The North Coast

The North Coast

May 22

Today was a slower morning and a late afternoon rush. We slept in with no alarm to worry about and got to the breakfast at the Inn about 10:15 (with 15 minutes to spare). After breakfast we checked out and headed in to Portrush to find an optician as Rita needed a wee fix for her glasses. After getting lost for a bit, we did locate the office and the receptionist took care of her. That was all well and good, but as we walked back to where we parked the car, the most delicious aroma was wafting its way out of a small bakery – Tom Toms and we could not resist.

We bought some pasties to take along for our lunch, and also a sweet treat each.

We then headed off for the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This was something on Rita's wish list for this trip. It's never been something that I was that interested in. If you ever want to do this keep these things in mind: The walk from the pay booth to the rope bridge is .62 miles each way, up and down a steep, at times, pathway. As you near the end of the walk the last part is first down 72 uneven stone steps, then more gravel pathway until you reach 88 uneven stone steps, and finally some steep metal steps, maybe 20 to get to the bridge. If you have survived this you get to cross the bridge – 100 feet above the water – and climb up another embankment to the top of the view across the bridge. And if all that was not enough, remember what goes down, must also come back up, so the step climb is the beginning of your return and the .62 miles back to the beginning. There are no alternatives. No shuttles, no other options. And Rita made it with lots of perseverance and guts!

I walked to the first set up steps, too one look at them and said, “I'll wait here!” And I did.

We also stopped off at Dunlunce castle and took another look. We had both been there 3 years ago, so no need to pay to walk around. Same this with the Downhill Demense. I was going to walk out there, but we were running behind, and I saw how far it was, and decided not to take the time or effort.

After that we headed on the A2 into Derry and found our B&B with the help of the lady of Rita's Samsung cell phone.

We are outside of Derry looking across the hills to the lights coming on in the city. It's beautiful. And if I didn't mention it earlier, today was a beautiful day, warm by Irish standards, and sunny. We hope for the same tomorrow.

I've having trouble posting pictures to the blog, so I will try and get some on FB as I have time to do some transferring.