September 1, Day 80. Met up with Steve this morning to paddle Torr Head and Fair Head! It is nice to see him again after this whole trip, and that I’m still working away at it. Jane came too, so the three of us set off towards Torr head which always kicks up in some way, and even though we timed it so we were there just after slack water there and with wind behind us, we still had a bumpy ride as the tidal race ripped by. Fun stuff. We stopped at the cabin that Steve has access to, which is the first place I ever paddled with Steve so it was nice to be back there.
I’m glad he was here today, bit of a full circle day from paddling around Fair Head 4 years ago and now doing it again while on my circumnavigation. I’ve come so far as a paddled. The cabin is just on the water so we had our lunch before moving on. Fair head had an amazing amount of current pushing us along at that point, and barely any swell, just tidal races all over the place. We rode that and stayed out of the eddy, and kept our line pushing us to Ballycastle. It’s one of those days where I’m just stoked that I’m still out here doing it!
We paddled for a little and Steve and Jane decided to peel off to collect their cars and do the shuttle to get Steve’s car back from Cushendun while I paddled on. So we split ways and I paddled towards Ballintoy harbor. Stopped into some caves and a big split in the rock which I always want to have time for. Waved up to people walking over the rope bridge as I paddled underneath and glided through. There were a couple times years ago that Steve and I would stand above the put in for the bridge and look out and it was just such massive swell that we never did so it was nice to do it now. The first time I actually went under was just before this trip.
They met me in Ballintoy and I was tired by then but Steve said it would be the best tactical move to push towards Dunseverick so that I’m closer to the causeway for the morning because I have a small window for that. I’ve learned a lot about tactical paddling this trip, and setting myself up for the windows I need to hit. So after a sigh, I finished my bowl of hard boiled eggs and drank cold instant coffee I had just shaken up in my small water bottle, and I was on my way again. Nice last couple miles to the harbour where Jane met me. There’s a little house there right next to the harbour so we knocked on the door and asked if we could put the boat in his little garden. He said yes and then produced a little alarm box that we would put on the boat just in case anyone came into his garden to take things. Jane and I shared a look since we found that unlikely but nice he had it anyway. Jane and I then stopped in Lidl for some tortellini for dinner.
