September 16, 2012

THE ENCHANTED FOREST

Today it did not rain and was a bit warmer. I returned to Glenariff Forest Park for one more visit before I leave the area. The cafe, which has been there since 1891, was open and I spoke with the woman at the counter, telling her that I walked the Scenic Trail on Tuesday. She said, "But, oh, you must do the Waterfalls Trail," so off I went. This trail is only 3k long, but on this route one sees one great waterfall after another with the ferns and forest framing this natural area. Each one was better than the last. I can't wait to download the photos. The 2928 acres containing the park were also used for timber production centered around the clearfelling of coniferous planting trees. The walkway opened 80 years ago.

The park reminded me of one of our state parks in PA, Rickets Glen. There weren't many people on the trail and the day was most enjoyable.  Afterwards I stopped back at the cafe for homemade vegetable soup. From this area back to the hostel is about a 25 minute walk.

In the evening a number of  people arrived at the Ballyeamon Barn for storytelling and song. New guests at the Barn included two couples from the States, one couple from France and a woman from Holland, and we were entertained all evening by some of the local musicians as well as stories by Liz, and one by Isabelle, her intern, as well as a few by Judith, an American storyteller from the Midwest.