Choose your own adventure!

This morning we opted to choose our own adventure and explore the northwest coast; an area not covered in the Orientation Tour yesterday. 

It was my turn to drive, so once I had convinced my left leg it didn’t have a role to play, we took off in our zippy little hire car, heading out of town and up steep, windy, pot-holed roads, to reach Captain Cook’s Lookout on one of the most northerly points of the island. 

After about 20 minutes (the speed limit on the island is 50, so there’s no going anywhere fast), we found ourselves enjoying spectacular vistas as we took the short walk to Cook’s Monument and the viewing platform beyond. From here we overlooked the rocky outcrops that provide the breeding grounds for a variety of seabirds, and the vast expanse of ocean beyond. 

As we meandered our way back we stopped at a couple more vantage points, one of which, Puppy’s Point, we shared with a nonchalant herd of grazing cows. Under the British system of free range grazing rights, locals are permitted to register up to 10 head of cattle that are able to wander freely and mow the roadsides. Needless to say, cattle have right of way. Unfortunately, given the extortionate price of milk on the island, as there are no pasteurisation facilities, the milk from any such cows is not able to be sold for consumption. 

As we contemplated the cows, and they contemplated us, we noticed some weather heading our way from the west, so thought it best to abandon any further sightseeing and make our way back into town. 

It was only a brief squall, so we found a cafe in which to shelter, partaking of coffee and a ridiculously priced piece of cake as we did so. The sun was soon out again and we then embarked on visiting the eclectic range of shops at this previously unexplored end of the Burnt Pine main street. There is a baffling number of clothing shops and variety stores for such a small population, even given the numbers of tourists that visit the island.  Jewellery seems to be duty free, so there are numerous jewellery stores also inhabiting the shopping strip.  

Shaking our heads at this strange mix of shops, but such a lack of fresh, affordable food items, we went back to our cottage to regroup before again joining an organised tour of the old Kingston Convict settlement. The island’s history is fascinating,  and each tour guide brings their own unique perspective as they focus on a different aspect of NI and its wealth of stories. 

The most interesting aspect of this afternoon’s tour was the time spent wandering in the cemetery; the headstones providing their own slant on the past. It was also the warmest part of the tour as, despite its proximity to the ocean, it was surprisingly sheltered from the prevailing winds which have not let up since yesterday and have turned the sea into a foaming frenzy on all sides of the island. 

Dinner tonight was to be at the Leagues Club, but on finding the menu a bit pricey, we went back to the RSL which was a much less rowdy place tonight, in the absence of any rugby on the big screen. Here we enjoyed a tasty and affordable meal before again joining a tour to the Sound and Light Show, back in the old Kingston convict settlement. 

This was an unusual presentation, in that we didn’t leave the bus, and were driven to various locations where teenage actors played the roles as related by a voiceover in the bus, under a spotlight shone on them from the side of the bus. It was interesting but we both found it a bit ‘twee!’  Nevertheless we did stay warm and dry, which was definitely a bonus we weren’t expecting. 

Who knows what tomorrow will bring in this curious part of the world, so close to home, but a world away!