0530: Too early, probably still drunk, nauseous. Set alarm go back to sleep.
0715: Need to pee, get up, stumble, flush, back to bed.
0720-0745: Doze fitfully.
0745: Had enough, time for adventure.
Walk to the shop, by credit and chewing gum, forgot to brush my teeth again, tends to happen a lot in Lahinch, should be more organised. Follow Garry’s lead, toothbrush in pocket.
Top-up
Walk.
Thumb.
First car, no luck. Seconds later a lift!
“Hi thanks a million, where are you going to?”
“Oh I’m going to Shannon this morning”
“You’re joking, that’s where I need to get to”
“Well, I’ll be glad to have the company, I’m Catherine”
“I’m Paudie, good to meet you”
“So what are you doing out on the road this early?” she says, obviously not smelling the liquor (things are looking good).
“Well actually, I’m trying to get back to Shannon to pick up a spare key for my car. Mine got locked in last night. I always lock the door by holding the handle up, and I’m always trying to force myself not to do it, but I never stop. As soon as the door had closed I knew the keys were still in the ignition.”
I had just gotten into the car to take out my wallet because we were at a friends party and he had a bouncy castle and I didn’t want to have the wallet in my pocket. There was actually a small crack in one of the rear windows. I went looking for help and within five minutes there was at least fifteen guys all peering into the car as we all tried to have a go with the hanger. The plan was to hook the window winder and open the window further so we could get an arm in. Solid Plan.
We all watched as Ruben successfully got the hanger around the winder and gently started to pull, yes it’s working, it’s moving. Oh hang on that was the wrong way, now the windows closed even more. Bugger.
Fear not, there is a spare key at my parents place in Shannon, and Cian and Marie will be driving past later tonight.
So I called my sister to leave the key under the mat, then called Marie asking her to pick the key up?
I say called, but I actually sent Call Me’s.
Late, no wallet and no shops open anyway.
OK so the plan is for the guys to call me as the come into Shannon and I’ll guide them into the house, it’s actually quite easy to find.
Four beers later…..
“Hey Paudie what time is it?”
“Hang on I’ll check my phone”
Bugger 3 missed calls from Marie
Frantically find a phone with credit.
“Cian, where are you? Nearly in Lahinch? Oh ok, cool, no, it’s fine my fault, didn’t hear the phone ring, no it’s cool don’t worry.”
Should have had it on vibrate.
She drives at roughly 60 km/h the whole way. She actually stopped once or twice when a bus went past.
“These narrow roads freak me out, I haven’t actually owned a car for a few years”
It’s a rental, she’s from San Francisco and is heading back to airport.
Hey, at least she picked me up.
0837:Walking through the Smithstown Industrial Estate, we actually made good time considering the driving.
0843:It starts lashing rain, I mean the really big heavy stuff, not some light drizzle. I try to shelter beside a house, works to some extent.
0850: Julie’s not answering her phone. After enough banging on the door she eventually opens up. She didn’t see the car so didn’t know who it was
Of course she didn’t see it, my keys are locked into it in Lahinch.
“Oh yeah.”
“Go back to bed”
“ok”
I get the key and have some weetabix
I begin walking out to the main road to start hitching again. Shannon, is a stupid town, it’s all fly-offs and fly-unders and feeder-lanes. Stupid to try and get a lift from. I walk for about 15 minutes in some drizzle until I’m actually on a proper road and not some one way fly-on thing.
Of course everyone is already doing 100km/h already and therefore do not feel inclined to stop. Despite the fact that 70% of the cars have only one person in them. Grrrr
20 rain filled minutes later I give in and call Bebhine, just as I’m about to ask her to get her mom to drop me to Ennis a car pulls up.
“Hello? What’s wrong?”
“Oh hey, never mind call you in a while”
In the car
“So how’re you doing? What are you doing hitching out here?
“Well actually, I’m just after coming from Lahinch, I had to get back to Shannon to pick up a spare key for my car. Mine got locked in last night. I always lock the door by holding the handle up, and I’m always trying to force myself not to do it, but I never stop. As soon as the door had closed I knew the …”
I eventually get dropped at the Maid of Eireann. I should have gotten off at the bypass at Maxol. Nobody goes through Ennis anymore.
I phone Bebhine and explain what’s going on?
“You should have called we would have dropped you out to Ennis”
“Yes I was trying to do that but then I got picked up. It’s fine I promise. Ok, love you call you later.”
Ok nobody is going to pick me up here, so I start walking.
And I keep walking
and walking
Eventually I’m out as far as the Texaco at the very end of Ennis on the Lahinch road.
I stop walking.
Someone pulls over and says they’re going to Corrofin, but will drop me to the fountain cross.
Sweet. Much better place to hitch from, gets rid off all the eejits going to Corrofin.
You’d think.
About five minutes (20 cars) later a woman pulls over and tells me she’s going to Corrofin and asks do I want a lift?
What? No you stupid woman if I wanted a lift I’d go over and stand on the Corrofin road not the flipping Lahinch road? Do you understand the basics of hitchhiking?
“No thanks, I’m heading to Lahinch”
Seconds later I see the familiar yellow t-shirts in car that is already pulling over even though I don’t have my thumb out yet.
Gotta love lifeguards.
It’s Maria and someone else.
“Cheers Maria, Hi I’m Paudie.”
He’s Nigel.
“So you’re heading to Lahinch yeah?
“Well actually, I’m just after coming from Lahinch, I had to get back to Shannon to pick up a spare key for my car. Mine got locked in last night. I always lock the door by holding the handle up, and I’m always trying to force myself not to do it, but I never stop. As soon as the door had closed I knew the …”
They’re going to White Strand so they can drop me to Inagh.
But sure White Strand is closer to Lahinch than Inagh and there’s more locals on the road so I’ll stay in the car if that’s alright?
It is.
Brilliant.
We drop Nigel off in Seafield (poor bugger) and as we’re passing Spanish Point we see Cian (different Cian) dropping some of the guys off at the beach. Cian will be going to Lahinch so I jump out of Maria’s car and wait for Cian to come by and bring me to Lahinch
Five minutes later and still no sign of Cian so I give him a call.
“Spanish Point? No I’m working in Lahinch for the summer. Why?”
“Oh never mind”
I eventually get picked up by a Slovakian
“You going to lahinch, it’s your lucky day, me too.”
“Well actually, I’m just after coming from Lahinch …”
1130: Back in time for lunch.
