No, Merlene, it looks like we won't be crossing paths. We arrive on the 17th and won't be in NI until the 21st, when you will be winging out of Dublin.

We'll be staying at the Bervie on the 18th and 19th so leave it in good order!

I plan to keep going back as long as the health and the pocketbook hold out, but I only have about 9 years of "free" driving so after 70 I guess I'll turn it over to the kids/grandkids. If I didn't have so many family members to guide around, I would love to be your Travel Buddy. My non-traveling husband keeps the home fires burning and we are happy to see each other when I come home.

My sisters and I did the Green Blur last time so this time we are concentrating North. We wrote down the things we wanted to see and many of them were north of Shannon so that decision was made. I think I could go live there and not see everything I want to. And if I weren't so fond of my husband, I would try it.

Certain family members would quality, although there are more that I would miss! None of the grandkids are negotiable!

I will certainly put you on the list of Possible Traveling Buddies. (now I sound like Khalil in the Veggie Tales movie Jonah!) When I mentioned this trip on the church secretary website you wouldn't believe how many people want to go along. Oh, you probably would. I'm astounded at how many people say they want to do something like this but don't. In 1989 my eldest daughter and I started saving $5 per week in a special account and in five years had enough for our first trip. And the rest is history.

Yeah, Michele, you lead the charge and I'll be right there behind you. I certainly hope to be driving for a long time yet; the day they take away my keys will be one of the worst of my life.

That said, I'm not sure how competent I am today, much less ten years from now! Oh, you meant as a driver! Well, that's another story.

I have told people, "just pick a time and we'll go" and they start crawfishing so maybe going to Ireland with me isn't all that great an idea!! So far I've got my sisters, kids and grandkids fooled.

Merle & Dude,

Sounds like you may have found future travel partners!

Michele