Anonymous asked: Hello! I'd like to know where you found this bicycle trip? I will be studying abroad in Europe for a year and would like to do this next summer before coming back to the states.
Thanks!

Hi! Thanks for your question! We made this trip up ourselves! We decided on a start and end point and adjusted our route to see certain sites. If you read back to my earlier posts, I try to show how you can make up your own trip depending on how many days you have or how many miles a day you want to ride, that sort of thing. Honestly, we winged it. I am trying to post our trip day by day and I will try and site the name of roads and towns as best I can, incase someone would like to follow where we went on the trip. If you have any more questions feel free to ask! Cheers! - Bailey

On our way out of Dublin we crossed though Phoenix Park. It is a gigantic park on the North East side of Dublin, and it is a great place to bike through. There are huge fields if you wanted to stop and hang out on the grass or play Frisbee!

 Cyclists in Phoenix Park. Courtsey of google!

After getting severely lost in the neighborhoods adjoining this lovely park we finally found our way Eastward  on R109 more commonly known as the Lower Road.  It follows a river so it is very scenic. We then went through Lucan and Leixlip and then got onto the R 148 which was also a very nice biking road with small towns along the way and places to rest and eat. It was about 7 pm when we pulled into Kilcock. We stopped in and had a Guinness and a burger at a small riverside cafe. There were people playing kayak water polo in the river, it was so fun to watch! It was starting to get cold and a little dark, and there were not very many accommodation options in Kilcock. We had no idea what was ahead of us but we did know that there was a very comfy looking cow field about a mile back. So we hopped on the bikes, jumped a fence, set up the tent and said good night. I thougt that I was not going to be able to sleep well because I was nervous about people bothering us or a curious cow, but you can sleep through just about anything when you spend the whole day biking. Make sure that when you are picking a place to camp, it is well hidden from the road view and if it is possible to get permission from the owner of the land that is the best option. However late at night when you are tired sometimes it is easiest to ask for forgiveness than permission! : )

A word about wild camping. I am a firm believe that what goes around comes around, this being said every time we camped on someone’s land, we did so with the upmost respect for their property. We never left any trace that we were there i.e. no garbage and we left early in the morning and came in late at night. Sometimes you meet a very nice woman and she invites you into her garden to sleep ( Germany) and other times you are truly in the wild in some forest somewhere ( Switzerland) but whatever the case have respect for other cyclists that may be coming along behind you and don’t give us a bad name! I am forever grateful to the people who let us camp on their land, and if given the opportunity I hope I can be as gracious and kind as they were to a complete stranger.

Anonymous asked: Hey there!
I like what you've done, and I'm looking to get a little support with what I'll be doing. I'm biking cross America this summer, and any help/support from someone who has experience with the art is greatly appreciated.
If you visit my site www.interpopulus.com, you'll be able to learn more details for where in the proces I am right now

Loved your site! Those are great goals! Our friend kurt biked across the US before going on our Europe trip and he really liked it. Good luck!:)

Anonymous asked: What happened to your trip? I'm planning something similar in May after I graduate from university.

I am so sorry it took me so long to write back! I have been a little distracted with life! I am hoping to get back writing frequently. The trip went well and it was so much fun. .We are back in seattle now and I would love to answer any questions you have about touring or cycling in europe!

cheers!

Bailey

Anonymous asked: Hey
I just started reading your account of your trip and am wondering if you will be finishing? I am thinking about doing a similar trip and am finding your trip to be a great read!
It would be great to see it finished but totally understand if you have no time as I'm sure it takes quite a bit of time to write.

Yes we finished! I am so sorry it has taken me so loong to write back!! We are back in Seattle now, and I am just trying to find the time to write between work and school! Where are you thinking about going? Europe was amazing!

We woke up at the Avondale Guest House and had a delicious breakfast of eggs, toast, sausage, and beans. The Irish don’t kid about having a hearty breakfast. Then we loaded up our panniers, checked out, and began to explore the city by bike.

One of the first places that we found was the Dublin Castle. Sumbled upon it really. The parking lot was packed so we just road our bikes up to the front door. There were police, television cameras, reporters and people in very expensive looking suits walking around. We found another onlooker and asked him what was going on. ” The head of the UN is coming to visit Dublin Castle today.” ” Oh my gosh, when?” I ask. ” In about 5 minutes,” he says. “What is he coming here for?” “Not sure, probably just wants to have a pint!” He chuckles. These Irish and their Pints. Sure enough in five minutes a fleet of police officers on motorcycles and in cars comes pouring into the fortress enclosed entrance to the castle. One of the cars, black and very expensive looking, pulls directly in front of the castle door. An armed man in a black suit with an earpiece steps out and opens the car door. Cameras are flashing, news cameras swarm in, apparently this guy is a pretty big deal. I am slightly ashamed I couldn’t tell you the 2009 UN staff, being the silly American that I am, I still don’t know who we saw that day.

After all the hullabaloo at the castle we left, to explore a bit more.  We found St. Stephens green, a park with peaceful walking paths, beautiful flower gardens, and lovers kissing on the benches. I absolutely loved the architecture of Dublin. The narrow three story tall houses with wrought iron fences. Every house had a unique door. So colorful and some of them had the door handle in the middle of the door. I just loved it! I started taking pictures of the doors, and since I lost my pictures google will have to fill in.

We found the Guinness Factory, after a bit of riding.  I would probably take a tour if we go again. We didn’t want to leave our bikes and everything we need for the trip tied up outside a beer factory. :)

After seeing the Guinness factory we decided it was time to head out of town! This sounds easier than it is. Our main goal was to ride across the island and get to Galway by my birthday which was on the 9th, it was the 7th. 

Here is a map of our route out of Dublin. We got lost so many times. Between the rain and the wrong turns I almost threw in the towel right there. But I am so glad I didn’t. Next post will be Day Four Part II and our first wild camping experience in Kilcock, Ireland!