The North Coast

On Sunday, we got up to go to a couple of spots on the North Coast: the Giant's Causeway, and Dunluce Castle. The Causeway is an impressive natural rock formation comprising thousands of hexagonal rocks — a natural wonder —, and Dunluce Castle is known for its kitchens having fallen off the cliff on which it's built and into the sea.

The drive up was lovely, as expected. We drove through Bushmills, where they make whiskey. Graham told us that it is the second oldest distillery in the world. It seemed to be a lovely town, just passing through.

Gordon and May had gone to the Causeway two weeks previous, so once we drove there they let Abby and me go off on our own. I estimated that we would take about 45 minutes. We were gone almost two hours. It was gorgeous weather, and I totally lost track of time. Now, the weather wasn't bright and sunny; in fact it was overcast and chilly. But there was only a little wind (every now and then, for interesting hair photos) and the sky was quite dramatic. The photos are so much better for having had that weather.

On the way down to the Causeway.

One of my favorite views of the Causeway.

There were a number of Americans there, and we were finding it hard not to be put off by them. Seriously, why are Americans so loud? Why do they take up so much space? Then we met a nice young American who plays mandolin and started a conversation with us about my ukulele, so we felt like we shouldn't judge all American tourists. Counting him and us, there are at least three good ones out there.

Being quite crowded, we initially had some difficulty getting photos without dozens of people in the background. However, once we set up the Yashica TLR on a tripod, and I got out the ukulele and started playing, we noticed people began to give us a bit more room for photos. Maybe we looked professional. Or else we just looked crazy. We did take our share of touristy snaps, too.

Yashica and ukulele.

Abby conquering

Tourists

I gave Abby my tin whistle so she'd have something to pose with as well.

My favorite one so far. Can't wait to see how the film shots turn out.

After we finally returned, we met Gareth, Leona, and their three girls near Dunluce Castle, where they'd been waiting for quite some time. (Sorry, guys.) This was my first time seeing Leona and Leia since 2007, when Leia was 2 years old. She is now 7, and eagerly greeted me and Abby. She's a real chatterbox, and couldn't wait to tell and show us everything about herself. Even when I met her in 2007, I could tell she was very intelligent and had an outgoing personality. Those attributes have only grown with age. She is absolutely lovely.

Leia.

This was also my first time to meet Rebekah and Emilia. Rebekah is independent but I would like to hang out with her sometime. Emilia is suspicious of people in glasses, but I eventually got her to smile at me.

Rebekah and ice cream.

A wee smile from Emilia.

May packed a nice picnic lunch, and we sat near the cliffside, eating sandwiches and drinking tea as the wind from the sea grew colder and more cutting. Can't complain, with such good company, though.

Site of our picnic.

Emilia, Gareth, and Leona on our cold picnic.

Emilia and papa.

Good dad.

Afterwards, we went to Dunluce Castle. I didn't pay much attention to the historical plaques because I'v been once or twice before. Let's just say it is a very old castle with Scottish mercenaries among its former residents.

Dunluce.

Near the part that isn't there.

Outside the coffee shop at Dunluce.

On the drive back, we passed through Portrush and Portstewart. There had just been a major motorbike race the day previous, so there were still a lot of bikers in town. Gordon took us along part of the race path, and explained that there's usually at least one fatality from these races each year. We didn't hear if anyone was killed this year, but it was easy to see how they could be, reaching speeds of 200mph on some of the straightaways. Taking place on city and country roads in Ireland, these straightaways were not very long.

Bikers, and a convent.

Vauxhall.

We returned home in the evening, and I think Graham joined us for dinner at home. We had a quiet evening at the end of a long day, made longer by brisk air and good company.