N.I. APRIL/MAY - meandering back to Belfast

 Tuesday 2nd May

A bright morning.  We left at about 9am, allowing us plenty of time before catching the ferry in the evening.

We had  a stop, a walk around and some lunch in Larne.

Then on to Gleno(e) - meaning Valley of the Yew tree - with its trough, where we recreated Harry’s photo from 1962.  

We also visited its impressive waterfalls, and witnessed a baptism in the water, not for us, but a real one. 

To Ballyclare for dinner - at the Namaste India. Chicken Karahi - quite a hot dish, followed by mango ice-cream. How yummy was that.

On to Belfast and long wait queueing up for the boat. Our fault for arriving so early, I guess.

A minor irritation: the man with the flash low slung car whose engine clearly wouldn’t turn off, since it required frequent  loud throaty revving.

 Once on board, it was time for coffee and Kit-kat before bed in a 4 berth cabin.

Lulled to sleep by the boat’s noise. Slept for a solid 4 -5 hours, until 4.30. Plus a bit afterwards.

N.I. APRIL/MAY A short stroll down to Torr Head - and back up.

 Monday 1st May

A pretty good night’s sleep after our fairly strenuous walk yesterday. In spite of being close to a (minor) road, there was little traffic and splendid views.  There are clouds and sunshine in my view this morning.

We breakfasted on cereal, then had coffee from the tiny cafetière, sitting outside on the sun-trap wind-sheltered bench.

A pre-lunch walk of three miles down to Torr Head,

where we climbed up to the one-time coastguard station.

 Then the steep climb back up to the cabin(61 floors worth of climbing, so my app tells me). Could feel it a bit from yesterday. 

We lunched on scrambled egg on toast, courtesy of hosts. 

Weather dry, and mostly clear. Afternoon sunshine.

The moon shining daylight pale over the sea

as the horses are brought home from the ploughing contest.

N.I.APRIL - Tor Head to Cushenden and back

Sunday 30th April

We are now staying in a small cabin, advertised as having a magnificent view. Nothing to be seen when we arrived yesterday, shrouded in low cloud.

 

The owners have provided plenty of goodies. including eggs , marmalade, and more…. 

View improved slightly, sporadically. Yet still the fog clings on. 

We decide to go for a short walk ‘before coffee’, and end up walking five miles along the road into Cushenden, where their big arts weekend is happening.

We wander round the art exhibition, then go to Mary McBride’s pub for lunch. Just as we emerge, there’s a hell of downpour, and thunder and lightning. We huddle in the porch with a couple from Cheshire. The rain eases off and we walk back. There’s the occasional shower, but the storm has passed. On a hill (one of several) we meet a man with his grandson, who is very intrigued that we’re walking and we’ve come from England! 

On we plod, and get back before 4pm, feeling pleased with the walking. 10 miles and 126 ‘floors’(supposedly 10 feet per floor) - so 1,260 feet. All on the up and down road and more uphill on the way back. 

After tea and snacks, I was sitting on the bed, and out of the window, suddenly realised there was a spectacular view! Across to Kintyre and Islay and Jura. And it’s raining gently on the cabin roof.

Beautiful view through the evening, with a gentle sunset and the lighthouse of the Mull of Kintyre throwing out its two-flash light from around 11 miles away across the water. 

N.I. APRIL - Rathlin Island with the bikes

Friday 28th April

Still grey and misty - we plan to visit Rathlin Island - here’s hoping the weather smiles… 

We set off about 11am to catch the 12 noon ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin. 

Man chatted about bikes when he saw ours were made by Dawes. He used to race and rode a Dawes in1960s -cost 2 grand then. (did it have wings? I asked.)

‘Are you going to Rathlin?”

‘Yes”

‘Have you been before?’ 

‘No’

‘It’s hilly’

25 mins crossing, with bikes. As we approached we saw the sun shining on the island, and it stayed with us most of the day, with a bit of atmospheric mistiness near the seabird centre.

Rode to ‘visitor centre’ staffed by a Liverpudlian (ish) young woman, now living on Rathlin.

There is a very steep hill from the harbour settlement up to the road to West Lighthouse, and then several more uphill stretches on the way over. 

Once we arrived at a fairly high point we stopped for our frugal lunch, then continued on to the RSPB point, where we got another coffee.

We paid to access the  Seabird Centre and Lighthouse. This lighthouse is at the bottom of the cliff.

From the seabird centre we could see fulmars and other seabirds, and just the one puffin, seen through the telescope, set up by an Italian RSPB worker. We didn’t visit the lighthouse as we were a bit concerned about getting back to the ferry on time.

The ride down was less strenuous, much more downhill!  Donkeys, goldfinches, and at the shore eider ducks with their ‘Kenneth Williams’ calls, and three seals.

We were warned that it might be cold and foggy in Ballycastle, but when we arrived the sun had followed us as well.We deposited the bikes and stuff in the car, then sought out fish and chips at Morton’s.

(Scene: the piercing whistler with Jimi Hendrix tee shirt on a large beer belly.)

Then a short walk through the seafront park before returning to Cushenden. The swans are the children of Lir cursed by a jealous stepmother to be transformed into swans and to spend 900 years wandering.