986

I have successfully driven 986 km around Ireland in three days. And there were no major incidents, I may have slightly banged up the passenger side mirror on a stone wall, but it was a biiiig truck on a small road. So I forgot how much I loved driving, maybe not Friday, but by Sunday. 

So we met our car Peat - as Amy and I called him nice and early on Friday. So early the sun still wasn't up, and oh yea it was kinda raining. So I'm driving and it isn't staying on the left side of the road that Amy needs to remind me about, nooo. Its - Erin, curb. Side of the road, ummm curb. CURB! I remember doing the same thing when I first started driving, being scared of hittin/being too close to oncoming traffic, that I would hug the side of the road. And well in Ireland the side of the road there isn't a shoulder, it is a stone wall, big ditch or nothing. So once it got light out, it got easier. Though throughout the day on Friday there was rain, snow, sleet, hail and wind.. and sun. So pretty much everything! 

Friday in the car was an adventure! So we managed to take the scenic route a few more times than planned. First we decided to head to the Cliffs of Moher, and I knew the road we wanted was outside Ennis. So we drove to Ennis (remember it is only 7am) and then I wasn't paying attention, so I went straight through and after about 15km, I was like SHIT, we should have turned, so we look at the map and see a road we could take that would bring us to the Cliffs so we get on it, until about 20 minutes later we realise we are on 18 again and headed towards Ennis. How? No idea... oh well. So we get to the Cliffs (and I'll write about the actual stuff later, this is all about my driving.) and from there decide well, lets go up to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey. So we plan out the roads... until I realise we are driving around the Burren a little too much, and wait a second, we don't want to be going towards Doolin or that other village, because we were already there... So we realise we have gone in a circle and must have made a wrong turn somewhere, so more map consulting and we get on our merry way up to Galway and then to almost Letterfrack. And while driving this I get more and more confortable, I'm actually starting to drive the speed limit in some places, Amy is reminding me less and less of the curb... and when Lady Gaga - Just Dance comes on the radio I slightly car dance. So after Kylemore Abbey we drive back down to Galway no problems.

Saturday after leaving Galway we head down to Killarney and I'm totally getting comfortable on the big roads, I'm even going a few over the speed limit! And apparently my Jersey driving skills come into action, giving a few hand gestures, yelling at cars and even more car dancing, plus later on that afternoon I also sat the way I always do when I drive at home, my one leg tucked up. So we did a bit of the Ring of Kerry and then back into town for the night. Sunday wasn't very exciting driving wise, just from Killarney to Blarney then back into Cork and the airport where were returned Peat. He was a fabulous rental car, we had a lot of fun together and once I got comfortable it was great. I only messed up twice on driving on the wrong side, (both times when turning left - I'm like Derek Zoolander, I can't turn left. Seriously.. ask me to park in a parking lot by making a left turn, its quite amusing...) but for the most part I didn't even need to think about that, it was keeping an eye on the passenger side and making sure I wasn't driving half off the road. 

So my Irish driving experience was quite good, and I had a fabulous time and we got to see some pretty awesome things. Oh... and we only pulled over/stopped in the middle of an empty road about a million times to take pictures... 

So here is my fabulous driving map.. its quite funny. 

So hope everyone had a fabulous weekend, my reader is slightly crazy, and I'll be thinking of questions over Monday/Tuesday at work, so if you want to be interviewed just ask! 

Oh and the new Bruce cd - AMAZING! I picked it up Friday night and we listened to it a few times in the car :) Still don't get why Ireland released it on Friday, but it isn't until Tuesday... but I'm not going to complain!