Seaport Walk

It has proved practically impossible to get an Internet connection in Portballintrae, which seems to be "wi-fi unfriendly" or backwards in that sense! The only place where I can get a connection is in the Bayview Hotel, where I sit presently sipping a small shandy. I drove round the village and down several avenues to no avail. Have none of the residents got BT Broadband, Openzone or signed up to BT Fon, the online community with free wi-fi?

I went for a walk after breakfast this morning, towards Seaport Lodge. The builders have been working on the house for a few years, as can be seen by the girders skewering through it.



Continuing down to the shore, I walked back past the sand martin colony at the cliff. Had I equipment like Craig’s, it would have been easy to take a snap of these fine little birds flying in and out of their holes in the cliff-side. Instead I have a modest Canon Powershot A480.


I am minded to drive into Coleraine, County Londonderry, later.

Later we drove over the bridge at the River Bann and headed towards Downhill demesne. It's ages since I last was here and the weather is so fine today. I walked through the walled garden, past the dovecote and across the field to Mussenden Temple; then inland to the ruin of the Earl-Bishop's once-great palace, now bereft of its treasures, masterpieces and statuary.

I have bought a "shortie" wetsuit! I found one in Sainsbury's at Coleraine. It fits perfectly. The only trouble is that the sea is still freezing! Even with a wetsuit.