Slán, Gaillimh

The last few days have been goodbye after goodbye. Some of them have been nonemotional, and some difficult, without pattern, and for a bit I thought I was actually fine about leaving; said the trip had been incredible and people were important to me but I was ready to move on, then the last big night found myself having to leave the table at the Ròisin Dubh to hide the tears in my eyes, under the guise of getting another pint.

Emeline picked me up from the Salmon Weir yesterday at 1:00 and I left with hugs, waves and handshakes, and we drove to Shannon airport, where we'd pick up her sister, then head down to the Dingle Peninsula for the night. It was nice to be ending my trip with her, who was such a big part of its beginning. She would leave me in Dingle the next day, where I'd be on my own for a few more days, to head up to Dublin and fly back to the States on Tuesday. As luck would have it, our arrival at Shannon found her sister's flight from France cancelled completely, due to weather in Paris. All her weekend plans ruined, and not wanting to make the long drive from Dingle to Galway by herself the next day, Emeline decided she would head back that night. We had coffee and talked for an hour or two, then she left me at the bus station in Limerick and returned to Galway.

I bussed to Killarney last night, and planned on cycling the Ring of Kerry today and tomorrow, but, hearing heavy rain at the window upon waking this morning, I flipped the alarm clock off and rolled over, saying "screw it" to my plans. It's still raining and dreary now, and I'll see what ideas the tourist office has for me.

Dashed hopes.