Emma's husband drove us over the Pennines in a heavy fog…zero visibility to go to a Birthday Party in Bonsall. On the way we stopped at the Winston Market Bldg. It is a medieval market place that has been restored. Birthday party and session were fun. I slept in the car all the way home. Back over the Pennines to a friend of Emma's for a ceidlih in Sheffield. Met Yorkshire Yankee, MC Fat, Malcolm Douglas, Julie F and Mad Molly the English Sheepdog.
Then, over to Holyhead for the ferry to Dublin/Dun Laoghaire. This was fun. Ferry is quite fast, but we had time for a pint, a fag and a pic or two. I did NOT manage to fall into the Irish Sea. No opportunity. Kendall had planned to go to Ireland with us but needed to get home so Emma B and I went alone as foot passengers.
We did Dublin Center and a few pubs. Tart With Cart (Molly Malone), statue of James Joyce, the Needle, O'Connell St. Bridge, Ha'Penny Bridge and lots of used book stores. Never ever order pepperoni pizza in Dublin (maybe Ireland). What you get instead of pepperoni is just hot dog/wierners/frankfurters. We also did the Trinity Library (Book of Kells and the library gallery. Quick trip to Monkstown for an evening session that erinmaiden hots. Wow. Saw the General Post Office (1916) and Martel's Tower from the train. The emotional high point of the entire trip is probably the Execution Yard at Kilmainhaim Jail. I got the shivers standing there. You should all go there.

Next, we caught a bus up to Drogheda to see Newgrange. We weren't sure exactly where (at the bus station) the bus would stop so we asked a driver. He pointed at the sidewalk and said "Right here". A few minutes later a bus left from the lower parking lot—NOT "Right here!"   Yup, it was our bus. The nice man in the parcel window called and found out how much a taxi was out to Newgrange. Price wasn't bad so we took it. Newgrange is just fantastic. You can look at pictures on line, but that doesn't convey how it makes a person feel. All that incredible effort of those people to build it with what 'poor' tools they had. Makes me feel small in comparison. I managed to leave my shampoo in the hostel. Next, Emma B drove me up to a roundabout near Doncaster to meet Bassic. Next stop on your guided tour is Whitby and Hull.