Falling back asleep at 5 did the trick, and I slept untilabout 10 in the morning. After a bit of an easy morning waking up with coffee, a shower and conversation, Deirdre and I headed over to pick up my father. Also there was Mauread, another of dad’s sisters, and the four of us headed out for the day.
It was a lovely afternoon, not because of what we did, but just being together with family. The weather was a bit wet, but that’s alright. Being from Seattle I’m use to a little rain.
Several miles to the east of Ballycastle is a World Heritage Location, Giant’s Causeway. It’s a geological formation, where the rocks have been shaped into patterns – hexagonal columns. It’s rather impressive. There are a few highlights all within walking distance. Because Deirdre and Mauread have seen the Giant’s Causeway loads of times, they stayed back, and dad who isn’t in great health took the shuttle bus with me one direction to the main site, then headed back on the bus while I explored on foot and eventually walked back.
There are a number of nice spots that can give a visitor an appreciation for what there is geographically. The local legend is that a giant build a bridge on that spot between Ireland and Scotland (where there is a similar formation). I highly recommend the area.
Then we drove around, visited the smallest church in Ireland, which was closed, and drove around a little bit more. After a stop off at a pub where I had some coffee, we eventually made our way back to Mauread’s house where we ordered dinner. Deirdre’s and Mauread’s husbands rounded out the group of six. We spent the evening talking and joking, and oddly enough I chose not to drink at all. I was tired and wanted to get past the jet lag. I was hoping to be able to do so be getting a good night’s sleep straight through unlike the previous night. I was able to call home and talk to my family, and eventually we made our way back to Deirdre’s house where I went to bed.
And couldn’t fall asleep.