Giant's Causway

After exploring Bollymoney in Northern Ireland, we headed up even further to Giant's Causeway.  This unique geological structure was a long time checklist on my places to see.  I didn't think it was going to happen on this trip because we weren't really planning on heading this far north, but because of our changes at the last minute, we had time! The parking was kind of funky and thanks to the advice of our host we saved ourselves some serious money like $40-50 by NOT parking at the UNSECO site and just parking at the railway station lower on the hill and walking up.  Our host told us it wasn't illegal and the trail to get to the causeway was open to the public but they built it in a way to make you feel like you have to go in through the visitor's center - price of admission to the center includes parking.  We oped for the local approach and paid for parking at the nearby railway center and they had restrooms for use too (which might not sound like a big deal but when you're road tripping in a foreign country and trying to save money you need to know where the free restrooms are). 

 This sign was pretty great welcoming to the mini train station. but once we were done with our business and had our parking secure, we walked up the hill to find the trailhead for the Giant's Causeway.

 It's not just the black basalt rocks here that are beautiful, it's the whole coast.

 I've always been a sucker for the textures of moss, water, and mineralization.

 Finally, to the naturally occurring hexagon shaped stones.

 We got there mid to afternoon and I think the sunlight might have been the very best possible lighting.

I'm including too many photos of myself here because it's so beautiful and I'm so happy I was here in real life.  Sometimes I think about the things I've accomplished simply by wanting them and it fills me with such gratitude and joy.

 I asked the husband to take one million photos and he totally obliged.

 and then I edited them with my custom presets.

hydroflask and boss dog sticker to keep us hydrated.

Okay, this one he took on his phone and told me it was a good one.

Thank goodness for self timers as well, otherwise we'd never get photos together traveling without kids.

I actually went down after him to the water to touch it and feel it, just to believe it was real.

And finally the most interesting thing I saw, these melted coins eroded from the salt and sea over the years? does it even take years? there were whole columns filled with coins rusting and decaying like this, which I will say rude humans stop destroying nature with your possessions but also so cool that nature is like nah that can't stay here.  Nature is like the mom who tells you no, but you don't listen so she makes you listen.  She is always right and her word is god, watch out if you're not respecting her. 

Northern Ireland (or Norn Iron as the locals say)

To be quite honest I'm not in the best mood writing this, but I'm forcing myself to keep writing, keep posting, keep editing and working on my businesses.  Sometimes showing up is all we've got, so today I'm showing up to post about our travels to Northern Ireland. 

When we were traveling we changed our plans last minute to go to Northern Ireland, it required cancelling AirBNBs I'd booked months in advance, with no refund.  I try to be flexible when traveling and sometimes it's worth the last minute changes.  We missed our tickets to the Cliffs of Moher and our airbnb was non refundable but the sacrifice was totally worth it.  It was one of my favorite parts of the trip, and we loved our tiny cottage.  We drove up north as quickly as we could from Waterford and stopped along the way at some small towns.

After we arrived our tiny Irish cottage, we talked with our host for a bit before driving out to find a restaurant open.  We stopped at McLaughlin's Corner for a late night dinner, it was Thanksgiving in the states so we wanted somewhere with wifi to facetime home and call our kiddos as the cottage didn't have internet.  We had a lovely conversation with our server and enjoyed sharing our stories with her of overpriced healthcare and debt induced education, she'd never been to the US and we convinced her to finish school in Ireland before leaving. 

The next morning, we headed to Ballymena and then to Bollymoney to check out the Memorial Garden for the Dunlop Brothers.  The husband likes motorcycles and their history and this was the reason we swapped plans at the last minute.  It was pretty humbling to stand in the garden and read off the list of races, won by these brothers.  Motorcycles aren't my thing as I can only see the danger of them, so I'll never ride one, but I'll also never accomplish the list of wins.  If there's something you love and it's worth dying for, well I guess I would keep going too knowing the risks.

Obsessed with all the fairy gardens and details in public parks.

Don't know for sure, but I think these are winterberries, I saw them everywhere and love them.

Forever obsessed with the rebel plants growing in the cracks and crevices of stone. 

made him stop and take a selfie with me.

After a long drive, a late dinner at McLaughlin's Corner.

Thanksgiving Dinner. I got veggie fajitas because it was the only vegetarian thing on the menu.  the Guinness made up for it. 

The cottage had no heat, so we had the fire going and the bed had heated blankets, it was so cozy and intimate. Would definitely stay here again.  

Early morning light before heading into Ballymoney.

View from the front door.

A quick stop in town walking around to explore Kilrea.

Catholic.

Graves.

I've never seen this before but they're plants in greenhouse like jars.  

Protestant.

Sheep.

Wild Flowers.

Dunlop Brother's Memorial Garden.

More wild berries and shrubs.

After touristing we stopped for lunch at a small cafe Bob and Berts.

We had to wait until after lunch for Joey's Bar to open, a family pub now owned by the family of Joey Dunlop.  So when we were done eating we walked down to Joey's Bar to grab a pint and pay homage to these great racers.

Photographs, heirlooms and pieces of the brother's bike are pieces among the decor.

Next stop, Giant's Causeway.

And, I'd like to just say that I'm feeling much better after forcing myself to do write even when I didn't feel like it, the more I reflected on this trip and the special moments, the more gratitude filled the frustration, so thanks for reading along, and allowing me to process my emotions while sharing our travels.