Silent Valley

On August 8th we went on an outing with Julie McNally and Lynda Ross. They wanted to take us to see Silent Valley in the Mourne Mountains.

It was the perfect day as we headed to Newcastle and started up the mountainside. I just love the stone fences and these are the best we have seen in Ireland.

Mountains on one side, the Irish Sea on the other!

The Mourne Wall took 18 years to build and goes for twenty two miles through the mountains.

Lynda was having fun exploring and taking photos for her photography class.....

We started up the trail to the reservoir............

It was very beautiful once we arrived deep in the valley....

We went to the little museum that was there and had a bowl of soup for lunch at the wee cafe.....

The first reservoir.....

We drove three miles to the second reservoir....Elder Holt decided to walk......

We arrived at the dam........massive!

The heather was just starting to bloom. It covered the mountain! Beautiful!!!

We started up the many steps to the top!

We made it!!! Second reservior.....

Beautiful view from the top! If you look really close you can see Birch walking up the road.....

Now he is starting up the stairs....(orange shirt!)

United at the top!

Julie, Lynda and Birch

Wee waterfall............

Lynda made me this heather and fern bouquet...

More rock walls on our way out....

Beautiful valleys in beautiful Ireland!

We had a delightful day with good friends! We will miss them when we go.........

European Bagpipe Festival

Saturday we went to the European pipe competition. It was held at Stormont, where the government building is. We went with the McBrides and Sisters Joines and Nolen.

It was a bit windy, but other than that it was a really nice day.

Everywhere you looked there were kilts and bagpipes.

It was interesting to watch the competition, although I didn't have any idea what they were judging.....

Lots of marching.......

It all sounded pretty much the same....I did notice several people with earplugs.......

The baton competition was pretty interesting.....

I enjoyed the junior highland dance competition....same hair, makeup.....nervous mums......

It was fun watching these girls dance through the swords on the ground.

Belfast police band....

Baton competition......there were people from all over the world. Most were from Scotland, Ireland and a few from the USA!

They start pretty young. Cute little girls......we had a fun day being outside, listening to the music, eating ice cream and watching the performers!