An American Visit

Dave’s parents visited us for a week and we had some fun and exciting times along the way.  In addition to checking off the city hall tour, Titanic Exhibit, Belfast Castle, and tour around the city, we also revisited Giant’s Causeway, took our first walk across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and our first tour of the Mourne Mountains. 

Part way through their visit, some friends of Dave’s parents & their son arrived and went with us up and down the North Irish coast.  Giant’s Causeway was still as grand as it had been when we visited with my family in July, but this time there was a fraction of the number of tourists and the weather could not be beat.  Whereas July provided gale-force winds and rain pelting our cheeks like rice coming out of thousands of BB guns, our September visit provided blue skies and a breeze so light that there was barely a visible wave rolling into shore.

The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge was a fun tourist trap but also one of historical significance.  Paying a toll allowed one to walk across the 20 meter wide and 30 meter deep chasm to Carrick Island where fishermen used to go to check on their salmon nets.  The rope bridge now has hand ropes on each side, but when the fishermen were utilizing the bridge for work there was only a hand rope on one side to grasp.  We also found out that supposedly there are Basking sharks, dolphins and porpoises swimming off the coast of the island – we didn’t see any, and were content with the sea views that went on for miles. 

Toby was able to come with us into the Mourne Mountains, which after living at the foot of the Rocky Mountains for four years seemed more like the Mourne Hills.  However, they were still grand in stature and beautiful enough to take our breath away.  We happened to pick an especially clear day; apparently most days in the Mournes are quite stormy.  Although the wind had fun whipping through long hair and blowing away anything weighing less than Toby, the gold sun shining in the blue sky on the green Mournes left one wondering if these were the hills referred to by the 121 psalmist who lifted his eyes and spoke to God.   The roads to and in the Mournes were barely wide enough for our 7 seat Euro sized car, and yet in several parts a full sized farm tractor managed to squeeze pass us without running us completely off the road.  Parts of the hilly roads with their sudden hair pin turns left us feeling like we were on a real-life Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.  At one point on one of the twisty roads, we came to an abrupt stop, and Dave, his dad, and Steve, one of their friends hopped out of the car.  We were puzzled as to what they were doing, until we realized that we had come upon a wild blackberry patch and the three of them were pulling off of the bushes and stuffing into their mouths as many blackberries as they could fit in the short window of time we sat idling on the narrow stretch of asphalt.  Once back in the car with their maroon-colored grins revealing three satisfied stomachs, we continued on our journey.  One of the roads took us into the Silent Valley, a lovely park with Belfast’s water reservoir and home to a man-made wall about 5 feet high of rocks to separate Belfast’s water reservoir with that of another town. What is so remarkable about the wall of rocks is that the rocks, each about the size of a bowling ball and weighing much more, were hand-quarried and hand-carried all the way up one of the Mournes.  One of the informational signs described the men who built the wall as having hands made of shovels, and that seems to be the only way to explain how they managed such a feat.  Two other sights we took in while in the Mournes were a cork tree and a gum tree, neither of which I had ever seen in person before.  It was amazing to watch the gum tree bark work its way off the tree in colorful patterns, and feel the spongy cork tree bark spring back to form after my thumb pushed into it.  Both added to the awe that was inspired by the Mournes. 

We were sad to say goodbye to Dave’s parents and their friends after a fun week of adventures.  However, we know that our adventure in Northern Ireland still has a few more months and at least one more adventure starting in November.  Until then, we are basking in the memories of a fun trip and looking forward to new memories we will form together in the land of the green rolling hills.

Jan (Dave's mom) sitting in the Lord Mayor's chair

John (Dave's dad) sitting in the Lord Mayor's chair

Jan & John in front of Belfast Castle

The Coast

The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge

After we crossed the rope bridge

Sitting on the basalt columns making up Giant's Causeway

Getting blown away in the Mourne Mountains

The Mournes

Here, on the top mountain, you can see part of the wall of hand-quarried rocks

Gum Tree

Cork Tree

Our last supper together, eating at the Barking Dog restaurant