We had taken up Rob’s offer to take us to visit the tourist attractions of Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and The Giant’s Causeway.
Rob stayed in the car as we left for the rope bridge which was a long, cliff-top walk, following the azure water whose colour was surely stolen from our Barrier Reef back home. “It will take quite a while” I said as we piled out of the car and said goodbye. “I’ll be alright, you go on” Rob replied, and so we did. We reached the bridge and had to queue for a while to cross, we weren’t the only tourists on the Antrim Coast today. Lilly waited as we crossed the swinging bridge and quickly explored Carrick-a-Rede Island. We sat and took photos in the long, soft grass on the far side closest to Scotland, the grass was scattered with purple, white and yellow wild flowers. Gulls drifted on the breeze on the way to their cliff side homes streaked with yellow lichen.
Lilly was waiting, her face decorated with her beautiful smile, she rubbed by back. It was not long until I felt a little stronger although still quite shaky. We climbed the steps and dirt track, AJ and John gave Lilly a little push from behind on the steep bits, God love ya Lilly – you did so well, and we all made it back to Rob who was waiting in the hot car. I don’t know how he did it with the temptation of a cafe only metres from where we had parked. I needed a drink and to try to calm myself down and stop shaking. AJ ran to the car to ask Rob if he wanted a drink or and ice-cream at the cafe, he was hungry and wanted to head down the road to find somewhere for lunch. We ended up in The Bushmill’s Inn where I had celebrated my birthday years before, our treat. Lunch was ok, my seafood chowder was filled with salmon and mussels but I was horrified to chew on the beard of a mussel, sand and all – it was like chewing on a fur ball! I was even more horrified to see they had not taken it off the bill when it had been returned to the kitchen minus only four mouthfuls, then to short change me ten pounds! On the bright side, I did have a little pot of lovely fresh prawns and soda bread but I don’t think I will be back the next time I visit Bushmills.
I was excited for Alex to see The Giant’s Causeway. We arrived at 5.30, lucky we were no later as the last bus to shuffle the tourist hoards down the steep hill left the tourist office at 5.40pm. Rob wasn’t up to the walk; we were all disappointed the busses didn’t run later, especially in the summer when it doesn’t get dark until after 10pm. Lilly decided to take the trip with us, she is quite the trooper and although her knees ached, all she asked for was a wee stop once in a while and the boys gave her a wee push up a few of the steepest parts until we returned to Rob in the car park happily chatting to a new found friend. John, AJ and I had fun exploring the honeycomb-like rock formations. Alex spotted the Giant’s Boot and together we found the Wishing Chair, we sat in it and took a cheesy photo. I sat in the shade with Lilly while John took photos of AJ lying on the Giant’s Boot, we had a ball.
We didn’t get home until about 9ish and then lovely Lilly whipped out the fry pans for her much loved Ulster Fry. A traditional Ulster Fry consists of soda bread, wheaten bread, potato bread, black pudding, sausages, bacon, pancakes and tomato; a heart attack on a plate some might say. Rob joined us at the table just as we were finishing up, JR was dish pig tonight. Thanks for the delicious memories Lilly!
Rob stayed in the car as we left for the rope bridge which was a long, cliff-top walk, following the azure water whose colour was surely stolen from our Barrier Reef back home. “It will take quite a while” I said as we piled out of the car and said goodbye. “I’ll be alright, you go on” Rob replied, and so we did. We reached the bridge and had to queue for a while to cross, we weren’t the only tourists on the Antrim Coast today. Lilly waited as we crossed the swinging bridge and quickly explored Carrick-a-Rede Island. We sat and took photos in the long, soft grass on the far side closest to Scotland, the grass was scattered with purple, white and yellow wild flowers. Gulls drifted on the breeze on the way to their cliff side homes streaked with yellow lichen.
My stomach had begun to turn and my head was light. I was coming down from the adrenaline rush I received on my way over the rope bridge, which was suspended high above the water and rocks below. I dared not look down. I knew I had to cross it again to get back, and it was not a thought I was comfortable with. Silently I walked with my fear and crossed the bridge. On arriving on terra firma again, my knees began to buckle, I was weak and tears ran down my cheeks. I haven’t been comfortable with heights for a long time but I had never reacted like this. I guess I am getting worse with age.
Lilly was waiting, her face decorated with her beautiful smile, she rubbed by back. It was not long until I felt a little stronger although still quite shaky. We climbed the steps and dirt track, AJ and John gave Lilly a little push from behind on the steep bits, God love ya Lilly – you did so well, and we all made it back to Rob who was waiting in the hot car. I don’t know how he did it with the temptation of a cafe only metres from where we had parked. I needed a drink and to try to calm myself down and stop shaking. AJ ran to the car to ask Rob if he wanted a drink or and ice-cream at the cafe, he was hungry and wanted to head down the road to find somewhere for lunch. We ended up in The Bushmill’s Inn where I had celebrated my birthday years before, our treat. Lunch was ok, my seafood chowder was filled with salmon and mussels but I was horrified to chew on the beard of a mussel, sand and all – it was like chewing on a fur ball! I was even more horrified to see they had not taken it off the bill when it had been returned to the kitchen minus only four mouthfuls, then to short change me ten pounds! On the bright side, I did have a little pot of lovely fresh prawns and soda bread but I don’t think I will be back the next time I visit Bushmills.
I was excited for Alex to see The Giant’s Causeway. We arrived at 5.30, lucky we were no later as the last bus to shuffle the tourist hoards down the steep hill left the tourist office at 5.40pm. Rob wasn’t up to the walk; we were all disappointed the busses didn’t run later, especially in the summer when it doesn’t get dark until after 10pm. Lilly decided to take the trip with us, she is quite the trooper and although her knees ached, all she asked for was a wee stop once in a while and the boys gave her a wee push up a few of the steepest parts until we returned to Rob in the car park happily chatting to a new found friend. John, AJ and I had fun exploring the honeycomb-like rock formations. Alex spotted the Giant’s Boot and together we found the Wishing Chair, we sat in it and took a cheesy photo. I sat in the shade with Lilly while John took photos of AJ lying on the Giant’s Boot, we had a ball.
We didn’t get home until about 9ish and then lovely Lilly whipped out the fry pans for her much loved Ulster Fry. A traditional Ulster Fry consists of soda bread, wheaten bread, potato bread, black pudding, sausages, bacon, pancakes and tomato; a heart attack on a plate some might say. Rob joined us at the table just as we were finishing up, JR was dish pig tonight. Thanks for the delicious memories Lilly!
