Coastal Run

I have to say, I am still speechless after a coastal run from Derry to Belfast in its entirety on Saturday just past. What we missed last time, we more than made up for this time. Previously, we had taken a wrong turn towards Cushendall, and therefore ended up on the main motorway back from Ballymena. However, that mistake was most definitely not made this time! We set off from Deryy mid afternoon....the previous day's hot temperatures had subsided (just as well, as the run to Malin Head on the Friday was very hot). Instead of heading over the mountain towards Coleraine, we skirted round it, on a road that was the B 701....I have never seen a road like it, long sweeping bends, and even longer straights, with numerous undulations that were just phenomenal! We pluged through this road, past some forest parks, the trees closing in over the top of you to give the feeling of a green tunnel. The engine note got louder as it reverberated off the trees. We drove through the bikers paradise of Portstewart and Portrush, before heading on the Dunluce Road along the north Antrim coast.....views to the left over the drumlins, to the right out to sea....so much to take in. The Ténéré was working wonderfully, so balanced, I was able to lean into the corners at speed and with confidence in the grip the bike gives.

We passed White Rocks....with memories of body-boarding in December (no joke) in 2001. A pit stop here was inevitable, as the ass and legs were going numb! The views along the coast were stunning, and off the to the small rocky outcrop that is the Skerries. When I looked downwards, the colour changes at the base of the cliff were a multitude of blues and greens.

  

We continued along the coastal route, encountering tourist buses as we did, twisting the throttle to overtake on the short straights, the roar of the XT thumper engines clearly audible, as the people on the buses looked out their window at us....enviously (I am convinced!). Through the famous town of Bushmills, we drove down to the Glens of Antrim....a different landscape, but no less breathtaking. The glacial landscape undulated almost like a dreamscape, and this is augmented by the quaint villages along the route that add to the feeling that it all isn't real! Making sure we kept on the road (not taking the wrong turn), we headed towards Glenarm alng the coast, the road cut right on the waterfront into the cliff face. We passed indigenious forests that perched all the way up the slopes to the immediate right hand side, it was like something out of Lord Of The Rings! The tunnels cut into the rock ensures a glorious sound on a bike, you can't help but squeeze the throttle that little bit harder to ensure a louder noise.....childish....but fun! That night, all I dreamt off was the bike run, and how I wanted to do it again! I am hoping to buy a small clip on video camera, so that some of this experience can be shared.