To the Causeway Coastal Route

The first time I saw Ireland with my own eyes was in 1997 from the periscope of a submarine. I was deployed on the USS PHILADELPHIA (SSN-690), and we were coming from a lot further north. We transited south before entering the Firth of Clyde on our way to a port call in Faslane Scotland. I looked out through the periscope and saw the coast of Northern Ireland, and vowed to return someday, hopefully with Stacey. Today was finally that day.

It was an early departure from Dublin at 7 AM. They don’t even know how to spell coffee at that hour in Doooblin. The drive was really quite nice, with rolling green fields as far as the eye could see. We passed into the United Kingdom at exactly 9 AM!
Derry was our first stop, and she surprised us with her beauty and history. We parked near the Tower Museum, which now includes a tribute to the funny Derry Girls! If you haven’t seen it, put it on your list – HILARIOUS. We then took a nice slow walk around the city to shop and see the sights. Derry was in the center of The Troubles here in Ireland, with Bloody Sunday at the core of her history. It was somber to think of the toxic times on those streets. Genuinely quite moving.
A few miles north of Derry, we started what they say is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Our journey along the Causeway Coastal Route will end in Belfast, and it began for us today at Magilligan Beach. This is a gorgeous, long stretch of beach where somebody may have walked and caught a glimpse of our periscope back in 1997 (though I highly doubt it). From there, we found our way to Castlerock Beach, a super small town with a SUPER HUGE view! Oh my! Out final destination for the day was and is the seaside gem of Portstewart. The views are truly breathtaking. After ditching our bags in one of the more picturesque Air BnBs we have ever stayed in, we parked the car and walked to Amici’s Italian Restaurant on the water. Just plain WOW!!! Great food – Great view – Great atmosphere!

Back to our accommodations for the evening to listen to the waves crash on the beach a few short steps from our friends front door.
We’re headed to Giants Causeway in the morning!!

Pat