Gary-Summer: July 17, 2025 - North of Belfast

Thursday, July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025 - North of Belfast

Title: July 17, 2025 - North of Belfast
Hike Info : Description : Trail Lessons : Background : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type:Touring

Description:

View of Belfast from parking garage

I must be rested, having woken up around 4am. Sherri is awake as well. I lay in bed until 5:30. Not much to write about until our 7:30 breakfast. The first order of business this morning is to obtain lunch. For this, we visit a sandwich shop called Maggie Mays. Also a grocery story and a pharmacy-chemist as they say here-is called upon for certain person specific items. Then we gather up the car from the parking garage, This is an adventure all in itself getting out of it. Of course the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, so rounding the corners of a parking garage has a different perspective, a bit unnerving-I am glad I am not driving. But Rachel does good. Then it is out onto the open road. She is very cognizant of being on the left and is deliberate in her driving. This is good.

Our first stop is Carrickfergus Castle

, We get to experience our first old building in Ireland-yesterday Rachel and I saw some Cathedrals which could qualify. We have an hour to look around before we need to continue on our journey-almost sounds like one of those bus tours doesn’t it? But we are on our own and have a lot to see today.

The thing which is fascinating to me is the stonework. How it has been put together and held together after so many centuries. Then also the craftsmanship where the walking surface is smoother than many modern sidewalks. This is a place which inspires loneliness, both in terms of being isolated. But also in a sense that you can be alone with yourself and just wander and explore themselves. This is true of this place even if we have others around us. It just is that kind of place.

Knockagh Monument

When we were coming in, Sherri saw an obelisk on a hill. We could not identify it then. But looking from the Castle, we can see it clearly, also we can figure out what it is: Knockagh Monument.

Our next stop is the Dark Hedges. This is another place I had not heard of, but the kids are pretty enthusiastic. Apparently this has been the screen for many movies. Rachel finds the place-a lot of narrow, rural roads. But the narrow roads seem to be most of Ireland’s way of travel.

Waiting for rain gear

The Grey Lady

Back to Dark Hedges. We walked a ways when it started to rain. Rachel hurries back and picks up our rain gear. This enables us to go a ways further. The actual hedges have degenerated over time-after all they are about 250 years old and getting close to the end of their lifespan.. There was a sign which said that about 30 trees had been taken down over the past several years, making the hedges not as solid or dark as they used to be.

We talked with a couple locals who tell us that this rain is unusually heavy. For us Californians from the Central Valley, we do not get this kind of rain in our area in the Winter, let alone. We are drenched and decide to go back to the little pastry shop and take refuge there. This will give us an opportunity to assess our plans.

If we are going to be in a pastry shop, we might as well have lunch here, which we do. We can use the Maggie Mays sandwiches tomorrow. As you can tell, we are opportunistic with our eating. Our plans were to go up to the Giant’s Causeway and then over to Dairy. But our local friends indicated that it would be worse up there and pretty miserable, without much visual. So we decided to turn back towards Dublin.

Belfast Castle Catwalk

The rain has stopped, so we can resume our driving. Steven is providing relief on the driving end. We retrace the route we took out to the Dark Hedges. But instead of going to Carrickfergus Castle, we will visit the newer Belfast Castle. This castle was made more for show than for protection. It looks like it is now part of a county park. There are gardens in front of the castle with a cat theme. Today there is some sort of event going on. So the castle proper is not available for us to tour. But we do enjoy the gardens.

Rachel takes back the driving chores. Andrea directs us to the CS Lewis Square. I am not sure how I feel about this. I am a devotee of Lewis. But I think that much of what I read should reside in my head. What will this square add to my understanding of Lewis?

We parked a couple of blocks from the square. We then walked through a park to get to the square. The first thing we noticed is a Mr Tumnus sculpture. Followed by the Winter Queen’s wolf, Magirum. There are several characters from Narnia represented in the park. Aslan reigns over all. The Square really is in Lewis’ name only. There is a coffee shop there. But not only is Lewis acknowledged, but so is George Best, The Yardman, and Van Morrison. Afterwards, I saw some pictures of the Square. There should have been a sculpture of Lews and the Wardrobe and a few other things. Reading a comment on TripAdvisor, it sounded like there is some renovation going on.

Mr Tumnes

It is now time to go back to our hotel. Rachel is turning in the car and Sherri and I are getting a new room with an upgrade. Dinner is at a place called Home Belfast, just around the corner from the hotel. It is probably the most highly rated restaurant which I have been in-it is Michelin rated. The food is good. We had a ribeye, a couple chicken, lamb, and hake.

Tomorrow is a half day in Belfast, then we travel to Dublin. Rachel wants to do a BlackCab tour. I have proposed that if that does not work out, we could do a Troubles walk which the GPSMyCity has. Rachel was able to get us a tour tomorrow with BlackCab tour. Then it is off to our separate rooms. I shower and am in bed by 10.

Trail Lesson:

If you live for pleasure, you will be disappointed when things do not work out. But if you are curious, then any experience provides an avenue for excitement.

Background

Maggie Mays. I had seen this place yesterday and was wondering about it. First of all, this is a sandwich shop and it looks pretty successful as a local one. I do not expect to see one in Fresno anytime soon. I was wondering if there was a relationship between this place and the Rod Stewart song, Maggie May. I could not find the connection. But as I looked, I wondered if it could be connected to an older folk song about a sailor who gets taken by a prostitute who is called Maggie May or Maggie Mae. I could not find that connection either. But the rabbit holes you chase when you wonder.

Extra Photo's

Andrea walking a wet Dark Hedges

Inside Carrickfergus Castle with Andrea and Steven

Carrickfergus Castle Canon

Carrickfergus Castle

Defending the gate involved a screen to stop advancing soldiers. Then pouring boiling oil over them

Guarding the waters around the castle

Looking north from the castle

Guard station

Going to the castle: Steven, Sherri and Andrea

Rachel, Sherri and Steven

Carrickfergus Castle

Andrea and Carrickfergus Castle