Well, almost perfect. It was fogged in as we woke up, but by 10:30 it had all burnt off and we had another cloudless sunny day. Three in a row. That just doesn’t happen in Ireland. It’s almost like we are in Scottsdale but with cool temps.
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We decided to take it easy today staying fairly close to Portstewart. We drove about five miles to Portrush and then realized I had forgotten my camera. After circling back to get it, we were ready to roll with our picnic lunch in hand. First stop was at White Rocks Beach. When we in the area two years ago, it was pouring rain most of the time, so we hadn’t yet stopped to view this impressive spot. Thoroughly picturesque and enjoyable.
Next stop was the ruins of Dunluce Castle which dates back to around 1500. It was established by the MacQuillans who were soon enough ousted by the MacDonalds, a dominant family in the Antrim region. In the 1600’s Randal MacDonald and his men participated in the Irish Rebellion which was devastatingly put down at Kinsale. Randal was spared when he surrendered to King James VI. Randal and then his son, also named Randal, became Earls of Antrim and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle at Dunluce Castle. Randal II was arrested in 1642 in another Irish uprising. He regained control of Dunluce in 1655, but the castle gradually fell to ruin as the MacDonalds moved their seat of power to Glenarm Castle where it remains today. (TMI = “too much information” for most, but this blog aims occasionally to educate as we go along. Snicker.)
Next it was time for lunch under the beautiful sun along the ocean.
Then we stopped for a good look at White Park Bay. There was a long path down to the beach, but we decided not to take it on, enjoying the view from above. There is a hostel located here that looks nice enough to be a three-star hotel.
We headed back to Portstewart where we stopped along the promenade to have a delicious ice cream cone sitting by the sea. Elaine decided to take the cliff walk home from here, so I went to Shenanigan’s Pub for a pint, watched a couple of horse races on TV, and reached our street just as Elaine exited the cliff walk. We went home after getting the car washed at a self wash not far from Kinvara Cottage. The wash was needed as there was ample evidence of seagulls (“rats with wings” as they are called by one Aussie we met in Caernarfon) on the car.
Dinner tonight is a return visit to Harry’s Beach Shack. Elaine started with Courgette Soup (indescribably good) while I had Fisherman’s Scotch Egg (different and exquisite). We both the house specialty, haddock and chips. 30 years ago we had fish and chips on Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia and have been looking for its match ever since. Tonight we found it. The best!
See you tomorrow!
