August 24-25 Killyleagh to Ballymena

After a pretty blustery first day in Northern Ireland, we awoke Saturday to bright blue skies and sunshine.  Hallelujah!  We donned our most weather appropriate togs and set out to enjoy the day.  Frick!  It was still a bazillion degrees below zero.  Undaunted, we climbed into our rental car and set about mismanaging every roundabout between Killyleagh and Belfast. Due to lighter than usual traffic, we surprisingly made it to our destination, the Titanic Museum, with time to spare.  The museum took us a couple of hours to explore, and was a very moving and sobering experience.  The building itself was pretty cool, as well.  We followed up with a walk through Belfast to view the historic city hall and numerous other buildings of a similar vintage.  In the process, we got swept up in a pro Palestine march that sounded ominous but turned out to be entirely peaceful.   

By the time we were ready to drive back to Killyleagh, the clouds had rolled back in, the temperature dropped, and we feared we might hit an iceberg on the way back.

We made it back in time to visit our now-favourite haunt, the Dufferin Arms for the local cuisine and music (and Guinness).  Alas, no one brought an accordion so Debbie did not sit in with the band.

Today has been a day of relocation.  We left Killyleagh in an Irish downpour and made our way north to our new digs a bit north of Ballmena.  The drive was harrowing, and we learned to recognize oncoming traffic by the rooster tails we could see before the cars appeared over the rise.  Only through the grace of God and GPS did we actually find our new vacation property.  Now we’re here, we may never want to leave.  This is a beautiful and charming country cottage, fitted with every possible convenience and our own private hot tub.  Once we got here, we canceled any touring plans on account of inclement weather, and hunkered in.

As I write this, evening has arrived and the clouds have thinned.  We are optomistic.  Tomorrow we are connecting with Chelsey and Rob to tour the north coast, and there is chance we’ll hook up with Jeremy, Angela and Avery as well.  It’s amazing how far one must travel to see their kids.

That’s all for now.  Take care.
Chris & Debbie


The Titanic Museum



One of the last 12 life jackets from the Titanic in a glass case in front of the passenger manifest from the ill-fated voyage 

 the ‘Big Fish’ in the Titanic District


Belfast City Hall


Belfast Waterfront 

Hare Cottage, Ballymena, N. Ireland
Hot tub is excellent😉

The band at the Dufferin Arms
Established 1802 (the pub, not the band!)
Playin’ Whiskey in the Jar

Guinness anyone?
Welcome to Ireland, all sense of propriety gone!







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