Ards Peninsula From The Air - Part 2

Birthday pleasure flight - me at the controls

Strangford Lough just outside Portaferry

Aerial view of Portavogie - harbour and fishing village

View of Greyabbey - village mid way along the west side of the Peninsula

A look up Stangford Lough towards Newtownards - flying over Mount Stewart

Over the Lough

Over the Lough - in the distance the Mourne Mountains

On our approach to landing at Ards airport runway - Scrabo Tower / Scrabo Hill

Almost touch down - I lived at the top of the hill as you look at the picture - on the flight-path!

Safely landed - Mark McMeekin, pilot with the suitcase

HMA

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven Live (HD)

Long before I got some sense - my Dad always argued that I never quite grew up nor had any sense ever - that aside, here is one of my favourite tunes from a while back.

My taste in music has changed almost unrecognisably in the last 15 years, however it is always good to look back - recently I noticed there was a message in the song that I missed for many years, there is a line where he sings 'and the fifer calling you to join him' ;-) !!

HMA

Harvest 2011

On Sunday afternoon I harvested my beetroot - excellent crop this year. I managed to pickle 5 large jars of beetroot, some gifts - the rest for us over the winter months.

This beetroot was my biggest yet, it was massive and still in one piece, as I am unsure how to cook one so big, maybe boil it slowly - I steamed the other beetroot before peeling and putting into jars before adding the Anderson secret pickling recipe!!

HMA

European Heritage Open Days 2011

Folks, this weekend is the annual European Heritage Open Days. On Saturday and Sunday of this coming weekend many of our well known and perhaps lesser known buildings are open to the general public.

The last few years we visited the Old Priory, Windmill at Millisle, the Abbey in Greyabbey, Scrabo Tower, Helen's Tower to name but a few - not sure where we are visiting this weekend, maybe Rosemount House in Greyabbey might be worth a trip!

Below is a link to a site with a few day visiting ideas.

http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/events/events-ehod.htm

Enjoy your ideas where ever you visit!

HMA

Ulster-Scots 'A Forenoon Aroon the Ards' Part 2

Last year Loughries Historical Society organised an event (amongst many events) 'A Forenoon Aroon the Ards'. The trip concentrated on the top half of the Ards Peninsula - Greyabbey, Carrowdore, Millisle, Donaghadee and Newtownards.

This time (Saturday 1st October 2011 0845am to 1.00pm) - we intend to tour the bottom half of the Ards Peninsula Greyabbey, turning right to Kircubbin, Portaferry, Kearney, Cloughey, Portavogie, Ballyhalbert and Ballywalter.

Our tour guide once again is Mr. Mark Thompson with coach driver Dessie Mitchell (Comfi Coaches)

The plans are at an advanced stage - we have 23 of the 28 seats sold, great interest once again.

Stay tuned for further information - like maps, tea stop and itinerary!

Above: - Pic 1 Tour Guide Mark Thompson. Pic 2: - Tour folk at the Abbey at Greyabbey.

HMA

Slieve Donard - My Personal Challenge 3

Well' on Saturday morning, Matthew and I set off for Donard Park, Newcastle, Co. Down - we arrived 9.20am and prepared for the hike!

We set off at 9.25am, as per map and instructions, through Donard Park, along the river bank and up into the 'Saddle' between Slieve Donard and Commedagh. It was slow going as the terrain was quite difficult underfoot, eventually we reached the Mourne Wall at the top of the 'Saddle'. After a brief rest bite, it was up Slieve Donard along the Mourne Wall - this was very, very steep and quite arduous, however we made it to the summit at 1205!

The cloud cover was low, however every few minutes the clouds would blow past and leave some breath taking views - magnificent!

Matthew and I took quite a few photo's, sadly something must have happened -as the camera memory only saved 12 photo's (I will try to find the others) so only a few snaps to prove we made it.

It is always great to fulfil a personal challenge - Matthew (my son) is only 10 - climbed to the summit with me, I am so proud of him!!.

The decent was as difficult as the ascent, it took a whole 2 hours 40 minutes to return to the car park - in all a 5 1/2 hour hike with a 20 minute break at the top.

More photo's later, maybe - and yes we slept well on Saturday night and we are very stiff this morning.

HMA

Slieve Donard - My Personal Challenge 2

Well, time has come for my walk up to Slieve Donard.

Matthew, my 10 year old son and me intend to travel to Newcastle on Saturday morning to climb Slieve Donard, providing of course the weather is clement.

Sadly and with regret the other Matthew took cold feet!!!

Photo's to follow on Sunday.

HMA