Weekend Trip to the North Coast

From Photos for Blog

If you look closely, you can see the outlines of the hills of Scotland at the back, in the middle of the picture between the island and the rocky cliffs.

This last weekend I had an incredible time on Ireland's Northern Antrim coast. Without question, one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland, with a sea stretched as far as the eye can see that captivates the imagination and get's the blood stirring with a desire to set off in a boat on a great adventure. It's no wonder the British conquered the world by sea and had one of the (if not) the most powerful presences on the ocean of any nation well into the 20th century.

Seth (former JBU grad) and his wife Julie invited me up to Julie's parents house in Port Stewart. It's a wee coastal village comprised mostly of summer vacation homes and retired couples, with a few year-round families. It's located minutes from Castlerock, where C.S. Lewis holidayed as a child with his mother. Saturday morning we had a wonderful walk along the promenade in Port Stewart, stopping in to Roughan's (pronounced 'rowan' - don't ask me how, it just is. :-) for coffee and a bite to eat. It's on the 2nd (US, 1st in the UK) floor and looks out over the entire bay into the blue ocean. The pictures by Peter Nash that line the wall are beautiful, but pale in comparison to the view that captures the imagination through the large glass windows.

Beyond that, a walk along the beach at Downhill (literally situated 'down the hill' from the Bishop's palace. :-) and a bit of a walk around Munseden Temple (aka the Bishops palace and grounds), before heading back home to catch the Irish vs. England 6-Nations rugby match and relax for an evening in front of the tele.

Sunday morning was church at the small, but vibrant Presbyterian church there in Port Stewart, led by a young minister with a passion for his congregation, for Christ, and for the world. A bite for lunch, then we set off on the 3 hour drive home along the coastal route.

Twice as long as the 'usual' way from Belfast to Port Stewart, the drive that curves along the coastline of the Glens of Antrim lauds itself for it's 'outstanding coastal beauty'. Without question, it is one of the most beautiful places I've been. From the white rock of Ballintoy and the wee cafe at the bottom of the hill, to the stretched out green pastures that made me think I was in Scotland, to the ruins of churches and homes all along the way - the drive home was captivating. We were fortunate to have sun nearly the entire way and we were mesmerized. Quite by accident, we dropped in to this little carpark and walked up to an old church and burial site. One of the tombstones dated the person's death to 1785! That was around (or before) the time that Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln were born - only 9 years after the 13 colonies declared independence from London with the Declaration of Independence. Incredible!

So, I leave you with the picture that started this post that is really more of a tease then helpful (since it's taken with my phone). If you ever get the chance to come to Northern Ireland, on a sunny day, take the road that passes by Ballintoy and Ballycastle, Cushendun and Cushendall and stretches from Dunluce Castle outside Port Rush to Carickferguss Castle just out side of Belfast - it will invoke a forgotten imagination to life and reawaken your spirit of adventure.