Flōra: Goddess of Spring

In Roman mythology Flora (or Flōra) was a goddess of flowers and Spring. She acted as a symbol for nature and her association with Springtime gave her a special significance at this time of year. Seems appropriate then that I took 'Flora the Explorer' out for a leg stretching exercise through the Kingdom of Mourne last Sunday. I hooked up with Heff and Flintock (from ABR - Adventure Bike Rider) early in the morning at a, it has to be said, non-decrypt Sprucefield. Even the normally dreary motorway run towards Lisburn was blissful with a lack of traffic, combined with the clear skies and the slowly rising sun. The Explorer felt taught and 'perky' as she is exceptionally responsive, the digital dash displaying all the information and more that I could possibly hope for. The drive-by-wire throttle takes some getting used to, as does the 135bhp 1200cc engine; I haven't had a shaft drive bike since Kivi gave me a classic 1978 BMW R80/7.

Taking the back roads from Lisburn, we made quick progress through the countryside, Flintock seemingly knowing every back road there! They were tarmaced single tracks, not wide enough for two vehicles, but as the sun warmed their surface, they yielded more and more grip, although my slightly squaring tyres caused the occasional 'banana' movement in the corners. At this point the scene was still green and lush, farms punctuating the roadside, but it wasn't long before the landscape began to undulate more severely, the peaks of the Mournes coming into hazy view. 

The countryside became more wild, with brown hues interspersed with purple heather pigments. Rocks protruded from the hills, giving a jaggy and almost harsh appearance, they appeared almost golden in the reflected sunlight. The roads stayed true to the land; rising, sweeping then falling - it was ecstasy. I carried out quite a lot of research for my next book - Hibernia: Journals from a Motorcycle (Volume I). The Mournes were called na Beanna Bóirche (the mountains of Bóirche) or more literally, the Horns of Bóirche. They were settled as a Kingdom in the 12th Century by a 'tribe' from Monaghan, the name historically spelt Morne which is derived from the name of a Gaelic sept called the Múghdhorna - descendants of Mughdorn, son of Colla Meann, brother of Colla Nais, King of Ireland (AD323 - 327). Rather poetically, they have been described thus: "The mountains form a mighty crescent, whose steadfast horns rest silently, here, stony and stern in the sombre firs of Newcastle, there, grassy and gracious in the green oaks of Rostrevor." (Moore, 1901).

We pulled into Newcastle for a coffee and scone, much needed refreshment and sustenance! We shot the breeze, talking about the previous ABR Rally and the next one, to be held close to the Sperrin Mountains in May of this year at Shepard's Rest. We were, though, soon back onto the bikes, itching to explore more of the Mournes, taking the B180 Bryansford Road that flanks the northern end of Tullymore Forest Park. Flintock took us past the old 'haunt' of Meelmore Lodge up what I think was the Fofanny Road to the Kilkeel Road past the shimmering and beautiful Spelga Dam. But time was short, the grind of daily life and chores an ever increasing reality; we had work to do round our respective houses and the 'passes' were for the morning only. So we turned north, towards Hilltown, Rathfriland and Katesbridge, pulling over at Corbet Lough off the A50 Castlewellan Road for a final breather. By this stage the heat from the sun had made standing still a little uncomfortable, it was time to head home.