BIANCHI BICYCLES USA

Last night Sneaky made a few new hippie Phish-head friends and enjoyed a beer with them at our campground. These guys have been on the road since may following musical festivals.

We missed the turn we were supposed to take in Rockville and didn't realize it until we'd already made it all the way to Springdale (which is also a town the size of a postage stamp). We stopped to get gas, and asked the attendant if there were any camping stores or outdoor guide shops in the area, and he said he didn't know. We went about 50 feet down the road and found 3 (don't worry, we had to return to this station to buy ice, and Kyle made sure to call the guy out on that fact).

We walked into a store that sells and rents mountain bikes and met a very hyperactive and intense woman named Reggie, and we asked about someplace to camp. She looked at our map and started pointing us in the same direction of what we were looking for initially.

"We couldn't find the street when we went through Rockville."
"Oh, that's because the people in Rockville hate everyone. The street is Bridge Rd, but you'll never find it because they paint over it. Just look for the rust-colored house."

She made small talk with us about our trip and what our plans were for our brief stay in Zion, and we told her we scrounged up a guide to take us canyoneering in the morning.

"Oh? Who's your guide??"
"Joe"
"Frenchie?!"
"Uh, maybe. All we know about him is that his name is Joe and he drives a blue truck." (but like I said, turns out he drives an Integra)
"Yeah, that sounds like Frenchy! He's legend."
"We want a guide that will take us through stuff that will scare the crap out of us."
"Oh yeah, Frenchy will scare you. He's crazy."

Well all right then. We left the bike shop with all new directions (that we could follow) to a site where we could once again camp for free (with the Phish-heads), and are pretty pumped to meet the Zion legend Joe French in the morning.

An old carriage from the copper mines (Copper Coast) in Bunmahon,County Waterford.
The Copper Coast gets its name from the 19th century copper mines that lie at its heart. The road between Tramore and Dungarvan passes through six small villages and shows off glorious views of towering cliffs, sandy coves and caves, set against the back-drop of the Comeragh Mountains. The Copper Coast also boasts one of 17 designated Geoparks in Europe and is the only one in the Irish Republic.
The Copper Coast European Geopark runs from Fenor to Stradbally in County Waterford. It is one of 17 designated Geoparks in Europe and is the only one in the Republic.

It comprises of 25 kilometres of spectacular cliffs, rocky inlets of ancient shales baked and twisted by various underwater volcanic intrusions, intertwined with fossiliferous limestones and capped by red desert sandstones. The Copper Coast gets its name from the 19th century copper mines that lie at its heart.

Discover how earth forces have combined to create the Copper Coast and influenced the natural and cultural landscape. For an introduction visit the geo-garden in Bunmahon, or follow the self guided trail map.
The Cornish Engine House viewing platform at Tankardstown Bunmahon has breath taking views of the coast and the Comeragh Mountains.

Other Details: Guide service available to groups all year round.
For an introduction visit the geo-garden in Bunmahon, or follow the self guided trail map which may be followed by car or by bike and for the more energetic on foot.