Beech Hill Guest House

As we set off from Belfast we were of course going past the Titanic museum, so decided it best to see there and then. Well sorry folks but wasn't overly excited in it. Got in for pensioner rates though lol, parts were good but it was based mainly on the "great" building of it - no disrespect to those that lost their lives doing that. It's easy to see why they went blind, lost their hearing or footing and fell to their death. And you see the slipway it went into the sea from. But all else we had seen basically.

Got to tonight's B and B where we stay for three nights, only to find Rossi had made another mistake. Two things to do and he got something wrong on both. Oh my patience.........

It's fair balmy out there, like last night but have had my first 1/2 pint of guiness and a feed of crab claws - yummy is all I can say. Rossi had a special sausage which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Hopefully the weather is better by tomorrow. We have been very lucky and not hit by the floods at all. Navman is extra good and takes us away from it - unlike last times Navman.

Next day - a real balmy night but we set off for Portaferry (Rossis family history day) only to find going straight to Portaferry was flooded, so turned around and went the other way to Strangford, others idea of the Loch. Quite a bit of flooding on the roads so took our time. As pointed out on Facebook, a hairy ride I thought we were in for on the ferry. Saw it coming into Strangford and it honestly went

backwards so much from the force of the extra water flow that we lost sight of it for a while, but when we went it was smooth sailing. Took 5 minutes but two attempts to land us.

Rossi found the exact house, even though I was getting blown off my. Had some soup to keep warm and went to a church he was after to find a commemorative plaque but the church was locked. So off to find the grave site of his forefathers. Yeeha we found it and to our surprise it had a new Remembrance Wreath on it, so Rossi added a Kiwi keyring cos we didn't bring any poppies this time. He was quite surprised. Then headed back via a few detours and wave crashing by us on the road. Quite freaky. But the weather started improving.

Last day here, and we went to Castle Carrickfergus only to find it was where we had stopped 2 1/2 years ago, but hadn't had time to look through it cos we were off to catch the ferry to Scotland. Remember where the fire station was Carol and Marts.

Then over to the other side of Ireland to the Giants Causeway (made by an earthquake which caused many variations of rock). They say part of it used to join up with Scotland. What a walk and a half, but we did it. Uphill on the way back. Were hoping to call into Bush Mills Distillery, oldest in Ireland but it was closed. So Scottish must be better lol

You guys have had New Years by now and ours is still a few hours away. Weren't able to book anywhere so had a yummy meal on way home, and am by a roaring fire with a g and t and chocolate and Rossi non alcoholic beer. Very nice. Still balmy out. Victoria, our host here at B and B may be home to join us soon. Certainly seen the top of Ireland now. Off to Dublin tomorrow via the East coast.