Wed, 02 Jul 2003

author Tim	location Slane, Meath, Ireland
posted 19:52 BST	section Europe2002/Europe/Ireland/Ireland 2 ( all photos )

Louth and Meath ( 1 photo )
(Continued from the Northern Ireland section)
We only had one go at it this time, but we still managed to miss the border itself. No signs at all that we saw, only the switch back to Republic-style signs, markings, and the steady degredation in road quality.
We bumped our way south through Dundalk the joined a motorway (our first in Ireland, somehow not up to the British standards, but since everyone drives at 60mph instead of 90mph it doesn't matter too much anyway) heading towards Drogheda.
Here, we attempted to enter the town Information Centre, only to note that there was not any parking areas we would fit in. Cars would fit in one part (well, very short ones), and the rest was taken up by the bus station, which was attached to the Information Centre.
Unphased, we parked in a bus stop and Liz ran in to ask for the nearest caravan park (our guides didn't really show any in this area), while I awaited military action. Then I remebered that, since we had crossed the border, everybody was too busy having a good time somewhere else to worry about it, and I relaxed.
After a while of explaining what she wanted to the phased staff, Liz and I were directed to where I currently write from - fifteen kilometres down the road at the Slane Farm Hostel. This pleasant little place is just what it says on the box - a working farm which also contains a hostel, and allows camping in the basic but nice back field.
There is a big world map at reception where you can put a sticky-star on your place of origin - there were already plenty from Sydney so we didn't bother. Interesting to note how far and wide people are from.
We are parked in some form of holidaying pecking-order here. We arrived first, parked wherever it suited us and unpacked to relax for the afternoon. A little while later, a massive motorhome of the needs-its-own-postcode variety pulled up to one side of us (this perplexes us - we have more than we need in this little one, not sure what more two people could need), followed soon after by two cyclists on the other side who have pitched their tent. There's plenty of ways to see the world, we're happy being somewhere in the middle. Some of the weather this country has pitched at us certainly isn't cycling weather.

author Tim	location Slane, Meath, Ireland
posted 18:14 BST	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/Northern Ireland ( all photos )

Towards the South ( 1 photo )
This morning was an un-surprisingly slow affair, with some reading, a bit of breakfast organised, and much apathy. We kicked the soccer ball around for a while, tiring ourselves out before loading up Rosie for another day.
There was not too much pointed out to us of interest in the area between Belfast and the border with the Republic, and we were running low on fuel, so we drove on south through Newry, before seeking out much cheaper fuel back in the Republic of Ireland.

(customised)