April 28

2003/04/28 - Monday

• 12:29 am: in
• 8:07 am: up & waiting for the shower
• 9:26 am: Got breakfast at spar. Chuck recommended that when we just wanted something small and quick that we should go to the Spar as the food is made there and we can usually ask for sandwiches to be made while we wait. We did this several times and don't remember getting food we weren't happy with.
Now headed for Dublin via n7. day is cloudy and cool.
• 9:33 am: Soft green fields filled with sheep. Clouds climbing over the hills and hiding the hilltops. Pretty, pretty divided fields with houses thrown in here and there.
• 9:35 am: Passing Silvermines now. r499
• Steps for the waltz that Catherine showed me last night.
step forward slowly for 5 steps, turn around and do it again back to place.
turn away from each other forthree?
step forward and kick, step forward and kick, turn the lady, repeat
Waltz until the end of the measure
Repeat.
• 9:51 am: Toomvarra, passing the Jug of Punch pub and a garda on horseback.
• 9:52 am: out of Toomvarra
• 9:57 am: leaving Moneygall
• 10:02 am: just passed a sign that said "inane realignment" they think it's stupid too?
• Roscrea roundabout to Dublin
• 10:14 am: Boris n ossery
• 10:25 am: Mountrath
• 10:52 am: where?
• 11:43 am: We switched drivers about this time and Susan took over the note taking. approaching the M50 loop around Dublin. it's mizzling, and we really should buy wiper blades for this car. It's a gold Fiat Punto 5-speed, a tiny thing with minimal trunk space and no airbags, but it does seem to have a nice radio with a removable face plate. Pity it only has a gas pedal instead of an accelerator.
• 11:54 am: goody, an Irish toll booth. I wonder how far we get to drive on €1.30. The €2 coin given in change is interesting though - about quarter size with bronze inside and nickel outside, the reverse of the €1 coin.
• 11:58 am: Now we've passed the loop and are heading out on the N2 toward Newgrange. A sign showing a camera graphic with the number 60 seemed to suggest a scenic something worth photographing 60 meters ahead, but it more likely means the speed limit is 60mph, enforced by camera. Odd that they quote speeds in miles but distances in kilometres.
• 12:39 pm: arrived Newgrange car park. Good thing, because Michael was getting sleepy driving. (We had maybe 6 1/2 hours' sleep.) It's chilly but calm, overcast but not raining, and birds are chirping brightly.
• 12:50 pm: newgrange

• 1:06 pm: wandering the visitor center
• 1:43 pm: on bus to Newgrange. it's pretty & cold outside
• 1:52 pm: at ng, waiting for guide
• 1:59 pm: at the entrance, listening to guide, 5000yrs, tirty seven (tell emily) burial mounds, 200k tons of material mostly stone, wicklow quartz, 500 slate stones from 13km away

• 2:27 pm: tomb At this point we were actually inside this little tiny tomb. Unfortunately pictures aren't allowed.

•3:32 pm: Leaving Newgrange. In the interest of time we skippped Knowth and Dowth, but if we ever return we should try to see those. Dowth involves quite a hike and you can't go inside. Now off to the N2 hoping to find a Spar (gas station) and a bite of lunch. We're now pressed for time to get to the north.
• 5:06 pm: Monaghan

• 5:59 pm: Still wandering in Monaghan, taking vid of square.

• 6:43 pm: Called Bob at Whitepark, midnight is when he was planning on settling in and we should be able to make it well ahead of that.
• 7:57 pm: After getting a bit lost near Armagh, we're in Dungannon
• 8:12 pm: Cookstown. safeway & mcdonalds!
• 9:40 pm: In Portrush having dinner at the harbor bistro (recommended by Bob after we called him to let him know that we were in town). had brill (susan) & chicken curry (m)
• Got settled at midnight, lost first, great host. He was very friendly and genuinely didn't seem to mind that we were exceptionally late.
• We were headed away from Portrush and went down Whitepark lane. Unfortunately it was the wrong one and well before Ballintoy. We drove all the way to the end of the lane and back up a bit before calling Bob. He directed us closer to the town (past two petrol stations and a youth hostel). We ended up passing yet another Whitepark lane. How many does this town need?

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