Monday, January 15, 2018

Portrush.Portstewart


Today's adventures are brought to you by the letter R ... for rain. It was raining when we woke and it is raining now as we settle into our B&B. But we didn't let a little drizzle (torrential downpour with gusting winds) keep us from exploring and enjoying our day!! We slept in and enjoyed breakfast at the inn before starting our day. We packed up our things and loaded up our packs and set off on foot for the first destination of the day: Bushmill Distillery. 

If you aren't familiar with Bushmill Distillery, I'm sure you can guess from the name that it is where they make Bushmill Whiskey, the "other" (original) Irish whiskey -- or so the tour guide said. We enjoyed a guided tour through the actual whiskey plant, every stage from the making of the wort to the distilling to the bottling and labeling; I would definitely recommend the tour if you ever find yourself in that neck of the woods. The aroma throughout the Distillery was heavenly (if you enjoy whiskey, that is) and your ticket (which was only five sterling -- oh, right; we aren't using euros here ... apparently Northern Ireland doesn't use euros. Whoops.) got you not one but TWO free drinks at the end of the tour. It was really interesting to see how the whiskey is made (after all my years of chemistry and organic chemistry, I am an expert distiller) but more so interesting to learn how the whiskey gets its flavors and colors -- for those that have no idea, it is all about the barrels in which the whiskey is stored. After enjoying samples we set out for the next destination on our checklist for the day: Dunluce Castle. 

Dunluce Castle was originally built in 1513 by the McQuillan family, though by the 1600s it was the MacDonnell family that owned the castle. The castle is built into the steep walls of a cliff above the angry ocean below and is accessible via bridge. (When we used Ways to figure out where the castle was located, we were not quite as deterred as we should have been when it showed the castle in the middle of the ocean ...) The castle is in ruins today, but it is obvious how beautiful and majestic it was in its day. Walking through the remains of the castle, I could imagine what it was like to live there, the winds howling outside, the waves crashing into the cliff sides, and a roaring fire in the fireplace to keep the chill out. (I would have paid for a fire in the fireplace today!!) After exploring, we set off for our next destination: Portstewart, which is where our Bed and Breakfast is located. 

We intended to take the bus since we had already done quite a bit of walking and it was raining and windy ... but the bus "skipped an hour" meaning we had two options: wait two hours for a bus in the windy cold or walk an hour and a half in the windy cold to a town where we could catch a bus and get a coffee while we waited. We chose option two and started our four mile trek. Despite the pelting rain and the fierce wind, the views were amazing. The waves were powerful as they crashed upon the cliffs and beaches sending white foam flying up into the air. We were ready for rain -- we had rain coats and waterproof boots and rain covers for our packs, so though we were a little soggy and definitely wind blown, we were totally fine. 

We arrived in Portrush (four miles later) and wandered to the bus stop to catch a bus to Portstewart (only three miles away -- but it was four o'clock and getting dark and STILL raining). This is where we met Carroll. When Carroll saw us standing at the bus stop, I imagine what she really saw were two sad, wet, whimpering puppies in a box that said "free to a good home" because she swooped us up and insisted we walk with her to her home where she would then drive us to Portstewart. We insisted we could take the bus, but Carroll wasn't to be argued with -- apparently she finds stray travelers often (just last week it was a young couple from Australia and a month ago it was another American couple). We followed her to her beautiful seaside home where she again insisted we come inside for a cup of tea and shortbread cookie. We met her husband, Robert, who was completely un phased by our presence in his home further enforcing the theory that Carroll scoops up strays often. We learned that Robert had heart problems and Carroll got new hearing aides today and that Carroll visited Amish Pennsylvania a few years ago on a patchwork quilt tour and wanted to know how Amish America differs from "regular America" (um, vastly). We also learned that they have three grand daughters, one of which is in Southern Ireland on a six month internship feeding baby seals whilst wearing a wet suit and another of which is in Australia teaching the aborigine children with a boyfriend who they think is probably a long term thing meaning the grand daughter will not be moving back to Ireland any time soon. They recommended we move to New Zealand, as they love it there and would have moved there is they were younger. They also spent many years of their lives as weekly respite for special needs children -- it sounds like they have big hearts and enjoy caring for those who need it most (which does not say a lot for us as we sat warming in front of their fire drinking hot tea ...). After a little more chatting, Carroll drove us right to the front door of our bed and breakfast. We really are very grateful for her -- what a wonderful and giving couple. Not many people would welcome wet strangers into their homes and take them to their next destination. 

And finally, we arrived at our home for the night. The house is beautiful and the room is warm and stylish and comfortable -- and has a great view of the angry, crashing ocean waves. We changed out of our wet clothes and rested for less than an hour before putting on dry layers to head out to dinner. Dinner was a ten minute walk down to the promenade -- it took a lot for us to go back out and not just eat the trail mix and cookies we had and call it dinner. But we were brave and were rewarded with a delicious dinner! After one more courageous walk through the gusting rain, we arrived back at our B&B to turn in for the night. Pictures: 

 
Bushmill Distillery!! 

They didn't allow any photos in the Distillery / on the tour -- not because they are opposed to pictures, but because the alcohol content in the air is so high that no electronics are allowed inside the factory! 

Mmmmmm -- this is their twelve year aged whiskey. Their most popular whiskey is Black Bush, aged eight years. 

At least they didn't tell us to hop in a boat and paddle out to the castle!! 

Perk of lots of rain: lots of rainbows!! We saw tons of them today. 

Ô There's the castle!! 

It's a castle with a view! 

: ) 

Some of the beautiful views on our walk along the coast. 

Drinks with dinner ... 

... and curry muscles. Yum yum yum!! 

Do we look cold and wet? I think we hide it well. 

And now we are settled into our room listening to the rain and the waves and drifting off to sleep. More adventures tomorrow!! 

Good night. 



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