Wednesday 2nd July - Giants Causeway, Dark Hedges and Ballymoney
We left Belfast, still in the sun, after the Black taxi tour and headed to the very north coast of Ireland. From here you can clearly see the coast of Scotland, the Mull of Kintyre. We headed to the Giant's Causeway and walked the tour (as members of the National Trust, it was FREE). The rock formations are amazing. Volcanic eruptions spilling out larva, cooling quickly to somehow form perfect hexagonal stones you swear were paving blocks, until yo see them up close. They are massive and continue over a huge area, spilling down into the sea...and apparently going all the way across to Scotland where they pop up again! We walked right up to the headland, a walk that clearly did not do much good for Cath's knee (no doubt an injury carried over from her soccer...can we claim the trip on player's insurance?). The day was getting on, and so we went looking for our B&B at the little village of Ballymoney. A fella named Ivan owns the place, and it is very nice. He looked after us so well. He then gave us a tip for dinner, a little pub restaurant just down the road a bit. And he also told us to drive through the 'Dark Hedges' on the way. A little drizzle and mist was rolling in, the sun was finally going down, and the place looked amazing. Originally, the trees were planted to form an entrance to a country manner. Our photos don't do the place justice, where's the photographer when you need him?
Thursday 3rd July - Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, Derry, Sligo, Knock, Milltown
Another beautiful morning! We headed back up to the coast and to a stunning spot called Carrick-a-rede. We walked from the car park and around the cliffs (National Trust, FREE again!!!). On the way, we came across a lunatic. He called himself and evangelist. But really, he was an A Grade, certifiable lunatic. He carries a full size cross over his shoulder wherever he goes, including around cliffs and across rope bridges! He has been around the world doing this , except Autralia. Can't wait!!
The cliffs provide a stunning outlook over the ocean, and a good surf was rolling in, as we walked towards the rope bridge that has been put in place to join a small island where fisherman used to set themselves up. The rope bridge spans a divide of about twenty metres, but about 150 feet above the ocean. There is a fair bit of bounce in that bridge! To think the fishermen used to only use a single rope to climb across! But it is absolutely breathtaking. After some more stairs, but not quite enough to walk off an enormous breakfast, we were back in the car and travelling the magnificent coastal road around the country's north. It's a great drive!
Derry/Londonderry
If you are from Northern Ireland it's Londonderry but when you are in the Republic of Ireland you best call it Derry. There are still a lot of issues in this town as well, and it is evident at its police station. The place is fortified like something from a battlefield. However, there are also statues and bridges built to try and link the two factions together, perhaps a little more advanced than the orange and green areas of Belfast, but Belfast does not have two names?
On we drove, through to Sligo, a large harbour town full of history. We then stopped in at a place I had never heard of, Knock. With a largely Irish Catholic upbringing (Sister Vergulious, Sister Kinickypoo, Brother Dermot etc etc), I don't know why this was the case. Knock is Ireland's Lourdes. In 1879, 14 people people from the town witnessed the appearance of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint John Baptist, an alter, a lamb and angels for about two hours. Apparently, two full inquiries since then have not been able to determine Irish Whiskey, freezing cold weather, sleeting rain or loneliness were in any way involved.......Anyway, the place is quite special and very nice. We lit a candle for Phil and Father David and moved on. We found a pub at a little place called Milltown and booked a room, had a feed and a couple of beers.
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