Category Archives: Cycling

Stories about me and my bike, or something in that general area

Ben’s wee day out

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Wednesday, 13-August-2025



It was a hot August day, and I was going to get some adventure in whether the Universe wanted me to or not.

The plan had originally been to hike Ben Bulben – rent a car, traipse out to the West Coast of Ireland, and leverage the long summer days to get me all the sunlight that I’d need to summit, then return home.

Unfortunately, that plan got waylaid – My car rental app thing required a re-registration, and had cancelled itself on me. I submitted it, of course, but it’d be a 7-day+ waiting period to get it approved… and in the mean time, no cars for Ben.

Instead, I packed a lunch, some water and some coffee, and hopped on the bike to explore Phoenix Park. It wasn’t ideal, to be sure, since I couldn’t listen to music while cycling, and I couldn’t watch the Midlands flash by as I made my way to the West, but… you know what?

Sometimes, we iterate.

Sometimes, we do the best we can, regardless of what happens.

And sometimes, we get to photograph semi-domesticated deer populations in a massive in-city walled park.

A bike ride through Phoenix Park

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Thursday, 10-April-2025


What does one do when they need to escape the city of Dublin, but don’t quite have enough time to rent a car and actually escape? Or to take the 90min train ride out to Howth?

Well… if one is like me, and has a bike…

Then one can take a lovely afternoon bike ride through the largest enclosed public park in a European Capital!

Yep, lots of caveats to that “largest” marker… but you know what? It still makes for a very lovely bike ride. So I won’t complain.

A quick walk around Bushy Park, in Dublin

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Saturday, 14-Sept-2024

While I really loved the hike out in Glendalough, it was a bit far outside of town… since I don’t have a car here in Ireland, I’d need to rent something, or get a bus, and… man, it’s just a lot of work. I was missing the park near my apartment back in Wilsonville, and needed a replacement.

Bushy Park was perfect – I can’t quite walk to it, but it was a nice and easy bike ride… which makes it kind of special, you know? It’s got a river running through, some ruins scattered around… and seriously. Just look at the lighting through those trees.

There was even a farmers market! Granted, it didn’t have any veggies or other produce, but… great grilled cheese, and a cool book vendor whose shop I absolutely adores exploring.