Day 110: Newtownabbey - Ballintoy

We spent a veeeery quiet night in the car park, so quiet it seemed they'd put it on "absolute silence" mode. We were alone, as if they had closed the whole park just for me. In the morning cars started arriving but nobody bothered us. Some even greeted me with a face of "look how handsome the little dog in the camper is." Well, yes, I am handsome.

We set off slowly, as always. You know, our engine doesn't have a turbo... it's just that our mornings come without a rush from the factory. In about twenty-five minutes we arrived at Whitehead, parked and set off towards the Blackhead Lighthouse. That lighthouse is perched on top of the cliffs as if on guard, watching out for any ship that might get lost. Papi Edu and I had already walked there with uncle Joan a few weeks ago, but for uncle Javi it was a world premiere. I already knew every stone on the path, but I feigned surprise so as not to take away his excitement. "Oh, what incredible views!", I barked with the face of a first-time tourist.

On the way back, a mobile cafeteria was waiting for us. They didn't give me coffee (canine injustice), but the humans helped themselves to something cool and I received some crumbs that fell by accident. Everything balanced.

Then back on the road, almost an hour. Before arriving in Ballymena we stopped at a lay-by of those that are ugly with a vengeance, surrounded by trucks and suspicious rubbish bins, but perfect for eating and taking a nap. I call it "rest area without glamour, but with the function well fulfilled."

With our batteries recharged we continued on our way: forty-five kilometers to the car park of The Dark Hedges. And here a movie set opened up to us. These are those giant beeches planted in the 18th century that form a natural tunnel, as if the trees wanted to touch us with their branches. You've surely seen them in a thousand photos... or in Game of Thrones. The humans were freaking out, so was I, although what interested me most were the smells that were hidden under the roots. There were quite a few people walking around, but as it was late, almost everyone was leaving. Of course, I took the opportunity to pose with my best face: "Bodeguero in movie star mode."

When the sun was beginning to set, we went back to the car and in about twenty minutes we arrived at the Portaneevy Car Park & Viewpoint. There it seemed that we were on a balcony hanging over the sea. The famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge could be seen, that rope bridge that connects the coast with a small island and that gives humans a little vertigo. I would have crossed it in one leap, of course. And the best thing: in the background, very clearly, Scotland could be seen, about thirty-five kilometers away. I was already calculating: "with my doggy speed... about two hours swimming and I get there". But don't worry, I didn't try.

In the viewpoint there are quite a few other campers parked. Quiet atmosphere, infinite horizon and the sea roaring in the background like sleeping music. We stayed here to spend the night.