank in Bordeaux, to wash down the dinner. We will be visiting the magnificent vineyards of the left bank on Monday afternoon as we make our way towards Bordeaux where we will decamp for our second evening of this wonderful trip.

So why not enjoy some of the wares from the left bank, so we have something to compare against when we get there to sample their merchandise.

Anyway back to work and I'll send an update later.