Today was transfer day from Dublin south west to Tralee. We had pre-purchased tickets on the 10.15am big green Dublin Coach. As we usually do, we arrived half an hour early and at the bus stop was a green Dublin Coach with ‘Tralee’ blazing in lights at the front. It was just about to leave but the driver saw us and opened up the doors. We showed him our tickets and he told us to quickly jump on while he stowed our bags. The bus was pretty full and we could only sit together by being in the back row.

We drove south for about 2 hours and came to Limerick. Here the driver started calling out instructions and people started to get off. We couldn’t hear (or understand him anyway) so Barb went up front to say we are going to Tralee. He then informed us we were on the wrong bus! He was going to Killarney.

He said however this was okay as the Tralee bus followed largely the same route and he would drop us off where the routes diverged. So we drove for another hour until we reached the small village of Abbeyfeale which had a bus shelter but not much else. He said wait here and the Tralee bus should be along in about 20 minutes. As he left he appologised for having Tralee on his sign instead of Killarney.

After 30 minutes we were getting nervous and wondering about a taxi to Tralee when a beautiful big green coach came down the road. The driver was a very young black guy with super cool sun glasses and a very non-regulation uniform cap. He asked us if we were the couple who had got on the wrong bus. He was polite enough not to say ‘old’ couple, or ‘odd’ couple. He had been told about us and was looking out at every stop along the route.

No further dramas and we arrived in Tralee on the correct bus that had left at 10.15. The moral of this story? Never, ever, get to the bus stop early. Well maybe just a minute.

We are now in our first B & B in Ireland. The very cosy and comfortable Willows and our hosts are Tim and Mary. There are four guest rooms. It is a 2 storey + attic Georgian townhouse beautifully over decorated with period stuff. One of those places where you stand in the middle of the room with your arms tight at your sides, too scared to move in case you knock something over and break it. The wifi is good so it’s all okay.

Had a delicious meal off the Grand Hotel bar menu and we are quite relaxed now after a slightly tense day.  Tomorrow we have a ‘rest’ day here in Tralee before starting walking on Sunday. It was a beautiful sunny day all the way to Tralee but when we went out to dinner this evening it had started to, you know what, rain. Forecast for tomorrow is good though.