NorthDownMuse

Banbridge

On Sunday 18 Aug, I played with my partner Michelle in the Minor Foursomes Ulster South final. But first we went for practice rounds on the preceding Monday and Friday. Here we are with the Mournes in the distance. Banbridge is a tricky course. A road goes through it, so

Summer?

Since my return from Yorkshire there has been a lot of PRI work and a lot of golf and a lot of rain. We do get the occasional nice day but cool, rainy weather has predominated. I finally made it to two festival events – one session in a pub that

Yorkshire peak #2

Today I had the luxury of being chauffeured around by my old schoolmate, Stuart Eakin, also a keen hiker. He drove us to a trailhead near Pen-y-ghent, where we began the climb up to its 2,277-foot peak. We lucked out with the weather again. I don't appear

Malham to Skipton

In the morning myself and some other guests were driven into Skipton, 8 miles away. Most were getting trains to the south of England or to an airport to fly to the Netherlands. I plan to spend the next two nights in this scenic village, rather than go home to

Yorkshire peaks

For the final day, I did the #3 hike up Ingleborough, 2372 feet, roughly 11 miles. Ingleborough is one of three Yorkshire peaks, misnamed because they are loaf mountains – like a bread loaf. The weather smiled on us, finally. We headed up a wooded valley from Ingleborough Estate to the

Fell walking

I decided to do walk 3 today, 12 miles instead of 9 miles for walk 2. I heard rumours the weather was to improve. The rumours turned out to be incorrect, however it was another great day of hiking. We started by walking along a valley below a high ridge.

Ribblesdale Valley

Today the bus let us off in Settle. We leave the bus and are met by driving winds and rain. The rain hit the pavement so hard it bounced off. We look at each other and grin. Eleven on my walk today and we set off into the hills, watching

Whitby to Malham

Today was a travel day. One of the guides left me to the bus stop nearest Larpool House, which would have been a long walk with a heavy suitcase. I waited for an hour for the bus to Scarborough. None came. I flagged down a taxi and spent the next

Moor hiking

We started the day in Castleton, a picturesque village, then hiked up a bridle path to a ridge along a valley. The occasional standing stone. On the descent into the valley we encountered a lovely grouse, adding to the kestral we saw yesterday while hiking along a cliff. Once down

Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby

A lovely day of coastal hiking began with a steep descent into Robin Hood's Bay. Back in the day, alcohol, lace and other goodies were smuggled into caves in Robin Hood's Bay to avoid customs. The narrow little lanes are called Bolts, as that is what

A hole in the plan

The intended route: Flight from Belfast to Leeds Train Leeds to Scarborough, changing at York. Bus to Whitby. What happened: Flight diverted to Liverpool because there was a hole in the runway at Leeds. ??!! I waited about a half hour with other passengers for the bus we were promised to

Intense interlude

I had 10 days between returning from the US and departing for a hiking holiday in Yorkshire. As always, I'm writing in hindsight, so memories are fragmented. The highlight of week one was just working intensely for PRI – two weeks of work crammed into one. The highlight of

Almost heaven

The week commencing 10 June was all about getting my ducks in a row prior to travelling to West Virginia on 16 June. An incredibly annoying array of tasks weighed on me. I tried and failed over multiple sessions to do my taxes online, due 17 June for international filers

Five rounds in seven days

The match on Monday was carnage. Everything I thought I knew about golf, I forgot. It was unnerving to not be able to hit a tee shot – usually my best shot. I assume my nerves got the best of me, causing me to look to see where the ball was

Four rounds in five days

In addition to yesterday's McKee match, I had matches Tuesday and Thursday this week at Shandon (the Challenge Cup) and a practice round at Ardglass Golf Club on Friday, where I will have a match on Monday 3 June. I did not play well in the Challenge Cup

Adieu Donegal

Friday morning I walked Paddy then finished my book about a young lad trying to escape multi-generational trauma on the mean streets of West Belfast. Then went to the Olde Glen Bar, which allows dogs. Here's the gable wall: I met a woman from New York who walked

Donegal Day 3

Began at Tramore beach north of Dunfanaghy. Paddy is such a Donegal dog. It was windy so the sea was frothy. The beach was pristine. People are encouraged to collect rubbish on the beach, which they clearly take to heart – you pass this bin when you leave the beach and

Donegal Day 2

The day began at Ards Forest Park. More Frisbee throwing. Lovely beaches. Constantly changing light. Paddy in his heaven. I'm pretty happy too. Maybe because my mom is from Atlantic City – I love to be on a beach. But not a hot beach. Donegal is perfect. The water

Donegal Day 1

I am off the next two weeks and absolutely delighted. Monday I hosted book club so was busy all day mowing, watering plants, hoovering, food shopping, tidying. The nine of us had a good conversation about The Sixteen Trees of the Somme. Tuesday morning I played with my buddy Patricia.

Golfathon part 2

I attended the Junior Cup match on Friday to be a ball spotter. Because it's a shame to lose a match b/c you can't find your ball and have to take two penalty strokes. Sunday I played in the Minor Foursomes. My partner and I

Golf-a-thon

We are coming into competition season. Beginning the week commencing Monday, 13 May, I was scheduled into four competitions. So the first two weeks of May have involved a lot of golf as I try to work out problems like topping the ball. Our course is in woeful condition and

Synchronicity

I was born in 1962, which means I turn 62 this year. I'm taking that as a sign it will be a phenomenal year. The festivities began a week early with the trip to Mount Stewart (see earlier post). This, my birthday weekend, began with dinner at an

Belfast Exposed

Today I went to an event at City Hall organised by Friends of the Earth. City Hall has a grand staircase. And the city crest is in the carpet on the landing. The event consisted of four short films about environmental issues in Northern Ireland – organised along the lines of

Macabeanum

Today I played golf in the morning with Patricia then visited lovely Mount Stewart in the afternoon. The McCabe rhododendron (Rhododendron macabeanum) is my favourite and it is in full flower. Each truss of flowers looks like a wedding bouquet to me. This variety is native to northeastern India and

Decades digitised

Hard to believe but it has been just over a decade since I began this blog. Amazing. In that time, I've obtained three visas, UK citizenship, a UK driver's license and a graduate degree. I've bought and redecorated an Edwardian house. I've