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By Train to the Giants Causeway
Aug. 23rd, 2019 10:13 pmThis morning after breakfast, Lisa and I walked to the Hilton, which turned out to be closer than we realized (about 1200 m), and there we met up with Feòrag Nicbhrìde. Based on my research in the travel guide, I figured out that there was a type of travel card (iLink Zone 1-4 one day, £17.50 each) that would give us unlimited rail and bus travel where we wanted to go, and I'd bought cards for Lisa and me from Great Victoria Street station before walking to the Hilton. Once we met up with Feòrag, we walked to Lanyon Place (the former Belfast Central, which isn't very central), they bought their own iLink card, and we boarded a train for Colerine.
( Where We Eventually Ended Up )
( Training to Colerine )
Hooray for integrated transit where the same card allows unlimited transit on different modes. As Tramway Drive, we got off to ride the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway.
( To the Trams )
After our tramway adventure, we walked up the hill and then down again to board a bus down to the Giants Causeway. This is another case of our travel passes working well, as it saved us another £2 each for the round trip from the visitor center to the seaside.
( On the Rocks )
It was a close-run thing at Colerine, as our bus was late. Fortunately, not only was our train a couple of minutes late, but it was coming in on the near-side platform and therefore we did not have to rush up and over the bridge to another platform. The rain was very crowded, but Lisa and I managed to get two seats, and Feòrag got a seat across the aisle from us. It wasn't as good as the group of four around a table we had on the way out, but it was better than standing.
( On the Way Back )
This was a fun, but tiring day. I was happy to go out sightseeing and riding trains and not working on Business Meetings or Worldcons or anything else. We have another day of "actual vacation" planned on Sunday, but Saturday at 14:00 at Titancon, I have a kaffeklatch with Cheryl Morgan to discuss the Hugo Awards with anyone who shows up for it. Lisa and Feòrag are planning to go off to a model railway show instead. And I might just get to sleep before midnight tonight, for the first time since before Worldcon began.
Update, September 7, 2019: Feòrag has posted a report on our trip to Giants Causeway and the Tramway.
( Where We Eventually Ended Up )
( Training to Colerine )
Hooray for integrated transit where the same card allows unlimited transit on different modes. As Tramway Drive, we got off to ride the Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway.
( To the Trams )
After our tramway adventure, we walked up the hill and then down again to board a bus down to the Giants Causeway. This is another case of our travel passes working well, as it saved us another £2 each for the round trip from the visitor center to the seaside.
( On the Rocks )
It was a close-run thing at Colerine, as our bus was late. Fortunately, not only was our train a couple of minutes late, but it was coming in on the near-side platform and therefore we did not have to rush up and over the bridge to another platform. The rain was very crowded, but Lisa and I managed to get two seats, and Feòrag got a seat across the aisle from us. It wasn't as good as the group of four around a table we had on the way out, but it was better than standing.
( On the Way Back )
This was a fun, but tiring day. I was happy to go out sightseeing and riding trains and not working on Business Meetings or Worldcons or anything else. We have another day of "actual vacation" planned on Sunday, but Saturday at 14:00 at Titancon, I have a kaffeklatch with Cheryl Morgan to discuss the Hugo Awards with anyone who shows up for it. Lisa and Feòrag are planning to go off to a model railway show instead. And I might just get to sleep before midnight tonight, for the first time since before Worldcon began.
Update, September 7, 2019: Feòrag has posted a report on our trip to Giants Causeway and the Tramway.
