September 8, 2015:

 

            I got up at 7:30 and got dressed. I went to the lobby and checked out of the hotel. Two more people from the hotel came a few minutes later and we took a shuttle to the airport.

 

            I looked a few minutes for the Ryanair check in desk. When I finally found it, the employee told me I had to print my boarding pass online or pay 45 Euros. I attempted to print it at a kiosk, but I couldn't get it to work and it ate 1 Euro. I eventually returned and paid the 45 Euros to print my pass here. This was pretty annoying and as a result I'm determined to NEVER fly Ryanair again after today!

 

            I checked my bag and cleared security. I found my gate and a place to buy breakfast.

 

            After breakfast, I went online for 30 minutes. I then lined up to board. The plane was at the gate, but boarding did not begin until 8 minutes before the plane was scheduled to depart. I asked why the plane wasn't boarding; I was told the crew wasn't ready yet!

 

            When the plane started boarding, I photographed it.

 

 

            The plane left over 20 minutes late. As we taxied out to the runway, I photographed various planes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I got a text message just before take off. I turned my phone off because it's frowned upon to use mobile phones during take off. When the plane took off, I filmed the take off.

 

            Once we were at cruising altitude, I turned the phone back on. I saw the message was from Des.  I didn't return the text because of the charges that would apply and he would be meeting me in Dublin when I landed. I could also see the plane's shadow

 

 

            From the plane, I could see an AVE train. We were soon over the ocean. After awhile, the pilot announced we were 30 minutes from Dublin.

 

            There were lots of clouds, but I could tell we were over Ireland. We were soon approaching Dublin. I filmed the landing. We soon got off the runway and taxied to the gate. As we taxied, I photographed a Westjet Boeing 737 and a FedEx jet.

 

 

 

            We were soon at the gate. We were made to get off the plane by walking down stairs. Once I was on the tarmac, I photographed the plane.

 

 

            I saw that we were next to a Boeing 737 from the Canadian charter airline Sunwing. I photographed the Sunwing 737.

 

 

            I then entered the terminal and took one more photo of the Ryanair 737 and the Sunwing 737.

 

 

 

            I then cleared customs with little trouble. I then went to claim my suitcase which had come out shortly after I got to the belt.

 

            I then headed out and met up with Des. Like last year, I wore my hat with a TTC fishbowl on it. Des had a different TTC hat as well. A few weeks after I returned home from Ireland last year, I again met up with Des and company; this time at the Halton County Radial Railway Museum!

 

            We left to take a shuttle bus. Des had left his car in the parking lot of the hotel I stayed at last year because he was under the impression that I was staying there again. I was staying at another hotel nearby. However, the same shuttle that I used to get to the airport on the day I flew home from Europe last year also served the hotel I was staying at this year.

 

            While waiting for the shuttle, Des and I discussed a vintage vehicle show that #2290 and the club's other buses would be attending at the end of the month; (too bad Emma could not have gotten married a month later!) The shuttle bus came after awhile and we headed out. It was different bus than last year. The gas station I noticed with a Tim Horton's on my last evening in Europe last year still had the Tim Horton's.

 

            We soon arrived at my hotel. I got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

            I went to the lobby to check in. Des would ride to the hotel I rode to last year and get his car. Once I got to my room, I dropped my stuff off. I then headed to the lobby where I met Des.

 

            We had lunch at a restaurant at my hotel. It took a little while for our food to arrive. At lunch I learned they had acquired TTC #2291 back in 2010, but #2290 had arrived in Ireland first despite being retired in December of 2011. When I visited #2290 in Ireland last year, I learned that the Transport Enthusiasts Club had three barns to store buses and I had gone to two of them. #2291 is presently at the barn I didn't visit last year. I told Des how when I learned that #2291 had been acquired, that I had searched through my old photos trying to find a photo of #2291. I kept seeing photos of #2290 and #2292, but it took awhile before I found some photos of #2291.

 

            Des also mentioned he had bought a Corgi model of TTC fishbowl #2299. I had purchased a similar model back in October of 2013 and received mine about a week before I left!

 

            I also learned that #2290 is having some work done so I would most likely not get to ride it this time which is kind of disappointing but at least I would get a chance to see both TTC fishbowls. I also learned that apparently, the club had acquired TTC fishbowl #2255 for parts for their fishbowls!

 

            After lunch, we drove to a commuter rail station. Des was a little worried that we'd miss a train, but we ended up getting there in time to park and buy tickets.

 

            A train passed non stop through the station. We used the footbridge to get to the other side for our departure. A commuter train pulled in going the other way. As it pulled in, I photographed it.

 

 

            Moments later, our train arrived. I photographed it pulling in.

 

 

            Des and I boarded the last car and we departed. We rode the train to Drogheda. On the way, we passed a long distance train heading towards Dublin. We soon arrived at Drogheda. I got off and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            Des and I walked over to a freight locomotive that was built by EMD. I photographed it.

 

 

            We then bought tickets back to Portmarnock station. The train was at the platform. We boarded and the train soon departed. We soon arrived back at Portmarnock station. We got off and I photographed the train.

 

 

            I then filmed the train departing. Des and I headed out. We took the scenic route back to the hotel passing by towns that we passed on the train. We soon arrived at my hotel. Des and I agreed to meet tomorrow at 10:00 am. I went to the lobby and paid five Euros to get access to Wi-Fi in my room.

 

            I went upstairs and went online and worked on this report some more. I eventually went out for a walk. I looked in the mall that was near the hotel. I noticed the Toys R Us that was there last year was no longer there. I looked in a few stores but I didn't buy anything. I also stopped at the Texaco gas station with the Tim Horton's and bought some milk. I returned to my hotel and worked on this report some more.

 

            Later, I went out for dinner. I first tried to go to a Subway restaurant, but it was closed. I had dinner at the McDonald's I had dinner on my last night in Europe last year. As I was leaving, there was a kid who was whining that they didn't have the toy he wanted even though they'd get it on Friday.

 

            I walked back to my hotel and worked on this report some more. I set the alarm on my phone for 8:30 am and called it a night.

 

September 9, 2015:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went to the restaurant in my hotel for breakfast. After breakfast I headed up to my room and got my stuff together. I met Des in the lobby of my hotel. We were waiting a few minutes to meet up with Gary who I had met last year. He was stuck in traffic, but soon arrived.

 

            The three of us headed off in Gary's car. On the way, I mentioned my trip to Italy and how they bought Skyrider from Canada's Wonderland. Gary said he was at Wonderland back in 1985 (even before Skyrider was built!) and remembered the Zumba Flume which was removed after the 1995 season.

 

            When I was in Ireland last year, I was given a few photos of TTC #2290 and other buses in Ireland. One of them was an ex New York RTS which is privately owned. Apparently, it was in Ireland for a movie and was left there. Someone asked about it and eventually bought it. A few months earlier, I had emailed Des to see if the group would consider preserving one of TTC’s Nova RTS buses which were retired a few weeks before the trip. Des said they wouldn’t. It was a half assed attempt to save a TTC RTS, but I tried! I did learn that other people had asked the club to try to preserve a TTC Orion 5 as well with similar results.

 

            We hit the highway. We headed to the maintenance yard Gary and I stopped at last year after I got to ride #2290. A lot of the club's buses were there including TTC #2290. However, #2290 was boxed in. I was able to photograph it though.

 

 

 

 

            I also attempted to photograph a Routemaster double decker bus.

 

 

 

 

            I took one more photo of 2290.

 

 

            I photographed some other buses including the bus that took me from my hotel to Dublin airport last year as well as an articulated highway coach in for rebuild.

 

 

 

            After awhile, we headed out. We drove for a little while until we got to where TTC #2291 was being kept. We had to unlock three gates to get access to #2291. This barn was by what looked like an old fort. On weekends, a group uses the area for airsoft gun fights. Since it was a Wednesday, they weren't there. I took some photos around the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            For some reason, there was a Jeep that was on its side. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            Des was eventually able to open the door to the barn where TTC #2291 was being kept. I photographed it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            #2291 wasn't the only vehicle in the shed. On of the other buses in there was the Bombardier single decker that had the same engine as 2290 and 2291. I photographed the buses.

 

 

 

            While #2291 wasn't street ready yet, Des started it up. I filmed him turning it on and took some more photos of #2291.

 

 

 

 

 

            Meanwhile Des pulled out the Bombardier bus (KE35) and other bus (ME26). I photographed them once they were outside.

 

 

 

            Des, Gary, and I took ME26 to the barn where TTC #2290 was in last year. They wanted to be able to get at it quickly on the weekend. Once at the other shed, I took some photos of buses in the shed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I learned that #2291 was stored in that shed for a time as well as the shed it was presently in. #2290 has been stored in all three sheds.

 

            We then got into Gary's car and drove back to the shed where #2291 is being kept at the moment. We were going to take KE35 to the maintenance yard where #2290 was at. Gary signed the bus up as blank as not to confuse passengers.

 

            We stopped at a convenience store to get some water for KE35's radiator. I photographed the bus.

 

 

            After we got the radiator topped up with water, we headed out. KE35's door is a manual door. At one point, when we took a corner a little too sharp, it came open. I stood up and reached out and closed it on the fly.

 

            There were only 52 single level Bombardier buses built and presently, four exist. However KE35 is the only operational unit. The other three are not in good shape. We eventually made to the maintenance yard. I stepped off and photographed KE35.

 

 

 

            After a few minutes, Des and I boarded a highway coach being driven by Des`s nephew. We headed into downtown Dublin by way of a tunnel that Gary avoided while driving me to my hotel last year because it costs money to go through. It’s free for buses to use however. Des mentioned they once brought a fishbowl through the tunnel.

 

            We passed by a tall ship in the harbour.  We then lay over for a few minutes before we headed into service. After a few stops, Des and I got off. We went to ride the Green Line of Dublin’s light rail system like what I did last year.  When we got to the station, I photographed a train when it arrived.

 

 

            Des and I boarded the train and we rode a few stations to Ranelagh station. We got off and I photographed the train.

 

 

            A train was coming in the opposite direction. I filmed it pulling in and photographed it.

 

 

            Des and I then left the station. We were hoping to ride a local city bus in Dublin. We had just missed one. I saw a bus on route #18. However, it turned at the intersection before us. We eventually walked a block to get a better look. We saw a bus in the distance, so we walked back to the stop. However, that bus must have turned because it didn’t show up.

 

            Des and I eventually went back to the light rail line and boarded a train to downtown. When the train arrived, I photographed it.

 

 

            We rode to the end of the line. When we got there, we got off. I then photographed the train.

 

 

 

            We then walked over to a nearby park. There were seagulls in a pond as well as two swans. We left the park and headed to the bus stop. While waiting for the bus, I photographed a few buses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Our bus soon arrived and Des and I got on. We were going back to the maintenance yard where TTC #2290 was at. This would be the third time today I’ve been there!

 

            We passed by Dublin’s main railway station. I saw a train arriving. I took a few photos.

 

 

 

            We had picked up a few people, but they slowly got off until Des and I were the only passengers on the bus. When we got back to the maintenance yard, I photographed the bus we had arrived on.

 

 

            Gary was having a pizza with someone on board the Bombardier bus Des and I had brought to the yard. At one point, I decided to take a couple more photos of TTC #2290.

 

 

            I said goodbye to #2290 and went inside KE35 with Des and Gary. We talked for a little while. We mentioned the Trolleybus Museum in Sandtoft which I had visited last year to see former Edmonton BBC #189. I told them how I had ridden #189 in service in Edmonton and how when I visited the museum last year, they announced that they had a visitor who rode #189 when it was in service back in Edmonton when they gave a brief history of the unit.

 

            When I was planning this trip, I briefly considered visiting Sandtoft, but soon rejected the idea as #189 would not be running when I looked to visit.

 

            Des, Gary, and I eventually left and we drove into town. We stopped for dinner at a fast food restaurant. I told them about my all time favourite fishbowl; GO Transit #1122 and how I found a fishbowl in Calgary also numbered 1122.

 

            I learned that the long term plans for TTC #2291 are to repaint it into the TTC’s maroon and cream livery. Although #2291 never wore that livery, they wanted to represent that livery. They plan to leave #2290 as is because it has been featured in many articles.

 

            We also talked a bit about planes. A few months ago, an Air Transat flight diverted to Dublin for an emergency landing. The aircraft was apparently the Azores Glider which I had photographed last year when I went to Europe!

 

            We finished up and headed out. By now it was completely dark. A friend of mine has wondered how the group in Ireland had started and I got this story:

 

            When Dublin was getting rid of its streetcars, someone made an effort to save three of them but was ultimately unsuccessful. A few years later, he tried again to save a streetcar from the North Dublin system. He was successful this time and soon bought a bus as well. Slowly, people started to become interested in what he was doing and formed a club. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, they were arguing.

 

            Gary joined and asked if the club could acquire a specific bus. They said no, so Gary purchased it with his own money. Eventually, more people joined and the Transit Enthusiasts Club became what it is today. It was the society as a whole who decided to acquire the fishbowls from TTC.

 

            Des and Gary had to stop somewhere for some paperwork. It was in an industrial area. I saw there were two buses parked back there. I photographed them.

 

 

 

            After that, we headed back to my hotel. I went to the lobby and bought another 24 hours of Wi-Fi. Des and Gary came to my room and I showed them pictures from last year and from the Calgary fishbowl farewell charter I attended back in 2013. They thought both Calgary Transit liveries the fishbowls had were nice.

 

            Des and Gary eventually left. A little while later, I attempted to go to the gas station with the Tim Horton’s I found last year. On the way, I saw some buses in the mall parking lot. I photographed them.

 

 

 

 

            I made it to the gas station but found it was closed. I made my way back to the hotel. One annoying thing I encountered was an intersection where you had to push a button and wait for a signal to cross half of the road; they didn’t synchronize it so you could cross the whole road at once.

 

            I eventually made it back to my hotel and worked on this report for a few minutes. I soon set my alarm and called it a night.

 

September 10, 2015:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went to the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast I went back to my room and finished packing. I then checked out of my hotel. I caught the shuttle to the airport. It made a stop at the hotel I stayed at last year before heading to the airport. I got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

            I then made my way to the terminal. On the way, I photographed an articulated bus.

 

 

            I then found the Air Canada check in area and checked in. My flight would be operated by Air Canada Rouge; Air Canada’s leisure airline. An Air Canada employee asked me how long I was in Europe. I answered her and checked in. I then dropped my suitcase and went to clear security.

 

            I made it through security and went to my gate. If I recall correctly, my flight left from the same gate my flight home left from last year!  I photographed a couple of Aer Lingus planes including the Airbus I had photographed last year in a historic livery.

 

 

 

            I also photographed the plane I would be flying home on which was a Boeing 767-300.

 

 

            I then photographed a few more planes.

 

 

 

 

            Soon it was time to board the plane. I had a window seat. One disappointing thing I found out about Air Canada Rouge is that the planes don’t have the on board entertainment in the seat backs like on other Air Canada planes. Even the 767-300 I flew home from Halifax on back in 2009 had the entertainment system.

 

            From the plane, I photographed a Lufthansa Airbus A321.

 

 

            I saw another Aer Lingus Boeing 757 pull up to the gate. I photographed it.

 

 

            The plane left a couple minutes late. As we taxied to the runway, I photographed a Sunwing Boeing 737 and an Aer Lingus Airbus A320.

 

 

 

            As the plane took off, I filmed the take off. We were soon flying over the ocean. This flight would be direct to Toronto; we would not have a stop over in Montreal like last year when I flew Air Transat.

 

            My plane had AC outlets and I plugged my laptop in. It was good to not have to use an adapter for the first time in over two weeks. I attempted to watch movies on my computer from Air Canada Rouge’s service, but they didn’t work. It worked fine when I did something similar on Air Transat last year. I eventually gave up.

 

            At one point, I was served lunch. After awhile, it looked like we were flying over Greenland. I had no way of knowing where we were. After awhile, I was pretty sure we were flying over Eastern Canada. I was given a form to fill out for Canadian Customs. I filled it out.

 

            After awhile, I could tell we were getting close. I saw Buttonville airport in Richmond Hill where Cessna type aircraft take off from. I was distracted at a point and missed where my house was, but I could see the area where I worked. When we flew over CN’s Macmillan Yard, I photographed it.

 

 

            We passed by Pearson Airport and would be coming in from the West. I photographed the airport from the plane.

 

 

            The plane turned around over Milton. We were over CN’s Halton subdivision which I had the opportunity to ride on back in December of 2013 as the line is freight only. I could clearly see the water tower with “Milton” on it from the plane. I knew where I was in relation to the airport and everything.

 

            As we came into land, I filmed the landing. As we taxied to the terminal, I photographed various planes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            The plane had arrived 10 minutes late. I got off and attempted to photograph the plane.

 

 

 

            This was the first time I had come in the International arrivals area of Terminal 1. This part of the terminal looked quite nice. However, it was a long walk to customs. When I got there, I saw a HUGE crowd of people but the line moved somewhat quickly. I was eventually processed and went to claim my suitcase.

 

            I got my suitcase and headed out. I was expecting my mom or dad to be waiting for me when I came out.  However, they weren’t there. I wandered around the area for a few minutes until I finally saw my dad. It turned out that a truck had caused him to miss his exit and he got caught in traffic.

 

            We then headed out. My dad had a little difficulty trying to pay for parking. In addition, I noticed that there was not a lot of gas in the tank. However, we were able to make it to a gas station. I was feeling thirsty so I bought a Pepsi from inside the station.

 

            We then headed home. My mom phoned me and I let her know I was back in Canada. I was tired from jet lag which I hadn’t suffered when I flew East over the Atlantic over two weeks earlier. We hit traffic but eventually made it home.

 

Conclusions:

 

            The wedding was good. I figured it would be most important to have the wedding first. I hope Emma and Alberto are happy together.

 

            As for the rest of the trip, it was nice to ride a HEP 1 coach on VIA train #64. The Saturday after I got home, I saw the same coaches on train #70 at Oakville; though it had a different P42. I would have liked a window seat on my Lufthansa flight across the Atlantic, but it was still cool to fly on an Airbus A330.

 

            Italy was nice. I hope Skyrider; now called Freestyle will delight Italians for decades to come as it had delighted people at Canada’s Wonderland for almost 30 years. I may like to go back once the second train is on line. I am still a bit upset about loosing those Euros.

 

            Spain was also nice. If I could, I’d revisit Barcelona and stay longer. Maybe Granada once Renfe completes the track work and the light rail line is open.

 

            Ireland; I would have liked to ride a TTC fishbowl on this trip. I’m not done with Ireland, but I would like to go back, but it won’t be until 2017 earliest baring any unforeseen circumstances.

 

            My next trip won’t be until mid October earliest, but no later than late November. Until next time…

 

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