Day 10: Northern Ireland

Today's plan is to visit attractions in Northern Ireland.  Just after 8:00 we started our 2 hour journey to Northern Ireland.  Jim and I have polished our driving skills and Jim confidently drove the hills of Donegal which faded into the flat lands when we entered Northern Ireland.  It was weird thinking in miles and mph again.  Skirting Londonderry, or Derry as the people in the republic call it, was a challenge with multi-lane roundabouts some of which had traffic lights to control the cars entering it.

The hills of Donegal County

Windmills just inside North Ireland

The River Foyle outside Londonderry

We arrived at the Giant's Causeway just before 11:00 and joined a guided tour led by Mark whose father and grandfather also guided people here.  People have been coming here since the early 1800's. Back then, people took a train to Portrush and then a trolley along the coast.  The whole area was a marketplace of souvenirs and the Earl of Antrim made a lot of money charigng admissions and taking a cut of sales and hotels.  In the late 1800's it was turned over to the National Trust who returned it to a natural site.  It is now a UNESCO heritage site.

The basalt towers came oozing out from the earth long ago. In the last ice age the earth was scraped off by glaciers to reveal them as they are today.  The natural beauty is captured in the pictures below...

The waves are big!

Marilyn has to lean into the wind

Liz marvels at the basalt towers

Marilyn and Dwight on Fionn Macools Boot

Marilyn enjoys the sights

Who is that giant on the causeway?

As you can see in the photos, the wind was fierce and the tide was coming. This resulted in big waves and seal sightings.  Luckily the sky remained blue so we could make these awesome photos.

We returned to Bushmills famished and looking for a pint and some lunch.  No bars served food but the Bush Road bar allowed us to bring in some food.  Down the street was a little Fish and Chips shop.  The food was great!  Jim, Liz and I had Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas.  Marilyn had a battered chicken sandwich and onion rings.  Even though we ate a week's worth of fat, we enjoyed every bite.

A tower in Bushmills

Refreshed we set off to nearby Dunluce Castle on the coast.  We decided not to pay the 6 pound entry fee.  Rather, we snapped some pictues from beyond the entry point and then hit the road.

Next, we visited the Dark Hedges which was the location for episode 1 of season 2 of Game of Thrones.  The arching trees provided a spooky King's Road that Arya fled Kings Landing on.  Check it out...

Dwight looks for Arya in the Dark Hedges

After a couple of brief stops for some food, gas, ice cream and snacks, we arrived home just before sunset.  I write this blog entry with a cold Tennant's lager.  What a great day.