Ireland the North 1. Rathlin Island

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Ireland the North 1. Rathlin Island

Rathlin island for most of us today in fair weather, though a cool wind this morning. The 9 o’clock ferry going out seemed the best option with a return at 3pm. The first obstacle was a shortish but vicious hill straight out of the port as we headed for the bird sanctuary and the west lighthouse. We saw puffins, guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes and razorbills. The East lighthouse road ends up on a grassy and stony road which tests out the mountain/gravel bike skills of anyone brave enough to tackle it. As we approached we were shouted at by kittiwakes who thought we were too near their nests and then we saw a group of seals playing in the sea and basking in the rocks. Their camouflage is so good that the were not easily seen at first until they started barking. The wind was quite strong on the island and Frank and I returned to the port at 2.30pm hoping to get on the 3pm ferry,as opposed to the 4pm we were booked on. We were lucky and managed to get on, which saved them from having to deal with two hypothermic cyclists. Once back on the mainland the temperature jumped up 5 degrees and we had to remove our many layers of clothing to avoid overheating. What a difference! It helped with the wind behind us heading east, but bode badly for tomorrow when we are retracing our path to the east coast and then our change of direction south for the remaininder of the tour back to Belfast and Dublin. It is a good job we are changing accommodation again since our plastic door keys are proving quite bothersome. I have changed mine 5 times in 30 hours and Frank has changed his 4 times. Oh for a proper key.

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Photos

Seals
Rathlin Island

Ferry port.
Rathlin Island