From the Belfray Country Inn to the Peace Bridge in Derry/Londonderry is about 4.2 miles. When you have been averaging close to twelve miles a day, that isn't too much. When you have been averaging close to twelve miles a day for six days, the seventh day should be for rest and not another 4.2 miles.
I had suggested the Peace Bridge as our finish line for the over seventy-mile walk for two reasons. First, it was an iconic landmark for the city. Second, a bridge is a symbol of a journey. I felt that although this journey was coming to an end, we were just at the beginning of another journey: our trip around the world on the Villa Vie Odyssey.
I woke up early and looked out the window to the east to see the sun brightening the horizon on what would be another beautiful day in Northern Ireland. Of course, I had to get dressed and grab my phone so that I could run downstairs to get a better look and a better shot of the sunrise. The cool morning air was familiar by now and quite welcome. From the front steps of the hotel, I got the nice picture that I wanted. I walked out into the parking lot and turned around to see the facade of the building in the morning light of the sunrise. Only then did I notice the full moon setting to the side of our final stop of our adventure.
When I went back inside, I sat in the lobby and checked to see if Dusty and Randy would be coming today. It seemed that Dusty was feeling better and they would both arrive by bus and meet us at the Peace Bridge. They said that a few other people from the ship would be joining the welcoming party, along with someone from the Derry/Londonderry newspaper. How fun!
While I was sitting there, a young lady from the hotel staff walked up and asked if I would care for some tea or coffee. How civilized. I confirmed that coffee with milk would be lovely, and soon it was steaming in front of me on the shiny black coffee table.
Before I had even had a chance to sample the cup, Kit came down the stairs, and we were on our way to breakfast. Of course, I grabbed both the coffee and the milk on the way. A quick glance at the menu drew my eye to a breakfast treat that both Dusty and I enjoy whenever possible when we are out: Eggs Benedict. Since Dusty was not here, I would have to enjoy it for both of us.
With breakfast finishing, Kit asked if I minded her asking a few questions on sensitive issues. Since nothing had really been off limits in the week we had been walking together, I was happy to oblige. Questions about politics, religion, abortion led to discussions about beliefs and observations on those and tangential issues such as race and other things. With no particular direction to the Q&A session, I guess she just wanted to know my thoughts on a different level, or felt earlier discussions may have led to friction with some people.
With the hot-button issues of the day addressed, it was time to grab our backpacks for the last time and hit the road. Kit had lived in a city called Ardmore when she was younger and wanted to go through a village of the same name just for fun. Mary, at the front desk, gave us instructions on how to get there by taking a path that would lead through the backcountry into the village. Then we would go on to our destination.
We crossed over Glenshane Road to the far side to take advantage of the wide sidewalk, as we usually did. In less than five minutes, we were greeted by Dexter and Catherine. The boxer was taking his person out for a walk, and we took the time to stop and chat with both of them. Kit especially liked chatting with the dogs we met along the way, and there had been many.
A wee bit down the road, a wee road led to a wee trail through the woods. There was a wee bridge across a wee river that led us into Kit's, just for fun, destination of the wee village of Ardmore.
From this point on, we were either in the suburbs of Derry/Londonderry or in the city proper. No more sheep, cows, horses, and farms. We still had the churches, cemeteries, and old buildings to let us know that we were not in Kansas anymore.
I checked my phone to see where Dusty's phone was and saw that she had made it to the other side of the Peace Bridge. She would be there for our arrival in less than an hour. We still had a couple of steep hills to climb before getting there, but with the destination literally in sight, the steps went a bit easier.
When we finally got down to the River Foyle, we could see the Peace Bridge. This was a pedestrian bridge uniting the Protestant and Catholic sides of the city, symbolically shaking hands across the water to end "The Troubles" that had rocked Northern Ireland for years.
The first person that I saw was Randy. He is 6'3" and was wearing a dark blue shirt and a baseball cap. I almost immediately recognized Dusty's hair nearby, shining in the bright afternoon sun. I quickened my stride and went in for the long hug. With Dusty, not Randy.
Four other shipmates from the Villa Vie Odyssey were there, plus Brendan McGilligan, a reporter from Ireland Live.
Amy, Deborah, Mike, Kit, Randy, Richard, Dusty, and Cyndi
Once the videos, photos, interviews, and such were over, the eight of us took a walk over the Peace Bridge to visit the walled city that Derry/Londonderry is famous for. That, and to use the bathroom and get lunch.
While we were having lunch, with a beverage of choice, Kit got a phone call. It was to be her first of two interviews that day. She was getting famous while I was getting fed and catching up with Dusty and the others from the ship.
Around the table, we discussed when everyone would be returning to Belfast. Mike and Amy said that they wanted to catch the train in a couple of hours. It went down the coast and would get us back in about two hours. Deborah and Cyndi were in for that as well. I already knew that Kit wanted to overnight in the city to check things out. I just wanted to be with Dusty, and it didn't matter if it was in Belfast or here. With that in mind and feeling a bit weary of being on the road, we opted to join the other four for the return train ride.
But before we left this picturesque area, we made our way to the train station the long way. We took a walk along the battlements of the outer wall of the city and checked out the street musicians and historic sights along the way.
The return to Belfast was much quicker and easier than the week-long outward-bound journey had been. There was a lot to look back on and smile about. It would hold a warm Irish place in my heart for the rest of my life. This would be my last adventure. Until my next adventure.
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