Off at 9 again after poached eggs
(B) & omelette (W) for breakfast! Drove south to Downpatrick near where St
Patrick returned to Ireland
to be a Christian missionary to the pagan tribal Druids. First church at Saul,
holy water wells at Sruell nearby. He is supposed to be buried at Downpatrick.
Freezing cold wind as we walked to & went though the
lovely St Patrick Centre (with tour group that arrived at same time). Very well
done – tells Patrick’s life story through film (IMAX type followers St P Trail
– 92 miles to Newry & Armagh), reading of his letters/confessions &
life-sized dioramas. Sun out when we came out!!! We walked up the Church of Ireland
We drove on to Castwellian & asked best way to see the
Mourne Mtns. The local butcher & one of his customers set us on the right
way! It POURED as we set off on the High
Scenic Route through the mountains – hardly able
to see them!!!! When we climbed up high, it cleared & sun came out!!!
Walkers off on all the tracks into the mtns. Mountains look pretty bleak (no
trees, vegetation is brown low grass/plant covering), lots of stone fences
everywhere. The Mourne Mtn Wall (stone fence goes for 22 miles around them –
stiles every so often to climb over it!) Big Spegal
Lake & wide Silent Valley
We came home via Killowen, Rostnever & Warrensport on
the Carlingford Lough – road is right beside it all the way! I was surprised to
see English flags flying from lots of telegraph poles, houses & bridges.
Top of bridges painted red, white & blue too. When I looked at map I realised
Newry is on the border with the Republic.
We drove on to city of Armagh
then to join up with highway from Belfast
back to Enniskillen. Had to laugh this main road is single lane each way &
quite narrow!
Mark had had the oil heater/stove serviced while we were
away – lovely to walk into warm house!!!!
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