A month of travel "across the pond"

[azfiddle]

So this is partly non-cycling and partly cycling... but the excitement is just bubbling over right now and I just wanted to share. In just 5 days my husband and I are leaving for about 4 weeks in the UK and Ireland.

We are flying to Dublin for just 2 days (no cycling planned, just music and sight-seeing). Then we'll take the ferry to Wales where my daughter and her boyfriend will pick us up. We'll spend a couple of days at her boyfriend's parent's house in Wales, a side-trip to Yorkshire to see my husband's family roots, then about 10 days in Cambridge with my daughter and her boyfriend.

We'll rent hybrids to get around in Cambridge, with a one-night overnight bike trip (maybe to Ely). We planned it to give everyone a break but then the kids said they had never been to Ely and so maybe we will all ride there and spend the night.
Many adventures are planned, including one day to London and I'll get to see the Tower of London, which I missed on my previous visit.

Then we'll fly back to Ireland for about 10 days of cycling / music adventures. Not a super hard core cycling trip- we planned the trip around music sessions in Clare, but we have one 90 km day and one that's about 50 or 60 km. I hope those days aren't too rainy. The tour company will transport our luggage and instruments for us.

I just have to survive the last 3 1/2 days of the school year. I'm not sure who is more excited for summer: kids or teachers.

[rebeccaC]

you're making me really want to make plans for a trip....hoping you have lots of wonderful moments.

When in Dublin and if you’re in the Cobblestone Pub in Smithfield listening to a spontaneous session of music and you’re talking to someone about your fiddle playing and they give you an irish fidil and say ‘please join in’…….have your husband video it with his phone and POST it here…..please :)

it's been a few years since i've been there but the Wicklow mountains NP (an hour or so south of Dublin) gave me lots of eye orgasms per mile....and seriously I went to the Cobblestone a lot when in Dublin back then and if it's even half as good now you'll hear some good trad music with like minded people.

have a great time!!!!!!!!

[Crankin]

It sounds like a really fun trip, AZ. I have found my best trips in Europe are not totally cycling oriented. Although I am not a musician, combining other activities with cycling seems to make travel really awesome. Hope you survive your last 3 days. I remember the feeling well. Still can't believe how much the school year in AZ has changed... it feels so early for school to be ending.

[azfiddle]

Thanks Rebecca- The Cobblestone is already on my radar. I was in Dublin in 2010 and went to a couple of sessions there. We won't have time to go outside of the city of Dublin, though I've heard the Wicklow Mountains are beautiful. I will try to post something. If not, send me a PM, pictures are probably public or I can add you as a friend.

Crankin, yeah, we finish early but my district is also weird in that we take a short summer, then go back in mid-July, take off 3 weeks in September/October, 2 for Christmas break and 2 more in March.