THE CREW ARRIVES

We are up early this morning, knowing we have about a 90 minute drive to Ballyliffin ahead of us, and with a 10’ish tee time on the Glashedy course we have to get rolling PDQ.  It gets tired every day saying how perfect everything is at Rosapenna, but it is, and breakfast is spot on once again.  Jutta has taken to stashing a few slices of buttered fruit and nut soda bread in a takeout coffee cup as her golf course snack……..have to admit it is pretty tasty stuff.  I am trying to figure out just how many sausages one should be eating first thing in the day………slathered in brown sauce of course (HP), two seems to be the number, however there always seems to be room for three………hmmmmm.
Our new rental vehicle, Skoda SUV, is pretty nice, and I just hope I don’t crack this one up.  I have been on the phone to Budget trying to get them out to Donegal to pick up the wreck, but they claim they just don’t have anyone out in that part of the country………we are on a list, and they will get a recovery vehicle out there when they can.  Kind of interesting that we have chosen this out of the way place as our favourite in Ireland, but it has just the right mix of everything we need to make a good holiday.
And we are off….. with MAPS checked about ten times to make sure we are not headed for the Rathmullen ferry……..a crafty shortcut to Ballyliffin if the ferry happens to be running…….it was not running last year  in April when we arrived at the docks and when Sibylle asked the coffee shop gal when the ferry would be here to pick us up, she said, “Oh probably May 1”.  Good thing we left early this morning, but we are still trunk slamming in the parking lot, a quick walk to the first tee, and tee off just seconds later.

We neglected to book our favourite Irish caddie Sadie, and it won’t be the same without her along on Glashedy…….I always remember her saying to Vivian with that quick Irish accent of hers that “Tomorrow we were playing the Glashedy course” and Vivian thinking we were going to be playing the shitty course…….say it fast a few times and you will get the picture.  But we know the course quite well, and still marvel at how a perfect approach shot can somehow roll, and roll, and filter its way into one of the diabolical pot bunkers around the green……..if you land just a few feet on the wrong side of the hole, you could be gone.  What a blast.  Perfect weather once again, and a good testing breeze in the air.  The course was in very good condition though it had some spring dressing on the fairways and some of the greens but there is still no mistaking this is a world class golf course and worth the trip north every time.  
The batteries are recharged in the clubhouse with some pints and toasties……..toasties being the Scottish take on our grilled cheese sandwiches, and usually come with ham or some other fillings……tasty toasties!  Somehow we have to figure out how to get to Rosapenna without spending so much time on the skinny and single track roads……..there has to be a way, but on the road home we are mired in them once again.  I pull into a viewpoint up high on the hills overlooking Sheephaven Bay, the town of Downings, Carrigart, and Rosapenna, and who pulls into right behind me but John and Cheryl Relihan from Oslerbrook.    John appears fine, but the first thing out of his mouth is “Can you believe these roads?”, and Cheryl can barely speak……just needs a hug and reassurance that it is almost over. 

 
Back at the hotel I get a text from Maurice Tulloch who has arrived with Andrea, and they are down in the bar……big surprise….. but sounds good to us and we are off to meet them……Sibylle, John and Cheryl join, and the party is on.  This is our Canadian contingent for the Spring Links Tournament. Our plan for dinner was always to go down to the Goose and Gander Pizza restaurant in Downings……..the whole group agrees, and decide a walk into town is the way to go……..nice to be able to walk to dinner!  It’s some really good pizza, bocconcini salad, bottles upon bottles of wine, and all is good. Tomorrow we have decided to play as gals and guys for the practice round, because following that we will be in our teams for the rest of the week. Should be fun, can’t wait.

PS’S: Lena Breslin Björck and my saviour Fin Breslin at the Viking House Hotel. Forgot to mention that Lena has led a very interesting, productive, and successful life. Her latest athletic pursuit will see her as part of a 4 woman team who will row across the Atlantic Ocean………yes, really. Worth a look at her career (still going strong)…….quite a woman.