A day out with an Old Friend, some puffins and lots of POO!

Not that long ago I was Friended on Facebook by a chum of mine from WAY back. A gentleman from Hawaii call John, although he was more usually referred to as “Mad Jack The Hat”. For reasons to complicated to go into in anything less than a 3 volume dissertation Jack came to Norn Iron for a summer in the late 70’s and having tasted the drug that is my wee corner of the island of Ireland went home but could not stay away and came back to see out the decade in Ballycastle, Belfast and sundry other locations.

The last time I saw Jack was a the Bus Stop in Buncrana, Donegal at the end of the 5 days of 24 hour Guinness drinking bacchanalia more commonly known as the 1980 All Ireland Fleadh (ask me what that is) we shook hands, hugged and parted. He to head south to Clare and then home to Hawaii, me to the rather more prosaic environs of home in Coleraine. We kind of hoped we would meet again but in our hearts we knew that the chances of this happening were a bit slim.

30 years pass  … not much happens in PortBradden

Then we find each other on FB and the question was asked .. “What you doing in July?” … “Why?” … “Cos I am coming back !!!!”

We are now gentlemen of middle years with MORE than our fair share of “snow on the roof” and aches and pains that we are now not too proud to complain about to …. well basically anyone that will listen. Although not “classically” good looking back in the 70’s we and another friend Robbo cut a swath through the hearts of the young ladies whose paths we crossed. (I really wish Val had not sniggered and said “Still aren’t good looking now” 😉  the male ego is soooo fragile.)

I should point out that Jack made it plain that there would be NO 5 DAY 24 Hour Guinness sessions  … I must admit I was somewhat relieved to hear that!

About 5:00pm yesterday the phone rang “Snowball z’at you? . it’s Jack … I am at Asada!”

I nipped around and escorted him and his hire car to Casa McDonagh – “The Matriarch’s Eerie” … well mum has coped with Bill and Coatsie so Jack should be no problem at all. Food was consumed, the pub was found and some Guinness was drunk as we hatched a plan for the next day (Thursday) . Top of his list of “TO DO” was visit Rathlin, a small L shaped island 3 miles off the north coast of Norn Iron. So at 8.00am this morning we left Coleraine and headed for the ferry.

Now if you like your islands quiet, full of “nature” and quite heartbreakingly beautiful then even in the rain Rathlin is worth a visit if you are over in this part of the world. We managed a 10 mile dander, saw HEAPS of wildlife, including a Puffin Colony, Wild Orchids, Pure White Fuchsia, a Seal and Seal Babies, hares and a few of the very rare “Tourist Sapiens”.

We dandering back to Church Bay and had lunch in the manor house, some very fine Butternut Squash Soup, fresh bread and Guinness .. the ferry arrived and 4:15 and we headed back to meet another old friend Nevin Taggart at Port Braddon. We managed another 5 mile dander up to the ruins of the church at Templastragh in the middle of a potatoe Field. The Ruins there are relatively modern but there is a ceremonial stone that predates the high cetlic crosses. by some centuries and was a site set up by St.Goban in 648AD. The orgins of the stone are believed to be from that time.

Templastragh Stone

From there , we three headed to the Causeway Hotel for some drinkies and grub , the least said about the reminesences the better 🙂 and from there to home.. A GRAND DAY with old friends 🙂

Here are some piccies of the day out