Amazon Editorial Review:

Having decided to explore Ireland by bicycle, Eric and Wanda Newby set out one December - not the best time to ride a bike around the highways and by-ways of the Emerald Isle, even when protected by thermal underwear. From the Cliffs of Moher to St Brigid's Vat, Dublin, the Aran Islands, the Ring of Kerry and Croagh Patrick, their rain-soaked journey is beset by minor disasters ranging from ferocious storms to even more ferocious dogs. Along the way they come across a moving, miracle-working statue of the Virgin, spectacular ruins and the traces of twentieth-century violence, in between stops for Guinness, tea and soda bread. Woven into the narrative is a wealth of information about Irish history and custom - hermits, horse-fairs, peat-cutting and poetry are all touched on in this deft and dazzling blend of myth, fact and quirky details. And, as usual with Eric Newby, this beguiling account is enlivened by a cast of eccentric and utterly engaging characters.

Edit April 8th: Claimed by Annimanni at the Pay It Forward Book Relay (EU), hosted by ApoloniaX

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Now on its way to Annimanni (claimed from the Pay it Forward Book Relay (EU)).

Hope you'll enjoy it :)

The book's now in Finland, thanks!

I just didn't manage to finish this (very disappointed with myself ;P). I just didn't find it engaging enough. Too much boring detail and too little personal, human encounters to my liking. Oh well, that's life :D

Next off to Chania as per request!

Thanks, looks interesting! One day I will make a big tour around Britain and Ireland (not by bike, though..) and this will be nice book to read while waiting for that!

Well, well, well.. I have to admit that this was pretty boring! Too much local history, too detailed. Perhaps, if I had seen some of the sights myself, I might have found this more interesting, but as I've never been in Ireland, this was just too much. I did finish it though because I needed letter N for the alphabet challenge in Finnish forum.

Kirjakolle postitse!

I've always preferred travelling in Britain to travelling in Ireland, as the natives are less drunk in the GB and the weather is even worse on the Emerald Isle. There are, however, some really beautiful spots in Ireland and as my dogs come there originally, I feel somewhat obliged to know the place better. And would like to find some more beauty spots, so hopefully this book will be of use. Thanks!

As my TBR shelf is rather full I lent this to my old friend Elisabeth, 73, who used to be the heart and soul of the English Paperback dept. of the Academic Bookstore. She hasn't read this one, but had a good story related to it.
"A small man came to the Academic Bookstore and asked if we have Eric Newby's books. I started to warm up as I love his books and told him that he is ever so lucky, we have two books that are out of print from the publisher. I told him what the books were about and some highlights of them and was so carried away he never got a word in. When I finished he smiled and said: 'That was nice to hear. I'm Eric Newby.' He was a bit tipsy having met the Inturist people to discuss the possibility to do a book of the Transsiberian Railway which he later on did, a thick book without ever getting out of the train (as was customary at that time in the Soviet)."
I had just packed a few books with me, thinking Elisabeth might enjoy them, but this one obviously was a jackpot. Will journal her thoughts later on, as E. goes nowhere near a computer.

Elisabeth was a bit dissappointed with the book. She has liked Newby's other books and as described, has even had the priviledge of even meeting Mr Newby in person, but this was a book she could not recommend. No man in his right mind starts off cycling around Ireland in December. It was pouring rain every day and all through the book and Mr Newby also dragged poor Mrs Newby along. The book is VERY slowand nothing much happens. There is also a difference when you tell that you went to see this and that and actually describing what you saw. The book lacked somewhat of the latter.

Newby is back and will have to wait for his turn. I guess I'll have to be in low gear, too, when reading this.