There were blue skies most of the way and even when the clouds rolled in...they only brought a few drops of rain before they made way for the sunshine again. Cows and sheep dotted the fields along the roadways and on the hillsides that were the view we had as we rounded every corner and crested every hill.
We visited a couple of castles along the way too. The first was a ruin where we were able to wander about as we pleased and the second was in Donegal and had been somewhat restored to a portion of what it would have been in it's prime. From the steep and narrow curving stone stairs to the oversized fireplaces....if I squinted my eyes just a little I could almost smell something roasting in the kitchen and hear the bustle of people going about their daily business in the castle and on the grounds. It's easy to believe in magic when you're in a magical land!
The drive today was the longest we've done and with all four of us in the car along with all the luggage....it was a little tight (oh yes...we have a micro sized car and the only one of us that is really micro sized is Jenna....so I'll leave you to imagine just what we might look like coming down the road.) It's all good though...Rob managed to put the luggage into the hatchback like a puzzle and he fit in about twice as much as I thought possible so in the back seat there is only one large packsack and two people....not nearly as bad as it might have been!
Now that I've left you all with a perfect image of our journey....I'll add the bits that will complete the picture for you.....
- Rob forgot to return his B & B key in Galway so we had to stop and find a post office so he could mail it back.
- There are not a lot of public toilets along the road. Castle ruins sometimes make do.
- Turkish Delight chocolate bars melt in the sun.
- In sympathy for Jenna, mom has put band aids on her knees too.
- Roundabouts can be difficult!!
- Roads have no shoulders (or verges as they're called here) and there are more pot holes than pavement on many of them.
- The entire country has done away with street signs.
- No one in Ireland really knows where they are.....they all need to ponder their current location when asked for directions and even then....often make up the answer knowing full well that it's all blarney. The only way to ensure finding where you're going is to get the same instruction from at least three people before you can believe it to be true.
Well....that was our day and at the end of the road we made it to Portrush where we checked into the Anvershiel B & B with hosts Erna and Victor. Our rooms are gorgeous and Erna is a wonderful host. Interestingly, I would have bet that she was from Scotland based on her accent but...she is from very near here. When I asked her about it she said that people think she is from Scotland all the time but that her's is the accent common to people from the area around Derry. I guess that's cuz we're in Northern Ireland now - a part of the U.K. We had a great walk along the promenade that follows the white sandy beaches that this part of the island is famous for. The sand is sugary fine and beautifully white. The waves crash in over it and it's so beautiful! The only thing that isn't so good is that the temperatures are not really conducive to swimming. The wind whips in off the water and most of the people who are in the water (and there aren't very many of them) are wearing wet suits.
Even though it's kind of chilly....it really is a beautiful place and tomorrow morning I'm looking forward to visiting that natural wonder, the Giant's Causeway.
till next time.....
L & L
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