Hi all. We're just back from our first trip to Shanogue. You could say it's a bit awkward talkin about Shanogue, what with Ally being the main man and all, but let me assure you I write what I feel - I don't do fiction.
Fair play to Ally who met us at the site on a cold, dark November night when, to be perfectly honest, any sensible individuals would be at home watching Emmerdale. You know the saying, "There's wiser eatin grass!'' and that was us. We were delighted to find any amount of room to park up, and that most wonderful of directions, 'Go where you like.'
Apart from sussing out Shanogue our main aim was to cycle the next day to Oxford Island by the National Cycle Network Route 94. The morning start was in freezing cold, soaking mist which quickly turned to rain before we hit the shore of Lough Neagh. Intermittent wettings and dryings remained the theme for the whole journey, making it bone chilling but very beautiful down the east shore of the Lough.
The return journey through Crumlin saw us finishing in fog and low, winter light and the sturdy gate at the entrance to Shanogue CL was a very, very happy site. Peeling off the wet gear is always a delight but the Shanogue showers were the highlight of the trip. Nothing can lift the spirits like loads of properly hot water....... and the icing on the cake - a bloody great heater in the shower room that comes on like a mediterranean sun. This, for the winter cyclist, is paradise. I make no apology for saying it.
Sitting in the warmth of the van afterwards, I got to thinking about what we, as motorhomers, want from the sites on which we rock up. Like - what do we really need? What's really important? And for me (sorry, us) it's a safe place to park for the night, a hook up if possible, waste disposal and decent shower and toilets. Yeah we can survive with a lot less but these simple things make it so much more enjoyable.
We're so happy to have discovered Shanogue and we commend it's simple, friendly comforts to all.
Ray
Fair play to Ally who met us at the site on a cold, dark November night when, to be perfectly honest, any sensible individuals would be at home watching Emmerdale. You know the saying, "There's wiser eatin grass!'' and that was us. We were delighted to find any amount of room to park up, and that most wonderful of directions, 'Go where you like.'
Apart from sussing out Shanogue our main aim was to cycle the next day to Oxford Island by the National Cycle Network Route 94. The morning start was in freezing cold, soaking mist which quickly turned to rain before we hit the shore of Lough Neagh. Intermittent wettings and dryings remained the theme for the whole journey, making it bone chilling but very beautiful down the east shore of the Lough.
The return journey through Crumlin saw us finishing in fog and low, winter light and the sturdy gate at the entrance to Shanogue CL was a very, very happy site. Peeling off the wet gear is always a delight but the Shanogue showers were the highlight of the trip. Nothing can lift the spirits like loads of properly hot water....... and the icing on the cake - a bloody great heater in the shower room that comes on like a mediterranean sun. This, for the winter cyclist, is paradise. I make no apology for saying it.
Sitting in the warmth of the van afterwards, I got to thinking about what we, as motorhomers, want from the sites on which we rock up. Like - what do we really need? What's really important? And for me (sorry, us) it's a safe place to park for the night, a hook up if possible, waste disposal and decent shower and toilets. Yeah we can survive with a lot less but these simple things make it so much more enjoyable.
We're so happy to have discovered Shanogue and we commend it's simple, friendly comforts to all.
Ray
