My trip from Dingle to Doolin was filled with some fabulous opportunities to chat with really great people. Beginning with getting a push at the top of Conor Pass and learning about the hunting practices of ocean birds at Brandon Head, the day proved to be full of promise! I left Brandon Head and continued along the coast to Tarbert to catch the ferry across the River Shannon. The sun was shining, my spirits were light and I hadn’t a care in the world! I even had time to stop at a roadside antique store along the way.

Although there was no way I could make even a small purchase at the quaint little antique shop (motorbikes are tricky that way!), I did have a lovely chat with the shop keeper. Her husband is a biker too so she certainly understood my passion for riding. She asked about my route and I shared that I was looking to catch the ferry and head up to the Cliffs of Moher and then on to Doolin. “Oh! My dear you should really get on the road because that ferry only runs until 6:00 in the evening!”

Sigh.

Again.

I hop back on my bike and zip off toward the ferry. By my calculations, and Gretta weighing in, I should have about 30 minutes to spare before the last ferry pushes off. However, my planning has been off a time or two before so no more stops for me! I’m quite enjoying the ride and didn’t even realize the soft bends ahead were leading me to the ferry terminal until I saw it.

The ferry pushed off and sailed away.

Without ME!

I was the only one at the terminal and it was now 6:00 pm. Yup…my timing was stelar. And way off. And now the last ferry just sailed off without me! Ok, no panic yet, but I’m getting closer.

Am I sleeping on the asphalt next to my bike tonight?
Is it going to rain?
Do I have any of that chocolate bar left in my pack?

Argh! How could this be possible? I walked up to the little terminal building. Locked.

Ack!
I’m starving!
I’m dying of thirst!
I have to pee! Like Hide and Go SEEK Pee!
I need a nap!

Oddly, however, I’m still waiting for panic to set in. Two weeks ago I’d have been beside myself with worry. Now? Not so much! I mean I’m not REALLY starving to DEATH! I’m peckish. I’m not REALLY dying of thirst…the water lapping against the wall isn’t helping, but technically I can go a day without water if I HAVE to. Not thrilled about the prospect of sleeping beside my bike, I wander down to the water to have a look while I eat the melty remnants of my left-over chocolate bar.

About 20 minutes go by and another vehicle pulls up. Wahoo! Either this someone knows the ferry schedule, or he/she/they have enough room for me to curl up in the back of their minivan if we’re all spending the night on the dock. Either way, things are looking up! We chat and it turns out they don’t know the schedule either, but they have kids so I KNOW they have food in there somewhere…

OK, it wasn’t such a big deal. The ferry arrived not long  after; just long enough for me to chat with a fellow traveler about photography and the endless opportunities for “The BEST shot EVer”. We all board and I hop off my bike to take a look around.

There’s a mini van with two very old folks looking at me completely without expression. Hmm. So with my big goofy grin pasted all over my face I give them a wave. They both grin back and wave too. I’ve just unpacked my camera so I saunter over to the van. The old fella behind the wheel rolls down his window and I say “Well hello there folks! How you doin’ today?!”

Then I realize that’s pretty much all I’ve got at that moment and they might very well be leery of me – strange biker that I am! So I follow-up with a story about not doing so well on inclines, just want to warn you I might stall on the way off the ferry!

Gad. What?

Oh well, that’s my opener so I’m running with it! Actually, maybe not so far from the truth with my luck!

Anyway, we have a fantastic little chat and we laughed and laughed. I wish I could remember what we talked about, but I CAN tell you they suggested I visit a town called Doolin. Well that was great news because that was exactly where I was headed! They assured me I would find some great music and fabulous food. As I‘ve done on several occasions, I told them that I have a little something that I’d like to share with them. Whenever I meet new friends, as I now considered them both to be, I share a little Canada flag pin. I asked if I could give one to the old fella and he happily accepted my little pin. Then I asked his wife if I could give one to her as well. She was thrilled and they immediately pinned them to their shirts.

I love, love, LOVE that every time I share my Canadian flag pin with a new friend they immediately put them on. I love that. It makes me feel like they’ll remember me when they see that little pin and think about the laughs we shared.

So I said good-bye and headed up to the top of the ferry to take a look around and maybe get some of those great shots I’m always looking for. I hadn’t been up there long when a fella joined me and asked if I’d seen any whales or dolphins yet. Whaaaaa???? Super cool! Of course I abandoned my attempts at photos and looked not to the sea, but to the sky – after all, I am now armed with sure-fire signs of dolphins!

We were skunked that trip. No whales. No dolphins. No sea birds. But I HAD made three new friends, not to mention my Brandon Head pals earlier in the day. After watching my fellow whale seeker/new found friend pin his Canadian flag to his hat, it was time to return to vehicles as the ferry dock grew on the horizon.

As I pulled off the ferry I noticed in my mirror the old fella was waiting for me to get well on my way before he put his van in gear and followed me off the ferry.

I LOVE Ireland!