Ambling Around Antrim

May 31, 2014

Today we woke up to a beautiful sunny and warm day...yes in Ireland! We drove up north to the coast and went to the Giant's Causeway. We had been here back in February but it was cold and rainy so it was nice to be here again in the SUN! It honestly was a beautiful day. 

Everyone is all ready with their audio guides

This is called the "Giant's Boot". This is a basalt rock which has weathered into the shape of a boot. One legend tells how Finn McCool's boot came off as he fled from the Scottish Giant. 

L had to go to the bathroom after this point so I had to walk back to the visitors center. I sent K and T with Mom C so that they could all continue the trail...I also sent my camera with K. I think she somehow took 200 pictures in 30 minutes. 

The trail going UP the hill 

These three men are swimming...the water must be FREEZING!

When we all met up in the visitors center we headed off to our next stop, the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge. Again, last time we did this it was rainy and cold and the bridge was empty. L was really excited to bring Mom C and MC to the rope bridge. L had been telling me for weeks she was going to hold Aunt M's hand when she crossed the bridge. She had it all planned out! 

We stopped and took a few pictures on a pullout

The first view of the rope bridge 

T and K crossing the bridge

MC, L, and Mom C coming over the bridge

Here comes L with her Aunt M

We spend some time on the little island since the weather was just gorgeous. Last time it was so wet and rainy it would not have been safe to explore the island (actually it may have even been closed off that day - but I can't remember). 

How fun it would be to kayak here 

Who planted grass on top of that island?

The lines were just crazy long

As we were leaving the Garmin has us hanging over the edge...a little scary!

We drove the coastal road all the way back to Belfast. Its a beautiful drive that goes through lots of small villages. The views are just spectacular! We went to evening mass in Carrickfergus and then we started the adventure of finding a place for dinner. The first place we tried had an hour wait so we just decided to drive into Belfast. We found a restaurant that was attached to a hotel. Yeah! Food! We realized at dinner that a few of us (and myself) were a little sunburnt from our day in the sun. Can you believe it? We got sun burned in northern Ireland! We will be telling this story for years.

After dinner we drove back to our B&B for the night since we were exhausted from all the walking we had done that day. K made sure we had our breakfast forms filled out and she turned them all in for us. Then it was time for sleep!