Ireland...and back (phew)

After 1,000 miles, an ignition key 'issue', one roadside repair and a trek back across Wales and England at 50mph or below, we were relieved to complete our epic journey to Southern Ireland. We started with a trek across the country in the afternoon in order to make the 2am ferry  - we felt very smug when we turned up at the port at 9pm, made a brew then put the bed down for a snooze before boarding!

Our first campsite was near Dungarvan, in a place called Clonea Bay. We got a spot overlooking the amazing beach.You don't mind 5am baby wake up calls so much when this is your uninterrupted view:

Good morning world!

Ireland's campsites were expensive, but each of them had good facilities and excellent playgrounds which was brill in the good weather; our bub loved the swings almost as much as his Dad did! The coastal roads were awesome to drive along - there were so many gorgeous bays and craggy scenes:

At Fountainstown, near Cork - prettiful!

From Dungarvan we visited rellies near Cork, then we took the mountain roads to take in the view at The Vee, then travelled down via Lismore to just outside Tramore.

Panoramic views at "The Vee"

We chose to stay near Tramore as one of the reasons we went to Ireland was to go to the Tall Ships in Waterford, which is only about 10mins away. Loads of my Irish family were over there for the same reason and one evening we descended on the Saratoga pub for an Irish fiddley-diddley-dee-sing-a-long-a - it was an absolutely cracking night!! 

We also wanted to visit my Mum's birthplace, Cheekpoint, which is a tiny fishing village.  It was great to go back (it's been aaaages since I've visited) and get the guided tour and family tree from Mum, who was over for a holiday too.  We called in on various relations and drank copious amounts of tea, and wandered round taking in the views. Despite the power station opposite the harbour, it is still an utterly beautiful place:

Don't you just want to live here? Gorgeousness

Of course no camper van trip would be complete without some technical 'issues' - the first of which was the key getting stuck in the ignition! There was no budging it so in order to switch the van on and off, we resorted to connecting (and disconnecting) the electrics:

Who needs keys?!

The next incident happened early on the morning we were travelling to the Ferry. We got as far as New Ross and after filling up with petrol, Husband realised the battery was totally flat. Here's his account of it:

"The night before the indicators were flashing really slow, but I just assumed the tick tock mechanism was going (again). In the morning the tik tock was slow again, and eventually failed, but then the radio cut out as well. I assumed a more general electrical fault, but we continued as the van was really low on petrol and the garage a few miles away. 

"As we entered New Ross the engine stuttered going up a small rise (I assumed petrol running out), so was taken by surprise when trying to re-start and the engine would only turn over once then died. Realised the battery was flat and all those eletrical faults and the stutter added up - it was about to run completely flat so it was a good job we made the petrol station to be able to buy some leads and re-start. But first, why is it flat?

"I went straight to the alternator and found the main +ve wire had come out of it's crimp connector. I re-crimped (a bit of a bodge as no new connector available) and got a jump off another bloke in the station. Started first time (by re-connecting the key cylinder electrics), and all as good as new. Luckily the bodge held together all the way home."

Sounds like a result, right? But then, nothing is ever that straightforward with Trevor, my friends....read on....

"The next problem was over heating. All the way home if we went up a small rise the temperature would rise dangerously high. Reduced to crawling at 40 up some hills on the M4 and Heads of the Valleys Road. Think it's just a clogged or worn out radiator. Not had a chance to check yet but I don't think it can be too much."

So, we made it home after a day of travelling from 6.30am to 8pm, stopping for regular baby feeding/changing/leg stretching needs. The Boy was so glad to get out of his car seat by the end of it, and delighted to see his cot (see here for our sleeping arrangements!).

With apparently not "too much" to sort out to get the van shipshape again, where next? 

Loving the ferry!