Day 30 - Lahinch to Dublin

 Day 30 - Lahinch to Dublin

Lahinch Beach this morning

I don't usually see the beach this early,  but I was up at the crack of dawn as I knew I had to be on the road,  and also  Marie was calling in with the kids on the way to work and school to pick up my electric  blanket.  I have given it to her either for her own use or for someone who might need it.  Best €50 I spent this holiday!!

We said our fond farewells, then I walked down the Prom to the beach for the last time 😢😢 It was just beautiful this morning.  It was a different light again as the sun was barely hitting the water.  I grabbed a coffee  from The Coffee Hatch and took it with me on my walk.  I stopped a lot and just looked and tried to imprint it all on my brain. 

Finally I had to return home and finish off the packing.  I stopped at the Church on the way through.  Said thanks to St Anthony again. 

My two candles!

Lahinch Church

So I went inside and finished everything off and was just loading my big suitcase into the boot when it thumped don on my hand and there was a bit of blood around! And of course I didn't have any band aids. So I had to walk down the street and I got some at the Daybreak shop. I asked the lady if she would mind putting it on for me cos I'm useless with my left hand. She said she wasn't supposed to, but she did do it for me. Bless her!

After that little drama I was ready for the road. Went down the main street and then through Ennistymon and Ennis, then took the Galway road, because when I came in I took the Limerick road. As my friend Carm says, "You can't be boring Moira and do the same thing twice!!"

Now there's one thing you need to know if you're travelling on the main roads in Ireland... there are no toilets actually on the road. You have to go into the towns. After my very big coffee from Coffee Hatch, I was feeling the need after about an hour or so, and I saw the turn off to Athenry... which was actually on my list of places to visit!. Don't know if you've heard the song "The fields of Athenry", but its one of the best known songs in Ireland.

After using the loo I thought I should buy something in the shop, and I asked the lady if there were any actual fields of Athenry, and she more or less said No. But she pointed me in the direction of the Abbey ruins. So I took a pic of that!

Abbey ruins at Athenry

About another hour later, there was an actual service centre on the road, so I thought I would make use of their facilities there. But when I got inside, they had a big sign up that the loos were not open because of a water outage!

So I got in the car and the next services were not until another  69 kms....  😟

I was beginning to not trust anything on the road, so I found another village called Kinnegad and they had a big complex like a food hall and of course, lovely loos!!!! I had a chicken sandwich that was freshly made for me, and it was lovely. I'm sure the little villages are often better than these big commercial  buildings situated on the highway!

Anyway, after that I came straight through to Malahide to the Grand Hotel. It was a bit tricky at times following where the GPS was leading me, but eventually I got here safely. Thank you Jesus.

I booked in and took my stuff up to my room. I'm actually next door to where I was last time, but this time the room is much bigger. I think it's designed for people with a disability and maybe a wheelchair.

When I went into the bathroom, the first thing I looked at was the shower... Having gone through the process of learning about the shower last time, I was confident I could tackle this one...

But....

It's different again... have a look!!

Shower controls

Shower in my room

It seems that the front button is the temperature control, and so I was looking for the way to make the water come out!!! I think I've found it !!! Behind that front button is a  round thing that moves and I managed to make water come out!!! Woo hoo! Victory!!! The trick will be to make sure it all happens at the right temperature and pressure!!!

I had a cup of coffee in my room, then had to gird my loins for the last time in the car - as I had to return it to the car rental place at Perth airport.  It's not that far away, but I also had to fill the car with petrol. There's always a worry in these things!

I actually ended up taking the wrong turn near the airport, and was heading up the road to Belfast. But, strangely, I know that road a bit, as the road to Balbriggan exits from that road., and I stayed in Balbriggan last time before I left. Balbriggan is the home of my maternal Grandfather, so I always feel a special connection with that place. So I didn't mind the big detour, as I also knew where the petrol stations were and that was one less thing I had to worry about.

So eventually I made it back to the Rental Car place and caught their courtesy bus back to the airport, intending to just grab a taxi to bring me back to Malahide. But the young man who was driving that bus, told me you could catch a Number 1 or Number 2 bus to Malahide from the airport for €2.60. He explained to me about how to get a ticket in the coffee shop and pointed out where the bus left from. So I thought  I would give it a try. I bought my ticket and then went to the stop and waited, and waited and waited,,,  The I decided to Google it and it seems that the bus take nearly an hour to  get there once you actually get on it.

Stuff that!!! I walked straight back to the taxi rank and got a taxi back, and it was so much easier!!!

Then I had one more thing to do..

That bloody toll on the N4.... I had to make sure I had paid it by 8.00 pm tomorrow night, but at least I knew how to do it now. So I had to walk back down the  street to the shops and find one with a Payzone. I did it without too much trouble, but it's such a pain!!!

After all that, I think I deserved this....

My last Smithwicks!

So it was a bit of a tiring day, with lots of bits and pieces happening.  But at least I'm safe and sound in Dublin, and the car is safely returned. And tomorrow I fly out at 2.20 pm

It's been such a lovely holiday, but I know it's time to come home now. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to have this time in Ireland and feel those family connections again.