Breakfast

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Since I was the nominated driver, I had stopped drinking early – but still felt pretty wrecked – probably from all the planking I did the night before.

Nice drive up to Dingle up Conor pass. 

Dingle was a bit desolate and not as nice as I remembered it – everything was shut and we wondered around an hour or so before finding a spot for tea.

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After a bacon bap and a shower John headed us along the coast from Westport and then we cut in through some stunning countryside, passed lots of wild rhubarb.

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We started a the day with jaunt up the North coast.  I suggested a detour passed Torr head – that was not too popular – burning brakes and general moaning.

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Like all professional sports teams, the top beer rally team understand the importance of preparation.  Race preparation for an international motoring event, such as the scally rally, involves four key areas:

• Scrutineering to ensure driver and spectator safety
• Decoration so the car not only looks good but satisfies sponsors' advertising requirements
• Mechanical preparation for maximum performance and reliability
• Logistics so driver, navigator and mechanic have everything they require for the arduous journey

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On paper this should be no contest.  Germany’s engineering excellence and manufacturing efficiency takes on a  bucket of rust designed on the back of a fag paper and built from leftover bits by a bunch of inept Trotskyites from Birmingham.

But paper can also be used in the toilet.

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John and I started the day with a hangover and let Martin do the driving.  More...

Day 2 was definitely the best, hardest and scariest day.  Here are some more pictures and clips.  See also Rocky Mountain High.

Here’s how we do it – heating on full – later discovered cowling was stopping fan from turning – keeps the engine temperature down, roar of engine and up we go.

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I’ve been chastised for not filling in the rest of the Journey – but I wasn’t sure how much roaming data I had left and then Holidays kicked in and I wouldn’t have been too popular blogging on my family holiday.  So here’s some more of Friday.

After cruising down the German Autobahn as already blogged in "Two Dead Already” we cut back into France travelling towards Strasburg and then Bern along the French ‘A’ roads.  A nice drive through beautiful countryside.  We crossed into Switzerland where I very polite man tried to charge us €35 for use of motorways until we told him we weren’t going to use them.

We then got lost firstly in Bern and then in Switzerland in general.  For a country that’s supposed to be civilised they have worse road signage then even Ireland.  All the roads seem to have the same number.  Martin got hungry (and so ratty) and the rain poured down flooding the road and me through our leaking roof.

Eventually we got on the motorway (no paying) for the last 20 miles or so to Thun where we checked in, drank beer and relaxed.  Some people arrived much later.  Hat’s off the the South African car who refused to pay the toll and then just drove all the way on the Motorway.

Endearing image of the day has to be the the iron lady boys as Maggie

Day one car park Lille the cars got together.  Ours was pretty pants compared to some.

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