Shannon Wednesday

Anther free day. Our possible jaunt to Bunratty is shrugged off due to 40 degrees and 20-30 mph winds, plus alternating rain, sun, and sleet.

The hotel seems to be experiencing some HVAC issues. Monday night was warm to the point of insomnia. Tuesday and Wednesday are contrarywise chilly in the rooms. I think it’s a plot to discourage people from staying in their rooms, instead driving them out to the economic benefit of the hotel and environs.

A few tour members are coming in today, some to the airport. James has driven to Dublin to pick up two ladies who had planned to come over by bus, and were having a grand day in Dublin until one fell and broke her upper arm. James drove over, met them at hospital, saw them through xray and splinting procedures and pain meds, loaded them into the car and drove them back in time for late dinner.

Another couple visited the Cliffs of Moher yesterday, and on their retreat from rain and sleet, she slipped on the sleet, bruised a kneecap and rolled over onto her shoulder, wrenching that. Donnie shuttled her into the doctor and xrays. Never let it be said that the guys and their wives don’t see you through stuff.

As for us, we napped, read, had lunch, napped some more, gathered with the group, did drinks and introductions, and did our first dinner as a group, with welcomes and various housekeeping information.

One of the features of these tours is that everyone submits short biographies which are collected and distributed three weeks or so before a tour. Everyone reads up, connects names with faces on the first evening, and goes back to their respective hotel rooms and reviews. Repeat for however many repeats it takes. Paula’s personal goal is to meet, have a meal with, and learn everyone’s full name by the end of the tour, take pictures to plug into the submitted electronic bios, and enter names on a spreadsheet that she keeps of all our tours and all tour members.

Thursday we’ll have bags in the hall by 8:30 and bus departs at 9:30. A very humane schedule and, I gotta say, a regular feature of these tours.

Next up, 3 nights in Bantry with day trips, then 5 nights in Killarney with day trips. And whiskey and biscuits (digestives) on the bus.