I am doing laundry at Trinity College in Dublin after having checked into the student residences for my last night in Ireland. It is always nice to revisit a place – familiarity breeding a sense of comfort and belonging – though when I first stepped off the train upon in arrival in Dublin an hour ago, after travelling south from the quiet northern coast, I felt a bit like a deer from a meadow that had accidentally wandered into the city! Busy, busy! But, the wind quickly blew away my cobwebs, I recognized where I was, and I was soon striding along, jaywalking across busy streets like many a Dubliner.
Yesterday was my last long walk in beautiful Ireland. Early in the morning, I took the local bus to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in order to get there before all of the tour buses started arriving. The bridge is a suspension bridge, 60 feet long and 100 feet above the sea, operated by the National Trust. The origins of the bridge are that, for over 350 years, since 1755, fishmen have strung a rope bridge from the mainland to a small off-shore islet to allow them to access the best places to catch migrating salmon.
It was a very blustery, rainy morning. Usually, they allow 8 persons on the bridge at one time, but today they only let us pass one or two or three at a time, with no dawdling! I took pictures on the approach to the bridge, looking towards the islet.
And looking back along the chalk cliffs of the coast.
Here’s the bridge! The photo does not really give you a sense of how high up it is.
And now looking back after I had crossed. I only spent a small while on the islet as it was very very windy and wet! I felt like I could have almost been blow over!
I was able to take a quick photo before crossing back over to the mainland.
Here’s one last view of the bridge from another viewpoint.
After leaving the bridge, I was already quite wet and I started thinking that maybe instead of a 7 km coastal walk in the rain, I could just take the bus back to my bed and breakfast and read a book, or maybe go into town and find something to do indoors. But, I pushed myself to start off on the trail, and I am so glad I did!
Within a few minutes of walking along this grassy path, with fields to the left and the sea to the right, I felt very calm and happy and I remembered that this was going to be my last big walk in the Irish countryside.
The grassy path led to a church at Ballintoy…
and then turned right towards the sea and down into Ballintoy harbour which is apparently a shooting location for Game of Thrones. I will show just a few shots here, but if you’re a fan, I have more! Some of the shots are blurred as the wind was blowing rain onto my camera lens, but I kind of like the effect!
Here are some more shots from Ballintoy harbour.
There is a small restaurant at the harbour, Roark’s Kitchen, and I read the signs outside advertising dishes like seafood chowder, mackerel, and Irish stew. I was wishing I had an appetite, as I was very wet, but I was still quite full from my breakfast. I walked in anyways and this is what I saw. Heaven on earth!
And this is what I ordered. A freshly-made, sugared donut cut in half, with whipped cream spread in the middle and a strawberry on top. So happy, and not an ounce of guilt!
After my little feast, but with not quite enough time to dry out, I headed back outside and continued along the trail. There were caves in the chalk cliffs, and a collection of rocky islets along the shore.
I met an elderly couple, who regularly sample the cakes at Roukes and then walk along the path for a bit, and they kindly took my photo.
The path continued along the interesting shoreline, until I arrived at a gate.
Shortly after passing the gate (this view is looking back), and rounding a chalky, bouldery headland, the way continued along beautiful Whitepark Strand, a 2 km long white sand beach backed by dunes.
I walked a ways down the beach and, by that time, the rain had stopped and there was now just a warm breeze. I found a nice spot by some rocks to have my lunch and dry out my socks and boots a bit. As I was looking out at the blue-green water, I saw the black curving backs of porpoises quite close to shore, possibly feeding. It was so exciting to see them, but I didn’t get a picture !
Here’s a picture of me on the beach (I asked four different groups of people today to take my picture (!), I guess because it was my last day).
I walked further to about mid way along the beach, and took this picture looking forward. The headland you can see ahead was part of my hike the day before to the Giant’s Causeway.
And this view back, from where I’ve come. I didn’t want to leave!
But, I continued on down the beach, towards another little harbour, Port Braddon.
And just before arriving there, and then climbing up a road back to my bed and breakfast, Ireland gave me one last little gift, beach cows!
So, now my blog is done (and my laundry is done too), so I’m going to go for a short stroll in Dublin and have dinner at O’Neal’s, a pretty pub very near the university that I intended to eat at last time I was here, after having taken its picture. Only one more blog to go on this marvelous holiday that I’ve had. Hopefully St. John’s decides to show me its sunnier side, or at least something gentler than that deluge of rain from before! So, I’m off for a pint of cider and a meal, feeling both happy to go home, and sad to leave Ireland. Goodnight from Dublin.
