Almost as wet inside as out!

Saturday, 28th July

What a night!!! Lovely and quiet when we went to bed and then the rain started and boy did it rain! I don't think the hosepipe ban for this part of NI will be needed any longer. Still drizzling when we got up we decided to wait a while before setting off. The lull came around 9am so it was off to the Gobbins cliff path on the Island Magee (a small island between Larne and Whitehead joined by a bridge).

On arrival, we got kitted up in wet weather gear all ready for the most spectacular walk in Europe. At the visitor centre, we saw to our dismay at the entrance was a board stating that all tours were fully booked. Blast!  For a start we didn't know we had to book a tour, none of the leaflets picked up from the Info centres mentioned that and when we asked when the next tour was available the chap on the desk said...in about a week!!!! For anyone who has no clue what the Gobbin cliff walk is, well it is.....

 A spectacular location where you can truly escape everyday life and experience nature at its most elemental. During your amazing 2.5 hour fully guided walking tour you may even taste the sea salt on your lips, feel the Irish Sea wind, marvel at tales of local smugglers, witness the native sea birds and keep your eyes open for some dolphins swimming off the rugged coastline. The Gobbins experience will take you along a narrow path hugging the dramatic cliff face; across spectacular bridges amid the crashing waves of the North Channel; traversing hidden Tunnels under the Irish Sea; up and down rugged staircases carved into the cliff face and into caves that were once home to smugglers and privateers.

Now doesn't that sound like fun? You can understand why we wanted to do it and our disappointment was great. (The exert above was taken from The Gobbins Cliff path website. To see a video of the tour   click here)

With the rain getting heavier we found another NT place near Antrim at a place called Templepatrick. Here was Pattersons Spade Mill the last water-driven spade mill in daily use in the British Isles.

During the journey, the heavens opened and the wipers had difficulty in clearing the screen.

Finally made it to the place and with it still drizzling Ian made me get out off the Beast to see him reverse back. Suddenly a cloudburst with me in just shorts and Tshirt. I kept telling him to come back quickly as nothing was behind the Beast that could be hit but no, he took his time over the manoeuvre! So wet was I that changing into dry clothes before heading into the mill was my only option.

See what I was left outside in?

But in a way, this was a blessing in disguise because suddenly from the skylight, several drips appeared which got steadily more frequent. The seating (which was also Ian's part of the bed) was in danger of becoming rather wet. Quick as you like a bowl was found and placed under the drip. Now we had a dilemma. This had to be sorted ASAP. Leaving the bowl where it was and with the rain easing, we made our way to the mill for the demonstration.

Hammering the steel to make the spade

Inserting the shaft.

This machine moulds the back and front sections to the shaft.

Finished spades

Millrace

The waterwheel was replaced by this turbine sometime between 1907 and 1914

 Both of us were a bit worried what we would find on our return but the bowl had done the job and saved the seat. Then....dramatic pause ......the mother of all storms hit us. Thunder, lightning, high winds, you name it we had it! The water was pouring in from the skylight, so much so, that a bigger bowl was needed! And the suggestion from Ian that moving to a more level spot would stop the water from coming in at the side worked but now it was pouring in from the front. At least it was away from the seats.

The cloth over the top stopped the splashes going over carpet

One hour accumulative amount.

 Ian managed to remove the cover to find out where the water was coming from. The seal on the front of the skylight had failed. Ian carries a vast amount of tools for which I always thought to be unnecessary but today I was very grateful that he found just the right piece of equipment for the job. Silicon was what was needed to do a temporary fix and a job that needed him to get onto the roof.  Out of the question for now as the rain is still lashing down and the thunder still rumbling away two hours later.  So the conclusion at the moment is we will have to wait until it stops. Met office reckons about 11 pm tonight! The sage will have to continue in tomorrows post.

And something I found amusing

Oh, and the two lovely chaps running the Mill said we could stay overnight and even supplied us with electric. We gave them a £5 as thanks.