The Last Entry

Friday August 31, 2007 With most of the tasks required after such a long journey being handled, I was finally able to find some comfortable time to sit down and make my closing remarks. It seemed like it was just yesterday when I had departed Washington for this great adventure, but it had been three months since that big day.

While checking in to my flight at Baltimore Washington International airport, the airline representative informed me that my larger suitcase came in at 66 pounds, which was 16 pounds over the limit. Since I was a premier customer with Aer Lingus, they did not weigh my bags but it seemed that US Airways put a limit on all of its passengers.

As I paid my overweight fee, it did not seem to make sense to me as the bag was packed with the items with which I came, and all the items acquired during the vacation was packed in the second bag. Could it be I had a stowaway? Did the wee men decide to return to the states with me? Who knows, it was too late to do anything about it now with departure time close at hand, and it seemed futile at best.

The flight was uneventful but long with me arriving into SeaTac at 10:18pm. By the time I got my luggage, caught a ride with the airport shuttle and got home it was well passed 1am. It made me glad that I had an intermediate stop in Baltimore for a few days to begin the adjustment from jet lag. With only a three hour adjustment to be made now, it seemed I would not be far from getting back to normal. Had I flown direct from Ireland to Washington it would have been an eight hour adjustment, which would find me falling asleep mid day and waking up bright eyed in the middle of the night.

Having had a few days to rest and get my issues in order, I came up with the following numbers regarding my 83 day excursion to Ireland. It reminded me why I was so tired and in need of a vacation.

Attractions visited: 75

Distance driven: 15162 Kilometers

Fuel used: 909 liters

Driving an average of 183 kilometers a day on Irish roads, it was amazing I still had my sanity. Of course, maybe I didn't and just thought it was still there. Perhaps the bloody Leprechauns had it. What ever the case, I was home and the trip was over sanity or no.

Sitting in front of my computer while composing this entry, I occasionally glanced over at my pot of golden coins. It seemed that along with this journal, it would help me relive my days of dashing through the Irish countryside and remember the things I learned during my Ireland trip.

With the prospect of starting a new career and a fresh beginning in the workplace on the horizon, it gave me a satisfied feeling to know that I have had the trip of a lifetime and one few people will ever have a chance to undertake. My future trips will not be nearly as extensive but with the knowledge I have now, it will make those short trips much more interesting and my time better spent.

Bringing this journal to a close, it had been an underlying motive for me to be able to share my experiences so as to make your short trips as interesting as possible, so you don’t have to waste your time learning the painful lessons I did. In essence, you will have gained wisdom from my experiences, having taken the time to read along and follow me on my adventure in Ireland. As a good ole Gaelic blessing states, “May the roads rise to meet you. May the wind be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rain fall soft upon your fields. And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

Slan go foill!