Day 26

A big thanks to Brian Harris of Culdaff who gave us the use of a house just opposite the beach last night. It made a pleasant change to sleeping in the tent. Up this morning at 6 a.m. and on the water for 7.30 a.m. We paddled to Inishowen Head and as in previous days the wind was up about Force 4 to 5 and directly in our faces. Rather than chance the crossing from Inishowen Head straight to Benbane Head we paddled in around the opening to Lough Foyle to try and shelter from the weather as best we could. The going was extremely tough at this point and after 6 and a half hours on the water we had covered the 21 miles to Portstewart. We decided to stop there for lunch in the hope that weather conditions would improve in the afternoon. We left Portstewart at 4.30 p.m. and headed for Giants Causeway. Passing Ramore Head it was like a new day, the seas were calm and the wind died. We paddled the 8 miles to Giants Causeway with ease. We managed to get out of the boats at Giants Causeway and have a walk around taking plenty of photos. Many thanks to Steve, a photographer that we met who took some photos of us all. As the evening was getting late we rounded Benbane Head and have stopped for the night at a pier about 8 miles short of Ballycastle. As the sun is setting we can see Rathlin Island across the sound and beyond that we can see the coast of Scotland. 35 miles today and 10 hours 29 minutes on the water.