Date: 30th June 2019
Travelled: 85 kilometres from Londonderry to Bushmills both in Northern Ireland
Visited: Derry and the Bogside
Stayed: Bushmills P+R car-park, free. T+B. N55.20788, W06.52320
Budget: 28 days @ โฌ80 per day
After our evening at the Harp Bar we dodged the rain โ๏ธ more than once and made it back to the Hymer. Our little car-park had emptied out except for a couple of other motorhomes. So we enjoyed a good night.
Looking out the window in the morning, I see an odd looking motorhome next door. I see it has Chinese number plates of all things. Anyway we meet Jason and his friend Judy and we talk about motorhomes and blogging. They have driven this Chinese built camper across China and Russia into the EU. Has me thinking about next year…
The weather looks a bit fickle again as we locked-up and cross the Peace Bridge into Derry. Londonderry or Derry take your pick. Every Londonderry sign we see has the first six letters graffitied. Weโll go with Derry as thatโs what Pamโs new best friend, said it was last night. The LP recommends walking the old city walls or Derry Bastions, so we find #1 and walk up the steps.
The first thing we see is this Romanesque facade. The Presbyterian Church no less. 
As the morning progresses we discover Derry has some amazing murals. Itโs always autumn here.
Thereโs little point building a bastion around your city without a good supply of cannon. 
Derry has big cannon and small. The walls are almost a mile in length and 8m high.
Very typical of Ireland, no point having one pub, when you can have three.. 
You know I have a soft spot for a Fire Station. Circa 1890.
From the Bastion walls, a Union Jack flying with the Ulster Banner over a playing field. 
The Boss and her driver, Bogside in the background.
This beautiful little church, the Chapel of St. Augustine was built in 1872 on the site of the 6th century monastery, St. Colmicilleโs. 
This may be a question at your next trivia night so please make note.
Having done the city walls and taken in the points of interest, our attention turns to the Bogside. I can remember the riots, violence and killing on TV during Bloody Sunday or as itโs known here, the Bogside massacre in January, 1972. All these years later the Bogside still has an air of tension about. The murals reflect the mood or perhaps create the mood.
So thatโs Derry done, it was well worth the stop. Did I tell you the Tour of Derry cycle race is on this weekend ? Itโs Sunday afternoon and the seniors are doing 8 laps around Derry and the traffic is a bit chaotic as we make our way out of town.
We find a laundromat on the outskirts of Derry and do a fortnightโs washing, fill with water and have a late lunch. Itโs only an hour on to Bushmills and we can do the Game of Thrones Coast from there tomorrow.
Bushmills, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Map of Bushmills, Northern Ireland, marker on our CP
Michael and Pam
