Thursday 19 May 2011

NAMING SOME THINGS (2) - MAY 2011


NAMING SOME THINGS (2) - MAY 2011
Stuff
Headland
Sea Moss
Block
Smooth rock
Cracked rock
Pitted Rock
Causeway
Pebble
Lobster Pot
Sea weed
Driftwood
Slabs
Cave
Seals
Grasses
Slope
Buttress
Prints
Sand
Cove
Boulder
Heather
Yellow mos
Red Lichen
Green Lichen
Grey Lichen
Yellow Lichen
Arch
Junk

First time visitor



My first visit to Port-o-doris was a wet and windy affair.

We parked at the side of the road leading down to Shroove beach and descended through a beautiful green meadow to the rugged coast line. Some lovely bungalows with views across to Shroove lighthouse and further over the lough to Downhill. Not much scrambling required but surefootedness at least. There was quite a lot of noise coming from the distance, a shooting range across the Foyle at Magilligan, Steve suggested. Thought of how my parents told us to get off the rocks at Culdaff beach, 'play on the sand'! We were always drawn to rock-climbing though, I had forgotten.

At the foot of the headland, possibilities for the base camp on a small flat-ish area. Alien looking seaweed and algae on the rocks. Beautiful wild flowers. Rusty old fridge. Interesting colours. Purples, yellows and greens against the blue, black and grey rocks.

Entrance to the cove is very special, worth waiting for. Immediate thoughts were very impressed, a secret hideaway, a pirates cove, remote but accessible, step back in time, Planet of the Apes.

Spent at least half an hour or so in Port-o-doris. It's a magical place. Lots to see and do. Rock formations, seaweed, seals, birdlife, pebbles and dragons. Potential for photography, video, crafts. As well as climbing, basic rock-climbing and more serious stuff. You could lose yourself here for a while. Definitely see why Steve and Dan would like to bring people here. But keep it a secret too, not too many people.

A baby seal joined us for a while. On the way back we saw an older seal on a distant rock. Birds fishing. Also a very green fly. Unusual, but maybe I need to get out more?

Getting wetter as we walk back up. Thinking of practicalities now, what's possible, what's affordable in the budget, transport, who we can invite, PR materials, we should use the landscape or natural materials there.

We need to decide everything soon. I need waterproof shoes.