From Killarney to Dun Laoghaire - Where Did All The Traffic Go?

Being always on time and never stressed about getting to ferries, planes and trains before they're due to leave (er-hem), we allowed 6.5 hours for the trip up and across Ireland to hit Dun Laoghaire in time for the ferry.  Given it took us just about 5 hours to drive the 180 miles South that seemed a reasonable buffer.  However, today the roads were empty across the Republic as a public holiday was in full swing.  Didn't seem to be public holiday weather though as the fabulous sunshine and clear skies allowed for spectacular views over very long distances.  Emerald Isle indeed.

We made fantastic time and having left the Rivermere at 06:30 we stopped for breakfast at just about 120 miles in at XL services.  Could've been the best £5 spent this weekend on full breakfast, toast and tea.  Great value.  Soon back on the N7 - M7 combination of rough narrow single carriageway winding through towns and villages becomes 3 lanes of empty motorway becomes wide smooth single carriageway and swings wildy between all three as the newly built motorway inches its way along the route.  This will be a very fast journey when (if) its all done from Dublin down to Limerick.

Everything is going well with the Scoob - master mechanic John's "temporary repair" is holding up fine (along with much reduced use of the clutch / gear change) and there's no sign of any further fluid leaks.  Great.

Back at Dun Laoghaire and we're very early for the ferry.  So we go for a long walk along the harbour wall, savouring the views and swapping sea related stories such as snorkelling in Turkey compared to Minorca, jelly fish stings, Seylor inflatable canoes etc.  Passes the time very pleasantly.  A couple of energetic dogs take a dip in the harbour -  we choose not to follow their example.

Very little evidence of rally traffic in the ferry queue.  One other Scoob (bug eye generation), but no indication of its relation to the rally or not.  No more clutch problems despite the manouvering on to the ferry and up the various ramps onto the 2nd floor car deck.