I keep joking that I’m probably more proud of the Wicklow Ambassador certificate and badge than my Leaving Cert.
Over the Summer of 2022, Andrey took his bike and cycled around 300 km to collect all the 23 stamps on the Wicklow Passport. A few months later, we’ve caught up with him to get his feedback on such an adventure!
How did you hear about the Wicklow Passport?
It was actually on one of my earlier cycling trips. I wanted to cycle from Bray to Eagles Crag and just before I reached it I stopped for a coffee at the Armoury café in Glencree. There I saw a poster about the Wicklow Passport destinations. It reminded me of my home country’s similar stamp-collecting tourism passport.
What made you to take on the challenge?
Fun, really. I wanted a cheap holiday centered around me and my sporty hobby. Something physical that could liven me up a little bit from my office job. And it also seemed like the perfect opportunity to get to know the county in which I was living.
Was it difficult to plan the trip? How did you organise your itinerary?
Me living in Bray was probably the biggest advantage I had, because I didn’t have to stay over at any other place. The difficult part was doing all this within a week, because I had a single week off from work, after which I was back in college. Reaching the very far places required me taking trains and buses with my bike.
What is your best memory?
Perhaps my visit to the Avoca Handweavers Mill. I really like going to places with a lot of history, and Avoca was a perfect destination for a tourist like me.
What did you like least?
On my way back after a week of cycling I was really tired. When I was in Hollywood I crossed the road on my bike in front of a moving tourist van, which was dangerous and stupid of me. The driver was not happy, and that made me become more careful in general.
Any recommendations for anyone who wants to do a similar adventure?
Get a good bike and do it over the summer. Staying over in Bray is, in my opinion, the best way to do it. Bring a lunchbox with you every day and buy drinks at every place you’re visiting, you will be mad hungry and thirsty.
Anything you would do different?
If I could, I would have invested in an electric bike. Some hills were just terrible to climb. I would also have loved to stay longer in some places.
Overall, did you enjoy the challenge?
I loved it. It brought me out of the office and into the nature of Wicklow. I keep joking that I’m probably more proud of the Wicklow Ambassador certificate and badge than my Leaving Cert.
What’s your next adventure?
It will most likely be the Wicklow Way. I have had my eye on doing that for quite some time, and I have done parts of it already.
Check Andrey’s full itinerary at https://andreyyordanov00.wixsite.com/neon-hoodie-travel-b
