Who else see the leprechaun say yeah!

That's right. Click that title. You're gonna laugh. I couldn't help it. It was too easy.

I know it is Christmas, not St. Patrick's Day. But we were in Ireland this past weekend.

It was beautiful, even if it was raining. And while Ireland appears to be a small island, if you want to drive from east to west, double that driving time because there isn't an I-20 in Ireland. More like narrow winding roads. With sheep crossing randomly. With a red-headed shepherd. I kid you not. (I was this close to getting out to ask to pet a sheep. If only there had been a safe place to pull off the narrow, winding road.)

We met up with Stewart from Wake and the guys played Royal County Down. It was a links course so it looks nothing like what we were used to. It was also freezing. Again, not something we are used to. Wiley and I headed in after hole 5 to warm soup, coffee, and hot chocolate. We camped out in the lounge/dining room for a few hours, and Billy who worked there couldn't have been any nicer. I think Royal County Down is a kinda big deal in the golf world, but the people working there are so down to earth and nice. Maybe it was because noone in their right mind travels to Ireland to play golf in December and we were the only ones there. Either way, if you are going to Ireland, check this place out!

Then we drove forever to Galway. In the dark. It was a long day. Did I mention we flew into Dublin that morning at 7:30 ish. Oh, and we left our flat at 4:30 a.m. Yeah. Coffee. and a lot of it. Sweet Wil was driving too! On the wrong side of the road! I was so proud, and amazingly enough not too scared. I think I get more nervous when he drives at home than when he drove in Ireland.

Galway was good. We drove from there to see the Cliffs of Moher. Beautiful. Freezing. Raining. Windy beyond belief. Stroller almost took off a couple of times.

The drive back was so pretty and along the coast...

we found this pretty castle/ruin. I guess you don't see these along I-20. After another night in Galway and celebrating the Tide's victory (via laptop), we headed to Dublin in the morning. We actually saw sun along the way. It almost blinded us. I started peeling off clothes, hoping to sunbathe through the windows. I'm kidding. But I did feel like an animal coming out of hibernation and seeing the sun again. "Whoa, sun. That is too bright. What? There is a thin cloud in front of you and you are still too bright? Agh. Been in London too long!" Really. It was hazy, winter sun. You would have thought it was reflecting of white beaches on the Gulf with how bright it felt. Regardless, I was so thankful to have a clear, sunny day.

Yeah, pretty sure that was the perfect ending to a whole lot of driving, cold weather, and such. Did you notice that Wiley's head is on his chest? Yep, he had too much Guinness. We had to cut him off. I kid. This was before the tour. You should have seen him after it. I kid again. He was exhausted from riding in the car, I suppose. And those Guinness people. They are serious about their beer. I asked for a pale Guinness. I thought they were going to kill me. I kid again. I asked Wil about that, and he said they might hurt me if I asked them that. I actually didn't mind my pint of Guinness at the end of learning about Brew Masters, yeast, barley, water, and hops. Mmmm. Hops. (And Puck, I thought about you the entire time.)

So that was Ireland. Nice people. Pretty scenery. Thick Beer. Lots of sheep. And no leprechauns. They are all in Crichton, Alabama.

Where da gold at?!