The middle of the night antics of the exhausted continued this morning at approximately 3:45 am. We each have our own twin bed in the stateroom. B-Koog’s is the convertible bed and is perpendicular to mine with his head closer to my head. For some reason, he felt compelled to check on me in the middle of the night. Like some strange proof of life was needed at 3:45am. His way of “not disturbing” me was to stare into my face to see if I was breathing. Nope, not creepy at all. I could feel someone/something looking at me. When I am startled awake, I swing in whatever direction the startle was felt. B-Koog almost got it in the head! Luckily, I was able to stop mid-swing. His response? “Why did you almost hit me? I was just staring at you while you slept to see if you were awake.” You lucked out, kid. Talk with Mrs. Koog about the near misses she’s lived through!
Back to sleep we all went until 8am when the alarm went off to begin our day at Giant’s Causeway. Both boys were exhausted and I assured them today was the last of the organized tours that required miles of hiking up steep inclines. We grabbed our stuff and our walking sticks and walked down to our excursion meeting place.
Today the Taj Mahal Theater/Excursion Zone was much less frantic than yesterday even though there were more excursions to coordinate. Maybe the craziest didn’t have excursions booked today? It was a very quiet 30 minute wait for our bus to be called. We made our way to a super nice coach and had no seat drama as we found seats. A mom and her adult daughter that I’ve chatted with throughout the course of the cruise sat in front and chatted with me for some of the journey. It was nice to engage with humans older than twelve! Although, the boy Koogs were a topic of conversation. Both said that since they met us, they’ve remarked to each other how the guys are so quiet and polite. I thanked them for the compliment and agreed what good kids they are in public. I didn’t mention the ruckus every morning to get shoes and socks on their feet, or the daily explanation to one whose name begins with E about why deodorant is a daily and not a weekly application. I am super grateful these parent/children warts are not publicly visible.
Our guide named Ken was very talkative and probably gave an amazing tour. It’s just no one could understand a word he said! I’m pretty good with accents, apparently my sweet spot is Scottish/Glasgow because I had to translate much of yesterday’s tour with Alistair with the person in front of my seat. For example, both me and the Mom/daughter duo in front of me thought Ken was saying the word “faggies”He was telling a story where that word, or so we thought, was featured prominently. Except it wasn’t “faggies” it was Vikings. The ENTIRE bus audibly sighed when he mentioned the famous faggies, Leif Erickson. Viking. Oof.
The bus stopped at Dunluce Castle on the way for us to stretch our legs and get some pictures. Hard to describe the vast beauty of the landscape. Greenest green mountains against bluest blue water. And the white fluffy clouds that looked like suspended cotton candy close enough to touch. Just spectacular. Boarded the bus again for a very quick trip through Bushmills. Would love to get back there to explore the little place, and probably sample the merchandise made from the famous Bushmills River. Maybe 2 or 3 samples, actually.
Finally, we arrive at Giant’s Causeway. Everyone that was in London last week seemed to port over to the parking lot. It was jammed! Our driver, with nerves of steel and patience of a saint, slowly moved the bus through the car park labyrinth and parked. We had 3 hours before we needed to meet the bus. We chose the Red Trail. NEVER CHOOSE A RED TRAIL.
It was gorgeous but we all believed we plummet to our death several times trying to take pictures! The walking sticks helped with balance but danger is not Koog’s middle name! After about a mile and 1/4, we headed down through the Amphitheater rocks to the more famous Port Noffer and Port Ganny. The weather was spectacular and we got great pictures with less risk to life and limb.
We were on the Port Noffer side of the stones when my alarm went off to start our way back to the bus. Our original plan was to take the shuttle. The line seemed crazy so we decided to walk. No problem, we were keeping a great pace. Then my second alarm went off, we needed to pick up the pace. When the third alarm went off, I dispatched the boys to run to the toilets and get sorted before hitting the bus and I started to sprint. Yes, you read that correctly. I sprinted uphill from just past Weir’s Snout to the Visitor Center.
Are you assuming it’s flat? It’s not. It’s a pretty steep hill for someone that is not used to sprinting up an incline to meet a bus. I was going at such a clip, I passed the boys around the outside of the visitor center. Luckily, I’m wearing the convertible pants/short things today and I had to nearly unzip both pant legs to cool off. It was bananas! While we made the bus with one minute to spare, the entire bus waited 15 minutes for the last group to saunter aboard. Oh well, at least we were in a beautifully air conditioned bus!
The bus stopped at the rope bridge whose name I forgot to get some photos. I was bummed because that was one thing I wanted to attempt. Although, with my legs feeling like overcooked pasta I probably would have had to pass, anyway.
Ken continued to tell stories and we all continued to try to understand what he was trying to say. He mentioned the “golden ploy”. The ladies and I assumed it was like a “Game of Thrones” thing since every site seemed to be part of their set as it’s filmed in Belfast. Nope, the golden ploy was actually a golden plow from an agricultural exposition.
In spite of our issue understanding every word, I think everyone enjoyed Ken and his stories and personality immensely. Such a wonderful man. Warm and helpful. I was able to FaceTime Momma-Koog so she could experience some of the scenery and Ken jumped in to say hello. I told him she was 87. He said “wonderful. Tell me about your dad” I started to tell him about my dad. He was asking about her diet.
We arrived back at the pier, said goodbye to Ken and headed back to our stateroom. Immediately after dropping off our stuff we headed for a snack. Carnita tacos and soft serve. Don’t judge me, I earned it!
At 6, we went to dinner. B-Koog and I ate little. E-Koog demolished 4 pieces of bread, 6 mozzarella sticks, a 14 oz steak, veggies and potatoes and 3 scoops of sorbet. He’s currently at the buffet getting second dinner. It’s 9:30 pm.
B and I have hung out in the stateroom. I checked on work and made a few phone calls. He’s watching Ghost Adventures. We are waiting for the eating machine to arrive back so we can go to sleep!
Until tomorrow…
Back to sleep we all went until 8am when the alarm went off to begin our day at Giant’s Causeway. Both boys were exhausted and I assured them today was the last of the organized tours that required miles of hiking up steep inclines. We grabbed our stuff and our walking sticks and walked down to our excursion meeting place.
Today the Taj Mahal Theater/Excursion Zone was much less frantic than yesterday even though there were more excursions to coordinate. Maybe the craziest didn’t have excursions booked today? It was a very quiet 30 minute wait for our bus to be called. We made our way to a super nice coach and had no seat drama as we found seats. A mom and her adult daughter that I’ve chatted with throughout the course of the cruise sat in front and chatted with me for some of the journey. It was nice to engage with humans older than twelve! Although, the boy Koogs were a topic of conversation. Both said that since they met us, they’ve remarked to each other how the guys are so quiet and polite. I thanked them for the compliment and agreed what good kids they are in public. I didn’t mention the ruckus every morning to get shoes and socks on their feet, or the daily explanation to one whose name begins with E about why deodorant is a daily and not a weekly application. I am super grateful these parent/children warts are not publicly visible.
Our guide named Ken was very talkative and probably gave an amazing tour. It’s just no one could understand a word he said! I’m pretty good with accents, apparently my sweet spot is Scottish/Glasgow because I had to translate much of yesterday’s tour with Alistair with the person in front of my seat. For example, both me and the Mom/daughter duo in front of me thought Ken was saying the word “faggies”He was telling a story where that word, or so we thought, was featured prominently. Except it wasn’t “faggies” it was Vikings. The ENTIRE bus audibly sighed when he mentioned the famous faggies, Leif Erickson. Viking. Oof.
The bus stopped at Dunluce Castle on the way for us to stretch our legs and get some pictures. Hard to describe the vast beauty of the landscape. Greenest green mountains against bluest blue water. And the white fluffy clouds that looked like suspended cotton candy close enough to touch. Just spectacular. Boarded the bus again for a very quick trip through Bushmills. Would love to get back there to explore the little place, and probably sample the merchandise made from the famous Bushmills River. Maybe 2 or 3 samples, actually.
Finally, we arrive at Giant’s Causeway. Everyone that was in London last week seemed to port over to the parking lot. It was jammed! Our driver, with nerves of steel and patience of a saint, slowly moved the bus through the car park labyrinth and parked. We had 3 hours before we needed to meet the bus. We chose the Red Trail. NEVER CHOOSE A RED TRAIL.
It was gorgeous but we all believed we plummet to our death several times trying to take pictures! The walking sticks helped with balance but danger is not Koog’s middle name! After about a mile and 1/4, we headed down through the Amphitheater rocks to the more famous Port Noffer and Port Ganny. The weather was spectacular and we got great pictures with less risk to life and limb.
We were on the Port Noffer side of the stones when my alarm went off to start our way back to the bus. Our original plan was to take the shuttle. The line seemed crazy so we decided to walk. No problem, we were keeping a great pace. Then my second alarm went off, we needed to pick up the pace. When the third alarm went off, I dispatched the boys to run to the toilets and get sorted before hitting the bus and I started to sprint. Yes, you read that correctly. I sprinted uphill from just past Weir’s Snout to the Visitor Center.
Are you assuming it’s flat? It’s not. It’s a pretty steep hill for someone that is not used to sprinting up an incline to meet a bus. I was going at such a clip, I passed the boys around the outside of the visitor center. Luckily, I’m wearing the convertible pants/short things today and I had to nearly unzip both pant legs to cool off. It was bananas! While we made the bus with one minute to spare, the entire bus waited 15 minutes for the last group to saunter aboard. Oh well, at least we were in a beautifully air conditioned bus!
The bus stopped at the rope bridge whose name I forgot to get some photos. I was bummed because that was one thing I wanted to attempt. Although, with my legs feeling like overcooked pasta I probably would have had to pass, anyway.
Ken continued to tell stories and we all continued to try to understand what he was trying to say. He mentioned the “golden ploy”. The ladies and I assumed it was like a “Game of Thrones” thing since every site seemed to be part of their set as it’s filmed in Belfast. Nope, the golden ploy was actually a golden plow from an agricultural exposition.
In spite of our issue understanding every word, I think everyone enjoyed Ken and his stories and personality immensely. Such a wonderful man. Warm and helpful. I was able to FaceTime Momma-Koog so she could experience some of the scenery and Ken jumped in to say hello. I told him she was 87. He said “wonderful. Tell me about your dad” I started to tell him about my dad. He was asking about her diet.
We arrived back at the pier, said goodbye to Ken and headed back to our stateroom. Immediately after dropping off our stuff we headed for a snack. Carnita tacos and soft serve. Don’t judge me, I earned it!
At 6, we went to dinner. B-Koog and I ate little. E-Koog demolished 4 pieces of bread, 6 mozzarella sticks, a 14 oz steak, veggies and potatoes and 3 scoops of sorbet. He’s currently at the buffet getting second dinner. It’s 9:30 pm.
B and I have hung out in the stateroom. I checked on work and made a few phone calls. He’s watching Ghost Adventures. We are waiting for the eating machine to arrive back so we can go to sleep!
Until tomorrow…
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