More Irish Road Haircuts

In August of 2011, I bore witness to a sight I don't think has ever been seen in California, and one that possibly does not exist in most all of the other 49 states in the union. A hydraulic cutting device, specially outfitted to a tractor was at the side of the road, trimming the overflowing foliage.  There is so much vegetation exploding out of everywhere over here, that they have to cut it back to keep it from blocking the road.

However, from what I saw today,  it also looks like they have to keep the hedges from growing too tall so people can see over them too.........

Irish Rail vs Palo Alto Rail

Back home in Palo Alto, a rail line built during Abraham Lincoln's presidency regularly disrupts the life of the car driving public. There, they have to wait at crossings for as long as, God forbid,  two minutes at times. Well,  the Irish seem to  have even more patience.

 In the sequence of pictures above, in rural Ireland, warnings are given repeatedly on roads that deliberately zig and zag for the last 200 yards before they reach  a train crossing. On those "busier" country roads, where there is a barrier that gets lowered, the wait time is an automatic five minutes!! Ugh.......

Attack of the Irish Ponies

I wanted to get a better photo of these friendly ponies with my also low down recumbent. BUT

They started chewing on my seat!

Irish Recumbent Sunset

On the other side of the ridges you see, ten miles off in the distance, is the Atlantic Ocean.

Suitable for Framing....

Juliano Power Accordion in Ireland

Often, when I ride through the busy town of Castlebar, I see a young man I have come to know as Juliano, busily playing away. Nor have I seen it be the case where people take the time to stop and listen. Seems out here in the west of Ireland, the Irish people tend to keep to themselves.

Because Juliano cannot afford the transportation to play in the bigger cities of Dublin or Galway, tho he is always well received there when he can make the journey, he plays for a sporadic few small tips 5 to 7 days a week here in this tiny town of 10,000 people. 

Wow, such an amazing talent. I can't wait till some TV talent show discovers him. From Romania, he's only 23. Do sit back an enjoy the next 2 mins., 41 seconds!!

82 yo Irish Farmer Joe!

 A couple of days ago I was out riding when a herd of cows blocked my way. As I waited I began taking with the very humble man in charge when I had the presence of mind, with his permission, to switch on my recorder. Listen to a man who at 13 in 1942, ran a 30-acre farm when his dad died of a heart attack 

Today (10/24/13), a year and one-month later, I saw Joe again. This time I was on the Eagle 

and I got to meet his beautiful wife, Kathleen!

Dublin Airport - Bike Friendliest??

Had a chance to visit the Dublin Airport yesterday. 

Bike lanes and signs directing one to the bike parking facilities were everywhere. 

There are even Bike Lanes right up to the hotel entrances!!

In terms of bike friendliness, this looks like an air facility that ranks at the top for bicycle access. I know Portland and Chicago are both excellent in this regard. However, I could not find a list that compares the world's airports. Is there such  a thing?