The journey from Belfast to Dublin is pretty straightforward - all main highways once you've got onto them. The Belfast end of it was simple enough. Google must have been in good humour when the day started. It got rather twisted about having nothing more to do and decided to get up to its old tricks.
We had been chatting about where we might stop for lunch and Drogheda was mentioned. It would depend on where we were on the route when hunger struck. It was raining but not seriously. As we approached the turnoff to Drogheda, Google gave the order to take the next exit. But the M1 was bringing us happily towards Dublin. I ignored the first command. But she persisted as we approached the next exit. So, figuring there might be construction ahead, we exited where Google told us.
Boy was that a mistake. We ended up on a tiny back road and when we finally came to a signpost, it said that Drogheda was 12 km behind us. But we'd never even been there. There was no indication of how to get to a highway. After a short time, we found a lady enjoying a late morning walk and she was able to direct us back on track using N2, not M1 where we should have stayed. The route Google first chose for us must have been about 20 metres shorter and then even the 'directional dictator' got muddled.
It was annoying but we have seen some lovely back roads that we could never find again.
Eventually, we arrived at our hotel. Google is very good in cities. Dublin is not without its challenges when it comes to traffic circulation. I knew generally where we were heading and all was well until we came to Findlater Lane where the Academy Plaza is located. It's 2-way, very narrow, had cars parked along one side, with another car parked at the front door of the hotel on the other side, making it impossible for any vehicle to get past. Those folks did move after a while.
I pulled to the side after a truck had left and parked the car while Judi went inside for further instructions. As it happens, the lane ends just past the hotel entrance. I would have to do about a 25-point turn to go back up this lane to find the parking garage. Luck was with me. One of the trucks moved and I was able to drive into an entrance to something, backed up and turned, hoping against hope that no car would choose that moment to enter the lane and drive towards me. More good luck. We only had to wait for the LUAS (train/tram/surface rail) to pass on Parnell St and we exited the lane.
Entering the parking garage was another joyful experience. Our car is small and when I opened the window to take a ticket it was asking for a contactless card - but we didn't know what kind. Our hotel room key card didn't work. We still had no ticket. We had left our purses, with our credit cards, in the hotel room when we dropped off the suitcases. Judi went back to the hotel. I was blocking the entrance to the parking garage and the gate had closed behind me. Ta-da. After a few minutes, I looked high up on the post with the various buttons and slots and saw "Press here for ticket" so I opened the car door, reached way up and pressed. Voila. A ticket and the barrier opened ahead of me. I was in and drove on to find a spot. After the first turn, I found myself almost at the exit. I'd missed the turn to the next parking level. I pulled into a space for a hybrid vehicle and an SUV pulled up behind me - having done exactly what I did.
A parking attendant materialized (where was he when Judi was still in the car?) and pointed out the turn we'd both missed. Oddly to go up to more parking I had to use the right lane and the left one was for exiting. Confused?? yep. In every other place, you drive on the left but this one was on the right of the two ramps.
Anyway, I found a spot and Judi found me. We returned to the hotel, got the ticket validated for a reduced parking rate and went for a walk down O'Connell Street. It was a lovely evening as the rain had finally stopped - after we'd done the luggage and parking things in the rain. When we did leave the garage the next morning we didn't get the reduced rate. Arrrggghhh. €35 - usurious. Then because we'd taken too long to leave after paying for parking we had to pay an additional €3.30 to get out. We'd forgotten the bag of goodies to drop off in Ashford and Judi went back to our room to retrieve it.
Yesterday was the day to return our little car to its rightful owner in Carnew. Google did its best to get us out of Dublin and onto the highway. It just took a while. There were a few "turn right and then immediately left" turns that I was unable to make - being in the wrong lane. After driving around a few blocks we were finally on the right road.
From that point on it was smooth sailing. We stopped in Ashford for a farewell to Mary and Oliver and dropped off the food we could no longer use as we have no fridge or anything to cook on or heat food up. The drive to Shillelagh was lovely, golf clubs were collected, car was filled up with petrol and returned to Kathy. We had a nice visit with Kathy before Ann drove us to the train in Gorey.
Lugging the golf bag up the metal stairs, across a bridge above the tracks, and down another set of stairs to track level was a little challenge. Once aboard, a helpful gentleman put the clubs up on an overhead rack. The ride was very smooth, partly along the coast where the waves were pounding. Rain and wind around Bray were awful but it had settled into drizzle when we got off at Tara St station. No taxis anywhere. We ended up walking. back to the hotel with me dragging the golf bag. I discovered that the handle one holds for this purpose is singularly uncomfortable on the hands. But we managed.
When I woke up this morning my back was more than usually stiff. Judi went off for her hop-on hop-off bus trip and I gradually got moving. It's time to tidy the bags and decide if I'll walk all the way to EPIC Ireland or not. My Achilles tendons and calf muscles are still quite painful as they've been throughout the journey. I will go for a short walk soon to find some lunch.
Tomorrow we'll visit Kilmainham Gaol, Christ Church Cathedral and Dublinia.
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