After getting about 2 hours sleep and lying awake for another two, the sun starts to make and appearance so we start stirring ourselves. We open up the bonnet and checked the fluids and at this stage we notice staff arriving at the garage across the road. I nip across the road and manage to procure some tea. Coffee or grub would be about a 30 minute wait, so we forget about these.

We decided to try a warm start given that there was a bit of residual heat left in the block. I turn the key and she fires up in about a second (This is with no choke!). Remember that look on Michael J. Fox’s face in Back to the Future when the DeLorean eventually fires up while waiting for the lightning bolt. Well that about captures the look on my face. We let things warm over for a bit and headed off. The transmission is a bit cold and squeaky but apart from that all is well.

We decide to do the trip the slightly longer but easier way on primary routes, so settle in for the cruise. We figure on having about 120 miles worth of petrol which is plenty to get us past Dublin. I know a good garage in Lucan where I used to live, so we resolve to stop there for petrol, coffee and breakfast rolls.

Fuel for us and the car

After an uneventful run to Lucan, we get to the garage and fuel up ourselves and the car. I spot a cop car and remember that I had forgotten to attach the insurance disc. Luckily he was only there looking for breakfast rolls. After we have fed and watered ourselves, we decide to chance our arm and just head after only checking engine oil. We have both been up for 48 hours on 5 hours’ sleep and enough was enough. My head is really starting to bang, so I took a double dose of Parecetemol and we hit the road again.

At this stage we are beginning to get a sense of being on the home stretch. Only 60 miles to go. I am getting a good feeling and noticed that I wasn’t feeling the least bit grizzly despite (or perhaps because of) the sleep deprivation. The seats in the car are amazing because neither of us were feeling the slightest bit of cramp. Normally, if driving a regular car, I start getting grizzly after three or four hours – even with stops every two hours, but I haven’t a touch of this.

After the motorway runs out, we come across a cycle race. We pass a few bikes and then another few. And then some more, for about 15 miles. After about the first dozen, I start getting nasty to the ones who wouldn’t pull over. As we are in no danger of running short on go-go juice, I start giving these guys a good blast of V8 along with a waft of petrol fumes. We pass the guys who were pulled over on the over-run, so I reckon justice is being done.

Anyway, apart from this bit of fun, the run on the main road is uneventful. When we get to Edgeworthstown, we departed the N4 onto the N55 and I finally open her up. What the hell – I can come back in the Mondeo for the bonnet if it comes off anyway. I floored her and wound up to about 65. At this stage, Ger is beginning to look a bit worried so I quit. I am not quite sure if the bonnet had a curve on it at lower speeds anyway.

Home at Last

We get off the main road onto the lane up to the village and have to slow down a tad. Dutiful to the last, I turn on the fans for the lower speed operation and we pass through the village without waking too many people up. I pull into our lane, and spot Jo and Nora May waving out of the upstairs window. (She had rang about 10 minutes before – the car isn’t that loud!). I pull in, park up, listen to the idle for a few seconds and turn off. Job done!