Well, I’m sitting in my cosy B&;B in Kildare, with a glass of Chilean red wine, enjoying the comfort of this lovely little place! I drove from Mallow this morning, via Limerick, and stopped at some small towns and villages along the way. I drove back into Kildare village for an early dinner, as I did not want to be driving these lanes in the dark. My accommodation is close to the Irish National Stud and The Curragh Racecourse. It is called Eagle Hill Farm. Very well set up. Beautiful country.

The weather has been wet and cold these last few days. The outside temperature most of the day was 8degrees! Cold. But not unbearable. At present it is 6.30 and I’m seeing the first sunshine for a couple of days.

Kildare has a shopping outlet town…bit like Harbour Town, and I went there but it was a bit miserable in the wet!

Driving on the motorways here is very easy and efficient, with light to moderate traffic and not too many trucks. The small roads, lanes and tracks are quite another thing! Very challenging indeed, especially in the wet.

My car has to be back at Avis by midday, then it is off to the airport and bound for home via Heathrow and Singapore. I’ll be home Sunday morning. I have to admit,be time has not been long enough to really get into this country, so I’ll have to come back.

The pilgrimage was wonderful, and I feel quite spiritually refreshed, and the time away has given me some real insights that I hope will stay with me. I miss my family of course, and I’ve been challenged traveling alone! Bit scary at times.

The photos show my B&B and Kildare town.

Now the challenge is to get packed and not have overweight luggage!