(iPhone Pics) - Ireland Day 3, Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

In the town of Bushmills, County Antrim (I think) in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, we missed the Bushmills distillery tours by about 45 minutes.

Giant's Causeway - a natural area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, a result of an ancient eruption.

According to the legend of Giant's Causeway, the columns remaind from a causeway built by an Irish giant, Finn MacCool, who was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant, Benandonner. In the Irish version of the story, Finn defeats Benandonner.

Walking down to the basalt columns - Francie, Papa, Mimi, and Grandma Lambie.

Briefly adventuring on our own.

Action shot, climbing up to the top of one of the crests.

Panoramic from said crest.

Flamily photo.

Watching for waves.

"I don't want to leave Ireland eeeeevvvvvvvveeeeerrrrrr."

Most of rock columns are hexagons, but some with four, five, seven, or eight sides.

Watching more waves from the hexagonal basalt columns.

A few kilometers further along the Causeway Coast is a walk down to an old rope suspension bridge, called Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

The sea was turquoise, and the cliffs went on seeming forever.

Francie and Aunt Jen got in some quality time.

So did Uncle Brian.


Brave Francie (although can you call it brave if she's not even afraid?) crossing the 20 meter suspension rope bridge, nearly 100 feet above the rocky sea.

History has it that salmon fisherman had been building bridges to this tiny island for over 350 years. A new, more touristy bridge, was built by local climbers and abseilers in 2004, to ensure a safer passage to the "island."

Papa, Francie, Daddy, Uncle Brian and Mama on the island.

Flamily photo.

Flamily photo reach-around style.


Mama and the Bean crossing the bridge together.

View of the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge from the hike back to the parking area.

Every single bedtime was a battle. This girl rocked it nightly until midnight or so.