The North before the South

Wednesday, 12 May

Plotting and planning, booking and rebooking have been the main activities over the last few days. More walks around beautiful Ballycastle... oh hell, why not... have some more vision to make your eyes green with envy!! This place changes day by day... Fairhead is just like a waterpainting that changes constantly. Could you ever get sick of watching the play of light, clouds and mist on this magical landscape? No fairys or leprechauns.. just the wonder of nature at its sublime best!!













But still... today there was time for a drive.. such a beautiful day again. Revisiting some of the places we had briefly glimpsed on our last drive along the coast. Today was action day!!

Carrick-a-rede

Finally I got to see the place I have promised to take Joan after she has departed this mortal coil and gone to a better place (huh? after seeing his place, there is a better place?). Action Jacksonette was at her best .. burtsing with energy. The scenery and colours from the cliffs at Carrick-a-rede were brilliant, and my poor pathetic camera just couldn't take the best of it - good as it is for a point-guess-shoot.












Of course I got into trouble again!! As we made our way down the narrow windey road to the car park, I couldn't help but notice the motorbikes parked, probably here for the NorthWest 200! Some I don't think I'd seen before. I gazed at the glistening azure ocean, diamond sparkles glinting from the soft cap waves... the vibrant green of the fields that were bursting with life, the placid black-faced sheep grazing peacfully, the sheer cliffs circled by nesting seagulls, the white surf rushing into the narrow beaches at the bottom of the rugged cliffs... and realised it wasn't going anywhere for the moment.

So.. off I run to check out the motorbikes!!! LOL!! Hey.. they could have been taking off any time as soon as my back was turned. Come on, would it be me any other way?? Besides, these roads are crying out to ride on!!

Anyway, after laughing off the chastisement, I got to do the excellent long walk on the well fenced path along the cliffs to the infamous Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge. It looks so cool, and the rock island on the other side beckoned with mystery. Wow.. the views!! Not a place to be in high winds or big surf and tides let me tell you.

From a distance came an occasional grunting noise.. no, not the sound of someone trying to climb the seemingly million and one steps to the bridge... a bird? turns? nope... seals... camped just on the other side of the rock off the island.
The bridge? Not at all scarey. Didn't even move much. But it was a beautiful still day. Enough to get slightly reddened if sitting in the sun for a long time. The views again were amazing... and I still can't help being amazed at the plants and flowers that grow in so little soil, seemingly staight out of the rock itself. Not just lichens or mosses... full flowering plants and grasses. The tenacity of life!!!

Another climb up a million and one steps, breathless at the exercise and again the beauty of the place! Heh... bikers and other tourists also making their way down to the infamous bridge. We couldn't help notice how well we fit in - walk to it with coats or jackets on, then everyone returning clutching coats in hand along with cameras, kids, dogs etc. I had to pity the riders that had to lug their bike jackets up and down!! (half their luck!!). On to the next stop...