‘Winter Miles makes Summer Smiles’  Denis Scott (NDAC)

Stage Eleven: Drains Bay, Larne to Cushendall (41k or 25.5miles)

<Author: Gerry O'Boyle>

Saturday 16 December 2017

With only nine days to Christmas Day, today’s run had a kind of festive feeling about it. The beautiful green glens of Antrim were still covered in snow to add to the occasion. And to complete the whole picture, Helen was wearing her Christmas hat with ringing bells!

We have to thank Laura McAllister (Helen’s friend) for meeting us in Cushendall and driving us back to our start at Drains Bay (just north of Larne) – that saved us having to take two cars today!

We were delighted too that Laura’s husband, Phelim ran with us for most of way today. Phelim, Laura and wee Jude live in the beautiful village of Glenarm and Phelim took time off from plucking turkeys to join us on the Antrim coast. However with both Phelim and Sean supporting similar beards, shorts and shirts it was confusing at times today! 

Phelim & Sean

Sean came straight from the night-shift for today’s run. He also had a wee 100 mile run last week through the Wicklow Mountains so maybe he’ll go easy on us today. Meanwhile Debbie from PhysioWorks is keeping my body in order and has given me special exercises which involve moving my pelvis without moving any other part of my body - easy enough to do (if you happen to be a Hawaiian dancer!)    

It was 9.00am (just after sunrise) when we got to Drains Bay (just north of Larne) and in our wisdom we decided to tackle the Larne parkrun that takes place in Drains Bay. We got a great welcome from the organisers of the Larne parkrun and we even got the benefit of a local photographer (Bill Guiller) who also caught up with us later at Glenarm and took more pictures there. Thank you Bill!

After completing the parkrun we eventually leave Drains Bay at 10.30am. Such a beautiful part of the world today in Co. Antrim and we had the perfect weather with blue skies and lovely sunshine as we reached the village of Glenarm. Glenarm is the first of the nine glens of Antrim and claims to be the oldest town in Ulster having been granted a charter in the 12th century. 

We hugged the coast the whole day, passing through such lovely villages and amazing views across to Scotland, with the Mull of Kintyre now only about 20 miles away. Also the tall island of Ailsa Craig could be clearly seen in the distance jutting up from the Irish Sea. (apparently the Ailsa Craig Island/Rock is still for sale and reduced now to £1.5m, down from original £2.5m – a bargain I’d say!)

We leave Glenarm and the sun is still shining as we arrive in Carnlough which is probably our half way point today. A beautiful rainbow appears over the hills which really should have warned us that rain was ahead! Sean stops to take pictures of the rainbow but Helen, Phelim and I carry on towards Waterfoot along the winding Antrim Coastal Road.   

Antrim Coast Road

The 40k coast road (Larne to Cushendall) that we’re running along today was built by William Bald between 1832 and 1842.  Bald also had the unique idea to blast the cliff face which then fell down onto the foreshore to form the base for the new road. Up to that point there were no proper roads in this area and the 12-15 miles of sea to Scotland was a much easier trading route.

Phelim has to leave us (more turkeys to pluck!) and so Helen and I carry on to Waterfoot with Sean (still trying to stay awake) a few hundred metres behind. Gradually the sun disappears, replaced by the rain and wind and the temperature drops. It’s a real struggle now to keep going in such miserable conditions.

My body and especially my feet are suffering (and blistering!). I was listening to Radio Ulster last month about a traveller/explorer from Castlerock called Leon McCarron. He was describing how he was walking through Jordan after a long day’s trekking when a local man, invited him into his home and together with his son, proceeded to wash Leon’s feet. If only we could be so lucky on the Antrim coast!     

Helen and I eventually reach the outskirts of Waterfoot and very slowly make our way (walking/running) to the centre of the village. We stop at a shop for drinks and the girl there tells us (the greatest news!)  ‘it’s only one more mile to Cushendall’.  We wait outside the shop for Sean and when he arrives we continue together for the final stretch. It might be one of the shortest days in the year but it seemed a long long time since I parked my car in Cushendall this morning. And so Christmas is almost here ...and our adventure continues again in 2018.     

Total distance to date:  449k or 280.5miles      

Next stages: Sat 20 Jan (Cushendall to Ballycastle) and Sat 10 Feb. (Ballycastle to Portrush).

  

If you’d like to Donate to Clifton Special School, please see below.

https://mydonate.bt.com/events/cliftoncoastalrun/381290