An Irish Hitchhiking Event...

Japandamo

Hi guys,

In the process of organising a week-long hitchhiking event with friends around Ireland in June (based on the Discovering Ireland boardgame) where participants will receive a list of random Irish destinations and proceed to hitchhike to each one.

Just looking for some towns or villages that should be included as we'll try to get off the beaten track a bit. The only stipulation is that there'll need to be a road to it.

Your help and suggestions will be hugely appreciated. No points received for telling me to get the bus

Oh, and if you're interested in taking part, that's cool too!

FatherLen

i once hitchhiked. I was walking from naas to punchestown and it was really hot so i put a thumb out as a laugh and someone actually stopped. i was shocked but so was he when i called my six mates over and we all piled into his car.

frozenfrozen

germany

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

In before the Larry Murphy and cheapskate hippie referenecs!

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Japandamo wrote: »

Hi guys,

In the process of organising a week-long hitchhiking event with friends around Ireland in June (based on the Discovering Ireland boardgame) where participants will receive a list of random Irish destinations and proceed to hitchhike to each one.

Just looking for some towns or villages that should be included as we'll try to get off the beaten track a bit. The only stipulation is that there'll need to be a road to it.

Your help and suggestions will be hugely appreciated. No points received for telling me to get the bus

Oh, and if you're interested in taking part, that's cool too!

That makes it tricky

Seriously, though, you have to have Muff on the list.

Mr.Fred

Keel strand, Achill Island, Beautiful spot and a camp site aswell. I'd have to put that on my list.

AnonoBoy

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

In before the Larry Murphy and cheapskate hippie referenecs!

But Larry Murphy wasn't a cheapskate hippie?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

AnonoBoy wrote: »

But Larry Murphy wasn't a cheapskate hippie?

Oh, was he not now?!

Merkin

AnonoBoy wrote: »

But Larry Murphy wasn't a cheapskate hippie?

A cheapskate sickie maybe?

wexie

Try getting to Roundstone

Lovely spot for an afternoon if you're not driving

laoch na mona

wexie wrote: »

Try getting to Roundstone

Lovely spot for an afternoon if you're not driving

Rouund stone?

Cloch na Rón níos fearr

Japandamo

Hey, thanks a million for your comments and suggestions.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

That makes it tricky

Seriously, though, you have to have Muff on the list.

Ha, don't know how it had escaped the list up to now - amended, thanks.

Mr.Fred wrote: »

Keel strand, Achill Island, Beautiful spot and a camp site aswell. I'd have to put that on my list.

Nice, thanks Mr.Fred.

wexie wrote: »

Try getting to Roundstone

Lovely spot for an afternoon if you're not driving

Also perfect, thank you.

Keep them coming, cheers. Any suggestions for the east and midlands will be hugely helpful as I seem to have had a tendency to favour the west coast when I was coming up with ideas.

PhoenixParker

I can't help but think the most challenging places would be in and around Dublin.
Maybe three or four places, that would force you to hitchhike within the M50?
Pretty much any few suburbs would do, and what's appropriate will depend on where you have around Wicklow/Kildare etc.

Guill

A race from Malin to Mizen.

wexie

Japandamo wrote: »

Hi guys,

In the process of organising a week-long hitchhiking event with friends around Ireland in June (based on the Discovering Ireland boardgame) where participants will receive a list of random Irish destinations and proceed to hitchhike to each one.

Just looking for some towns or villages that should be included as we'll try to get off the beaten track a bit. The only stipulation is that there'll need to be a road to it.

Your help and suggestions will be hugely appreciated. No points received for telling me to get the bus

Oh, and if you're interested in taking part, that's cool too!

Will you guys be in some way identifiable as friendly-upforfun-boardsfrequenting hitchhikers as opposed to your garden variety knife-wielding-maniac hitchhiker?

Might help getting lifts off boardsies, possibly rides as well

Japandamo

PhoenixParker wrote: »

I can't help but think the most challenging places would be in and around Dublin.
Maybe three or four places, that would force you to hitchhike within the M50?
Pretty much any few suburbs would do, and what's appropriate will depend on where you have around Wicklow/Kildare etc.

Hmm, was considering avoiding the Dublin City, and the M50, in the interests of safety (and legality). But the Wicklow/Kildare areas, and possibly the suburbs. The only thing about suburbs and cities is that they are easy enough to get into, but can be bloody difficult to get out of.

wexie wrote: »

Will you guys be in some way identifiable as friendly-upforfun-boardsfrequenting hitchhikers as opposed to your garden variety knife-wielding-maniac hitchhiker?

Might help getting lifts off boardsies, possibly rides as well

Hmm, apart from trying to look as friendly, upforfun and boardsfrequenting-y as possible...

Hadn't thought about it, but I will now.

Would garden variety hitchers not be more likely to wield a hatchet?

CardBordWindow

Granny Castle, South Kilkenny. It's right beside the river, and there's a pub across the road. Ideal location!

laoch na mona

the rock of dunamaise

Japandamo

Guill wrote: »

A race from Malin to Mizen.

Definitely a fantastic idea for another event, but the wheels are already in motion for this random destination one. Thanks.

CardBordWindow wrote: »

Granny Castle, South Kilkenny. It's right beside the river, and there's a pub across the road. Ideal location!

Very nice indeed, thank you.

laoch na mona wrote: »

the rock of dunamaise

Wow, hadn't got anything for Laois - that's perfect thank you

rolliepoley

Japandamo wrote: »

Hey, thanks a million for your comments and suggestions.



Ha, don't know how it had escaped the list up to now - amended, thanks.



Nice, thanks Mr.Fred.



Also perfect, thank you.

Keep them coming, cheers. Any suggestions for the east and midlands will be hugely helpful as I seem to have had a tendency to favour the west coast when I was coming up with ideas.

carlingford lough its a beautiful place.

WAPAIC

Glendalough

Ficheall

Do you want more people involved?

And how does one insure that your hitchhikers aren't hacked up into little pieces and then murdered?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Ficheall wrote: »

Do you want more people involved?

And how does one insure that your hitchhikers aren't hacked up into little pieces and then murdered?

By the same way most people aren't hacked up into little peices and then murdered? (Although biologically, I'd imagine this happens the other way around!)

Japandamo

Ficheall wrote: »

Do you want more people involved?

And how does one insure that your hitchhikers aren't hacked up into little pieces and then murdered?

Hi Ficheall,

Sure, the more the merrier, if you're interested.

The plan is to meet up at the very start of the event and partner up (being in pairs reducing the risk of murder and other unpleasantness) - or people will come with their own ready-made HH buddy - and draw our destinations. The following morning we'll set out on the road, and then we'll regroup the following week to exchange experiences.

It's the kind of thing that could even be done with only two people, as once we set out on the road there'll be very little contact between participants = but the more there are the better the pre- and after-party will be!

At the moment we have about 15 people interested though...which is pretty good!

Course if anyone just wants to join us for the party at the end we'll be finishing up in Bundoran for Sea Sessions!

bacon n eggs

poison glen in Donegal also known as Dunlewey, Glengesh in Ardara in Donegal, Knockalla Drive in Donegal, Bloody Foreland in Donegal, Fanad head or Malin head Donegal, Dunfanaghy Donegal. ...Sorry I couldn't chose, google them and you decide.

bacon n eggs

Was gonna put down tullen strand bundorn and sea sessions too. Just leave out rest of country and spend it in Donegal.

bacon n eggs

What if you are paired with a murderer.

Japandamo

bacon n eggs wrote: »

What if you are paired with a murderer.

Hmm...then I guess you've beaten the system. Congratulations.

Thanks for all of those, I've Googled them and they all look great. I'll choose a couple of them and then have the others in as bonus locations if people finish early.

Japandamo

Oh, and Google Maps tells me that Knockalla drive is a housing estate...but I guess it's also a road in the vicinity of Knockalla mountain...

ScumLord

Japandamo wrote: »

The only stipulation is that there'll need to be a road to it.

that's my town out.

bacon n eggs wrote: »

What if you are paired with a murderer.

I thought that was the point of the game. It's not hitchhiking without a few murders.

bacon n eggs

knockalla is a stunning cliftop drive stunning, good luck with it all.

bacon n eggs

thought that was the point of the game. It's not hitchhiking without a few murders

Oh I almost want to go now lol

Dammit OP, I was planning on starting a boards inspired destination thread in the not too distant future. You got there before me!

Is ok, you can buy me a beer in the Twisted Pepper when you get to Sea Sessions, to show you are sorry about it

G'luck on your travels!

Japandamo

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

Dammit OP, I was planning on starting a boards inspired destination thread in the not too distant future. You got there before me!

Is ok, you can buy me a beer in the Twisted Pepper when you get to Sea Sessions, to show you are sorry about it

G'luck on your travels!

Ha, I'm sorry, but come on, it's nearly June - how long more were you going to leave it

Twisted Pepper - got it, you're on. You might need to give me a lift there if you see me struggling at the side of the road on the way into Bundoran on the Friday - in which case there might even be a second beer in it for you...

You will have to wear a distinctive outfit or I may mistake you for a nutjob thumbing. Wear a boards.ie t-shirt, least I will know you're a thumbing boardsie nutjob and will take the risk :pac:

Ficheall

When in June are you planning on doing this?

Japandamo

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

You will have to wear a distinctive outfit or I may mistake you for a nutjob thumbing. Wear a boards.ie t-shirt, least I will know you're a thumbing boardsie nutjob and will take the risk :pac:

Sorted, I have engraved 'Boards.ie' into my hockey mask AND chainsaw, but I will see about getting my hands on a t-shirt as well

Ficheall wrote: »

When in June are you planning on doing this?

June 14-21 (then 21-23 at Sea Sessions) How does that grab you?

Red Kev

If you are heading west try getting to Hillstreet in north Co. Roscommon, tiny crossroads village, very little traffic in or out and loads of small roads going there and back. Or try hitching over Kilronan mountain via Arigna village, very isolated (but very beautiful as well).

stoneill

Carlingford

Coutinho 10

Be careful if your going through Charlestown! If you take the wrong turn you could end up in Knock!

Back in the late 90s I used to live on Achill Island and that is a great place to Hitch too and from. Did it many times with a surfboard always made it there in time leaving from Cork and Dublin. I used to race hitch around to Countryand the last person there got the drinks bill whenever they arrived

Japandamo

Red Kev wrote: »

If you are heading west try getting to Hillstreet in north Co. Roscommon, tiny crossroads village, very little traffic in or out and loads of small roads going there and back. Or try hitching over Kilronan mountain via Arigna village, very isolated (but very beautiful as well).

Thanks for that, I've very little for Roscommon so far, so that's great.

Coutinho 10 wrote: »

Be careful if your going through Charlestown! If you take the wrong turn you could end up in Knock!

Back in the late 90s I used to live on Achill Island and that is a great place to Hitch too and from. Did it many times with a surfboard always made it there in time leaving from Cork and Dublin. I used to race hitch around to Countryand the last person there got the drinks bill whenever they arrived

Thanks for the tip, I'll watch my step

Those are some impressive HH credentials. How do you fancy flexing the thumbs again and hitting the road with us next month??

Japandamo

Ficheall wrote: »

When in June are you planning on doing this?

A bit more information for you, if it helps - the plan is to meet in Tramore on Friday, June 14, where we'll all draw our destinations, and then hit out on Saturday morning, to regroup on Friday the 21st in Bundoran. Then party.

And, in my case, apologetic beers for Strawberry Milkshake.

Coutinho 10

Japandamo wrote: »

Thanks for the tip, I'll watch my step

Those are some impressive HH credentials. How do you fancy flexing the thumbs again and hitting the road with us next month??

Next month I will be in Spain walking the Camino de Santiago. I'll be doing my best trying not to stick my thumb out as I walk.

Best of luck with the event and you will have a blast doing it thats for sure. Some amazing and strange people pick up hitchers and those can make some great stories.

Yakult

Rathkeale is lovely this time of year

Annasopra

Japandamo wrote: »

A bit more information for you, if it helps - the plan is to meet in Tramore on Friday, June 14, where we'll all draw our destinations, and then hit out on Saturday morning, to regroup on Friday the 21st in Bundoran. Then party.

And, in my case, apologetic beers for Strawberry Milkshake.

Would love to do this but just can't get the time off work

Japandamo

Coutinho 10 wrote: »

Next month I will be in Spain walking the Camino de Santiago. I'll be doing my best trying not to stick my thumb out as I walk.

Best of luck with the event and you will have a blast doing it thats for sure. Some amazing and strange people pick up hitchers and those can make some great stories.

Wow, good luck with that. It's funny, two years ago I'd never heard of the Camino de Santiago and now you're the fourth or fifth person to mention it (although most of them have said they'll do it...sometime - so well done). I find taping your thumbs down works best for keeping them in - but it makes peeling a banana difficult.

Yakult wrote: »

Rathkeale is lovely this time of year

Is it really? Or are you taking the piss? I only ask because I saw a documentary some time last year...

No offense Rathkeale-ites.

mango salsa wrote: »

Would love to do this but just can't get the time off work

Aw, shame, but sure join us in Bundoran if you're not working the weekend!

Ficheall

I'm interested, but wary of being landed with a psychotic or dull travelling partner...
I've asked a couple of people to come with me, but they declined for much the same reason.

Japandamo

Ficheall wrote: »

I'm interested, but wary of being landed with a psychotic or dull travelling partner...
I've asked a couple of people to come with me, but they declined for much the same reason.

I can understand your concern, but one option would be to come with your own ready made HH partner, someone you know not to be dull or psychotic. Otherwise, there will be people coming to Tramore buddyless, who will hope to find a travel partner when we meet up on the Friday - so hopefully you'd be able to find someone you get on with. Choosing of partners is left up to the individuals involved, we're not going to be pairing you up.

And just to allay your fears a bit more, I don't think this event is something that dull people would undertake, and a psychotic hitchhiking partner...would be far too much of a cliché to actually be likely to happen.

Japandamo

Also, the event is being organised through the Couchsurfing website. Most of the info is here but I think you need to be registered with CS to read it

Ficheall

Ficheall wrote: »

Do you want more people involved?

And how does one insure that your hitchhikers aren't hacked up into little pieces and then murdered?

I think the inevitable has happened. OP should be on the roads at this stage and we haven't heard from him.

Feck it anyway, he was meant to buy me a beer this Friday

Japandamo

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

I think the inevitable has happened. OP should be on the roads at this stage and we haven't heard from him.

Feck it anyway, he was meant to buy me a beer this Friday

Well hello!

I'm alright, I don't cut up so easy. Your pint is still on the cards.

Having a really good time with it, loads of ground covered and the people that have stopped have all been super sound, no exceptions. People aren't so bad. In Cootehill in Cavan at the moment, hitched up from Banagher this morning, so covered good ground. Tomorrow is Donegal day. I can't wait!

If anyone is interested I'm keeping a blog (trying to anyway). Are you allowed post things like that here?

Oh, also, I set the Twisted Pepper as the finishing point for the event, so, Milkshake, if you're there you'll see me.

Thanks again to everyone for all your help.

Here's a pic of the distribution of the destinations, each team is a different colour (although we ran out of colours so I'm the yellow with the X).