I haven’t been on the road for the last three months for one reason or another – Esme wanting a sibling for the Duck-Duck a main one (could be twins) – and I needed to run in the new boots if I’m going to take them to Fuerteventura in January, fingers crossed. I decided, therefore, that a couple of days on the north coast and a few miles in the cold air would sort me and them right out.
Portballintrae and it is a bit crisp, I think is the best way to describe it. Never mind, as long as I keep moving should be fine. Strange memories returning – things I’d forgotten about for 40 years, which is the last time that I’d stayed here.The Bay View hotel (centre) is now all grown up with a fancy glass frontage and central heating,Donegal on the far side of Lough Foyle and in the far distance Malin Head.A one room fixer upper – maybe a bit bleak.Heading along the cliff edge – Gawd! Only for a few yards.Dunluce castle and in the distancce White Rocks bay.Six quid a pop to view. I’ll stay outside the fence, ty.That furthest head is the Giants’ Causeway and over in Scotland the sun is shining.The needles below and another view of White Rocks Bay. Hard to believe that I last walked it in 1998.And a little arch that will become the next needle.Wet, slimy and dangerous drops – I’m not having to go down.And a big hole in the process of becoming an arch.Down to the beach. Some brave souls are surfing in the somewhat chilly water and air.Right, the boots – which are far too bright in the daylight – have done a few miles on the hard stuff, time to try the sand.Big dunes. lovely to run down, heart bursting to climb. A baby compared to that one in Crete.You’d think that the sun was setting in the East.The old Portrush approaching. Remembering Kelly’s nightclub. Driving up from Belfast in my first car, a dark blue Vauxhall Viva, for the night because they were happy to let a 17 year-old in.Quite nice schooner sculpture.Over there, on top of the dark cliffs I met the girl with the bright green eyes. The rest of the North West 200 bike racing was ignored. God! I liked her – can’t remember her name though.Portrush harbour and their lifeboat.The actual sunset over Lough Foyle. Getting bloody cold now.And yet to the East we seem to have another one. Ramore head.Clouds well alight, Sheppard’s delight? or Armageddon?Is that the Pingu bod trapped in that house or an imitation immigrant Polish version on the cheap taking his job?At the bus stop waiting for my ride back to the hotel. Just in time as the light has gone.
Quite strange doing this again so many years later. I hate the fact that I’ve forgotten so much, but them’s the cards ya get dealt. Onwards.
