On Tuesday we set out  to see two of the “must see” attractions on the north coast of Ireland,  the Antrim Coast. Our first stop was the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge which extends 70 feet over  the ocean to  a small island that fishermen used to reach further out into the fishery.

From there  we went back up the coast to The Giant’s Causeway. This is a product of vulcanism  followed by glaciation. The basalt formed hexagonal pillars which from above look like a tessellation and from the side look like giant pillars.

During the glaciation the retreating glaciers stripped  away any soil leaving the rock formations exposed.  Some of us went with Rowan for a rather extended  hike to a promontory well beyond the Causeway for a different point of view. This brought us back to the Visitor Center where we rejoined those who elected not to take the hike for the ride back to Derry.

Wednesday, today as I write, we retraced much of that route with a pause in Bushmills, the home of the oldest licensed distillery, for relief while we continued on to Belfast with another stop for lunch following a nice walk down to a waterfall in Glennariff Forest Park.

 Fortunately the bus came down to the lodge to pick us up so we didn’t have to climb back up with full stomachs.

You may notice that these images show bright sunlight and even people in summer dress. Yes this is Ireland! the land of cool moist days with rain at least once a day and four seasons every day. The Irish are overheated and hiding from the sun. The tourists, us, are reveling in it.