11th – 16th May

A visit to Northern Ireland on the R1200 GS Adventure in search of sightings and photographs of the Cryptic Wood White (I’d rescheduled this trip due to poor weather).

The trip involved a ride up to Liverpool and an overnight stay, followed by a ferry crossing to Belfast. From there, I headed to Portadown for three nights, to visit the Craigavon Lakes site, a known hotspot for the target species. I spent a day and a half at the site, and was able to capture some pleasing images.

Whilst in the area, I also took the opportunity to have two rides and explorations including forays into the republic, visiting Lough Neagh at the Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, then Armagh, Monaghan, Clones, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen and Dungannon, and on the final day, a ride through Armagh then Kady, Castlebleyney, Lough Egish, Crossmaglen, Dundalk, Carlingford, Newry, the Mourne Mountains, and Newcastle before Belfast for an overnight stay, followed by the ferry crossing back to Liverpool and the long ride south to home. On the sea crossings, I had good amounts of time to work on writings, planning and various admin.

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