THE END !!!

THE FINAL DAY ... IRISH ODYSSEY ... AUGUST 11 2012...

Finally - the last day of a fantastic trip.  Leaving Cabra Castle - and Oscar - we boarded our bus for the final destination of our trip - Dublin, where it all started.

We arrived mid-morning, and had lunch. At 1 p.m. Nancy and I were being picked up by a driver and car to take us to Ferns Ireland, the area from which Nancy's family emigrated.

Our driver - Derek McKeown. 
What a fun day - he was right in the middle of whatever we were doing. 

On our way to Ferns (about 60 miles) we did a couple of detours to see things on the way.  Then Ferns.  We saw the Ferns Cathedral ruins,

the very old Ferns Church and cemetery, and the partial ruins of Ferns Castle. 

 At Ferns Castle they were preparing for a celebration the next day, so they decided to practice some of their dancing with us as spectators.  What fun!

This last picture was taken with our Bus Driver- Bob Reed.  He was a fantastic driver, tour guide, and, by the end of the trip, friend.

What an exciting day, especially for Nancy.  A life-long dream had come true.  We spent the remainder of the day at Ferns, arriving back in Dublin for our final meal before leaving early next morning for  the airport and the flight home.  And what an amazing time we had.

It took a while to finish the tale of our trip, but there you have it.  Would I do it again?  In a minute.  

My travel plans for the remainder of the year have been changed / cancelled.  But there is next year.  Always look ahead.  The past is past.  You can't always do what you had planned, but you can continue planning and dreaming, and hoping.  You never know what awesome adventures lay waiting for you.  You take one day at a time, and never stop dreaming. 

Enjoy your weekend and God Bless.