{"id":14402,"date":"2014-08-02T11:12:36","date_gmt":"2014-08-02T15:12:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=14402"},"modified":"2014-08-02T11:18:45","modified_gmt":"2014-08-02T15:18:45","slug":"day-35-friday-august-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=14402","title":{"rendered":"Day 35. Friday, August 1 – Campbeltown, Scotland to Ballycastle, Northern Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was a gorgeous morning, especially for sleeping in and and enjoying a leisurely breakfast. \u00a0But the sunshine was beckoning us\"DSCN1060\"<\/a> into town for a look around. \u00a0The ferry company had promised to contact us by ten, if we could make today’s boat, so at 10:15 we headed out to do some much needed laundry and a look about.\"photo\"<\/a>With a quick swing by the ferry office to pick up tomorrow’s tickets, we learned we were booked on the ferry that left in less than an hour. \u00a0Chaos ensued! \u00a0A panicked bike back to the hotel, everything thrown into bags, including wet, but very clean, <\/em>clothes\u00a0and a return to the dock with enough time to spare to take a few shots of the small town\"photo-2\"<\/a>…..and then we were off to Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

It could not have been a more beautiful day\"DSCN1071\"<\/a> to cross \"DSCN1077\"<\/a>the sometime unruly channel\"DSCN1093\"<\/a> between the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea. \"photo-4\"<\/a>\u00a0Not only were we happy to have made the ferry a day earlier,\"DSCN1079\"<\/a> but also happy to miss Sunday’s prediction of\u00a0gail force winds. \u00a0Leaving the shores of Scotland and entering Northern Ireland, we were struck by how similar their “bluffs” were to The Brac. \u00a0\"DSCN1102\"<\/a> As we docked in yet another seaside town,\"DSCN1107\"<\/a> we immediately noticed a fish n’ chips place. \u00a0\"DSCN1104\"<\/a>Duckies were hungry from the crossing and were not going any further until fed.\u00a0\"DSCN1106\"<\/a>A few blocks away, we checked in. \u00a0Though it was officially a day off, we actually logged over six miles with the morning errand running. \u00a0With an afternoon off, we strolled into town just as the shops were closing. \u00a0Lost Jerry in the first pub we came to,\"DSCN1113\"<\/a> so a quick walk about town \"DSCN1118\"<\/a>and I soon realized he was in the best place in town. \u00a0With one Guinness down, it was time for a snack; we enjoyed a huge plate of (brown) crab claws perfectly cooked and seasoned with garlic and butter. \u00a0More beer, wine and then a seafood pasta dinner to die for\"DSCN1124\"<\/a>\u00a0plus, great entertainment.\"DSCN1127\"<\/a>We threatened to stay in Ballycastle for a week, or the rest of the trip! \u00a0We left with head attached, but a stroll to the seaside was a must and a great choice. \u00a0The bluff\u00a0\"photo-9\"<\/a>and beach\"DSCN1131\"<\/a>\u00a0we had seen on the entry, was beautifully lit by the evening sun. \u00a0Many had gathered by the seaside for the beautiful evening, but guided by the birds, \"photo-7\"<\/a>\u00a0we headed for our B & B.<\/p>\n\n\t\t