We have an actual reservation for lunch at the restaurant in our adventure park. Our destination’s about 45 minutes away on this cloudy, misty, rainy day. And the adventures we want are all inside.

Good deal.

So off we go, piling into cars. Out through the little village and beyond to mist-soaked hills and fields. Long stretches where the world seems empty of people. Just a world of varied greens, stone fences, a stand of pine, red drops of fuchsia all under a curtain of mist.

Then boom, another little town or a scatter of houses with bright gardens.

And we’re there. Into the car park, a walk through the light rain. There are playgrounds outside, picnic tables under tents, and as everywhere, flowers soaking in the wet.

We take our big table. Fish and chips for me, and when it comes—and quickly—it’s enough for three people. We fuel up for the adventure ahead. And Kat goes to check us in for just that.

There are big windows so you can watch kids of various ages, parents, other adults harnessed up for wall climbs. A whole huge room of them. Just as Kat’s about to lock in our time there, someone else snags it. So after some chaos, she books our other activities. There’s a bit of a wait, so we trek over to the little shop.

Ice cream. No way after that meal, I think, but some disagree. So under the tent for ice cream to while away our wait time.

Jason takes Griffin off for a rainy exploration of play ground and little diggers. The rest of us head in for the escape rooms.

There are numerous small rooms in this maze of them, and you split into teams. For us, it’ll be the girls against the boys. The Colleens v The Three Musketeers. We watch our orientation—the rules of the road—then Kat, Kayla, Savanna and I head one way, JR, Logan and Colt another.

First room, Druids, I think, magic herb formulas. And it’s dark! Each room is loosely based on an Irish myth. This tiny, dark room defeats us, so when our time’s up, we decide maybe try it again later, and move to another. I think a pirate thing. Skulls and crossbones, treasure chests. After some WTF, teamwork prevails, and we escape to the next. And the next.

A couple require two tries. We were so close! So go back, start again, finish it up.

There are mental challenges in some rooms, physical ones in others, and hybrids. We try them all, racking up points. Try the second floor and hit The Giant’s Causeway. I know the myth, but you really don’t need to. What you need to do is cross over on widely placed stumps of various heights, hit the right ones in order, press the button on each as you go—swinging on ropes, I’ll add, to reach the Scot giant mural on the far wall. Kat and I wisely leave the actual doing to Kayla and Savanna, and assist with the mental portion.

When those plucky girls arrive at either side of the mural, they have to stretch across, hold hands, and press the buttons on the wall together.

He is defeated!!

Room by room we go for our 90 minutes. At the start, Kat asked what a good score might be. The guy in charge said only one team—who bought extra time—had ever hit all 52. Average score? 8. He’d be impressed if we got 16.

We scored 19–above average! More than impressive! The Musketeers and The Colleens tied at 19 each! Woo!!

Down again to meet up with Jason and Griffin. Logan, Colt, JR are heading to the Ninja challenge. The rest of us are visiting the play village. It has a movie theater, salon, market, Garda station, fire station and so on. All pint sized. Griffin wants to be the shop keeper, so we get our tiny baskets, choose tiny fruits, veg, cheese, whatever.

He rings us up. He decides Kayla’s apple costs $12. Savanna’s pizza slice is like $130. My loaf of bread? Over a thousand bucks. I guess that’s what happens when he’s the only market in town.

Onto the theater with its little stage. Kayla plays some Taylor Swift on her phone, and Griffin busts a move. Lots of moves. Gotta say, he’s got those moves. In the restaurant, he takes orders, fixes soup for Kat, invites me to have a seat on a very tiny chair.

Then he decides to be a copper. And arrests a baby doll. Into the nick with her. Before he’s done, he’s captured the entire Baby Doll gang.

The Ninjas have ninja’d, and we’re done with our adventures. The rain’s light but steady, and there’s another restaurant only minutes away toward home.

Another big table, drinks all around, orders placed. I’m going for the steak sandwich and chips. Kayla’s got a couple of veggie options, and goes for the pasta. I believe Griffin and Colt stick with their fave—chicken tenders and chips—one child’s portion, one adult.

The steak sandwich is just right—at least the half I could manage. Logan’s also gone with the steak sandwich, and takes my second half when I offer.

Then it’s off for home again where the mist has thickened to fog. It’s sort of eerily wonderful, but then again, I’m not driving. It thins and thickens, adding to that sense we’re the only ones here—at least until another car comes along.

Home. Kat and Jason head back out. Her car needs gas. Kayla, JR and Griffin have a dance party. Kayla, show us your moves! Now, JR! Now, me!

They’ve all got them.

I head down to do more packing.

Back up for some discussion of tomorrow, down again, organize and it’s bedtime.

The sky’s thick this morning, but I don’t see rain. Yet. I hear Griffin, so he’s up. I need to pull myself together for our ten o’clock departure.

It’s been a fun, lovely, silly, entertaining and beautiful week here by Galway Bay.

Now we’re off to storm the castle.

Nora

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