Twas a lo-o-o-ong day yesterday.
We put in 22.5 hours before crashing at the Best Western Plus in Ellensburg, Wash.
All's well that ends well, they say, and except for one potential glitch, discovered in time, our departure from Ireland and drive here to Ellensburg went well.
An unannounced gate change discovered during a chance trip to the restroom could have had a few dozen passengers missing the plane. Happily, the change was discovered in time.
We boarded our flight with no problems and slept away the hours, ate and watched movies during the nonstop flight Aer Lingus from Dublin to Seattle.
We HAD been kinda spoiled on about eight straight days of glorious sunshine, so the serious rain in Seattle humbled us a bit from our Ireland high.
Still, it was nice to find the car so quickly at the parking lot and to get on the road bound for Ellensburg.
Once here, we found a spacious and comfy room here at the Best Western and, later, agreed that the grand finale of what seemed like the best trip ever ended on a high note at the Palace Cafe in downtown Ellensburg.
We met Hannah, our server, who is as efficient and friendly as our dear friend Beata in Kildare, and we enjoyed a great meal in an historical setting.
Didya see that info in the photo that the restaurant was founded in 1892? The warmth, the friendly service and the food all clearly displayed why the establishment in Central Washington has been in business for so long.
Hannah grew up in Kittitas, which is just down the road from Ellensburg.
During my days as a drill team adviser back in the 1970s, I always wondered about Kittitas, which was a perennial entry in the Spokane Lilac Festival.
Well, I still haven't been to Kittitas, but I've met Hannah and she seemed to represent her hometown well.
Today we'll head on down the road toward home with a stop at Ponderay Pet Lodge to pick up our beloveds, Foster and Bridie. Hope they're not too mad at us for leaving them for several days.
Last time they stayed there, they seemed to have done well, so I don't expect this time to be any different.
Life will take on dramatic changes in a couple of days when the horses come home from Roxane's. I'll be back on a pretty rigid work schedule with chores, yard work and gardening.
I'm ready, knowing that we had a wonderful family experience in what has become one of our favorite places on earth and that we're home in what I've always called "God's Country."
Not a bad life. "Home" will feel great, as it always does.
Happy Monday.
Beautiful Beata from Silken Thomas in Kildare: a busy, efficient lady who makes every guest feel extra special.
Thanks, as always, Beata. You're the best.
Below: St. Brigid's Cathedral in Kildare.
This gentleman was surveying a sampling of passengers who unknowingly were sitting at the wrong gate yesterday. His purpose was to learn how the airport could better serve its patrons.
He also did not appear too willing to hurry through the survey for our benefit when I came back with news that our new gate was a fairly extended walk and on another level.
"That's Aer Lingus's fault," he said while insisting on Bill staying there while he continued to ask questions.
Hmmm.
It seemed to me that Aer Lingus AND the airport could have at least announced the change in addition to quietly changing it on the board.
On a positive note, the airline gave us complimentary wine, and I enjoyed the movie "Conclave."
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