Day 11 - Glens of Atrim
This morning we headed out again to explore Northern Ireland and the Causeway Coast. We mapped out a path that included trying to find this spot called the "Dark Hedges." (I think of my cute nephew, Wells, every time I see it. He would call them the "Dawk Hedges"). I'd found pictures of it while searching Pinterest for places in Ireland. I had no idea that it had anything to do with the HBO show Game of Thrones. Whatever that is...? Anyway, it was very unique and we really wanted to find it. It was on the way to the Glens of Antrim anyway. We zig-zagged all over the area trying to find it, which made us even more determined to find the darn thing! It felt like VICTORY when we crested a small hill and saw it up ahead. It was POURING down rain. Absolutely dumping. The roads all over had been flooded and we were driving through ponds in the country roads that splashed water up above the top of our car as we drove through, hoping not to get stuck! We braved the downpour with raincoats and an umbrella and a plastic bag for my camera. We got some good pictures and then I took a few minutes to just walk down the lane by myself in the rain. The trees offered no protection from the rain. In fact, there were areas where it was gathering water and dropping down from above like a hose running. It was so fun.
We continued an amazing drive down the coast. Every turn was stunning. The road goes right along the coast with huge, green mountains to the right and a stone wall and the ocean on the left. We turned up towards Cushendall and the Glenarif Forest Park, driving through evergreen forests lined with loads of tall purple wildflowers. (We think it is betony). A glenn is a long, deep valley going out to the sea. It is usually formed by glaciers. The walls of Glenariff had dozens of waterfalls plunging off the cliffs. It was like being in a Lord of the Rings movie!
The Glenarif Forest Park had a beautiful scenic viewpoint walk that we all did together and then Jason and I did the Waterfall hike down to Ess-na-laragh falls. The river was reddish brown, almost like root beer (or the other hikers we talked to said it looked like Guiness). The river even bubbled and fizzed and had foam in the eddies. I want to tell my kids that I hiked along a Root beer river in Ireland! I loved hiking on the wooden path along the river.
The last thing we wanted to do on our adventures today was to have a real, authentic Irish meal in a busy, local pub and enjoy the food and be in the middle of the action. I looked online at the library before we left this morning and found one close to Cushendall called "Mattie's Meeting Place." It had good reviews so we drove out to it. Turned out that we were the only ones there. I think the pubs must be busy for a late lunch and then drinks in the evening. We seemed to be the only ones thinking about dinner at 6pm. The decor was decent and the food was average but it was lonely and there was really no atmosphere to speak of. There was no music, just a flat screen TV on the wall blasting American music videos so we ate our greasy food while averting our eyes and listening to Madonna's remake of Bye-bye Miss American Pie. A little disappointing. Maybe we can find something good around Dublin.
We continued an amazing drive down the coast. Every turn was stunning. The road goes right along the coast with huge, green mountains to the right and a stone wall and the ocean on the left. We turned up towards Cushendall and the Glenarif Forest Park, driving through evergreen forests lined with loads of tall purple wildflowers. (We think it is betony). A glenn is a long, deep valley going out to the sea. It is usually formed by glaciers. The walls of Glenariff had dozens of waterfalls plunging off the cliffs. It was like being in a Lord of the Rings movie!
The Glenarif Forest Park had a beautiful scenic viewpoint walk that we all did together and then Jason and I did the Waterfall hike down to Ess-na-laragh falls. The river was reddish brown, almost like root beer (or the other hikers we talked to said it looked like Guiness). The river even bubbled and fizzed and had foam in the eddies. I want to tell my kids that I hiked along a Root beer river in Ireland! I loved hiking on the wooden path along the river.
The last thing we wanted to do on our adventures today was to have a real, authentic Irish meal in a busy, local pub and enjoy the food and be in the middle of the action. I looked online at the library before we left this morning and found one close to Cushendall called "Mattie's Meeting Place." It had good reviews so we drove out to it. Turned out that we were the only ones there. I think the pubs must be busy for a late lunch and then drinks in the evening. We seemed to be the only ones thinking about dinner at 6pm. The decor was decent and the food was average but it was lonely and there was really no atmosphere to speak of. There was no music, just a flat screen TV on the wall blasting American music videos so we ate our greasy food while averting our eyes and listening to Madonna's remake of Bye-bye Miss American Pie. A little disappointing. Maybe we can find something good around Dublin.
Me at the Dark Hedges.
The Dark Hedges. Jason took this picture and it is unedited!
The fields above Glenariff.
Mom at Glenariff, the most beautiful of the nine Glens of Antrim.
The Glenariff River.
The wooden walk along the Glenariff River.
The Glenariff River (looks like root beer).
The Root beer river. Carbonated and everything!
The wooden path on the river walk.
Ess-na-Grub Waterfall (falls of the hooves) at Glenarrif.
Ess-Na-Laragh Waterfall (falls of the mane).
Ess-Na-Laragh Waterfall.
A hurling mural on the side of a building in Cushendall.
Sitting at our lonely table at Mattie's Meeting House in Cairncastle, Ireland.
Nana navigating in the back seat. One pair of glasses for looking outside. One pair for reading the map! Pretty cute! I just love my Mom! I'm so glad I have been able to come on this trip with her and Jason.
A panoramic view at Glenariff Forest Park. Even the photograph can't quite do it justice!
A view on the drive along the Coastal Causeway. It looks like a slice of cake!
Comments
Post a Comment