3rd & 4th
June 2010
Tent Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
Well, the cycle ride from Portadown to Aghatirourke yesterday was not too bad but, to be honest, I was not up too early this morning. The brief rain showers around 6.00am were no excuse but I eventually got up at 10.30 am. I deserved the rest and enjoyed reading Douglas Adams' Life, the Universe and everything. Mind you I kept waking and heard a Cuckoo, a Common Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler from the snug confines of my sleeping bag.
I packed up the tent after breakfast and hid all panniers under a hedge before
making my way to the top of the plateau. Not many birds around on the way up
and even fewer at the top.
I then met two peat diggers, John and William, who were busy stacking cylinders of peat in small wigwam-shaped piles for them to dry out, ready for using as fuel.
Back down to collect my belongings and have lunch in a field with a stunning view over the valley towards Enniskillin, a male Hen Harrier came close by, floating overhead. A superb, pale grey, bird, one of my favourites, it landed some way up the limestone slope beside a large Hawthorn bush.
Once at Enniskillen, I found the Cathedral was closed and I awaited a phone
call from the BBC. Radio Ulster had phoned to say that they wanted to interview
me tonight and that we needed to organise a rendezvous point. The phone call
came from Helen the producer.
“Can
you get to tonight?”
“I
couldn't, I said.
That
was about fifty miles away and it was already late.
“Don't
worry,” she said. “We'll come to you!”
Indeed they did but before they arrived a very distinguished gentleman came up to me and asked in a rather theatrical way whether I knew where the local theatre was, Simon Callow, the actor. His reply to my saying that I did not was short. “You wouldn't being from Birmingham, would you?”
John Toal and Hazel arrived and together we enjoyed a long chat and a pint beside the river.
With the sun setting behind us, Helen suddenly interjected by saying that we had better record something!
The internet link to the interview contained the following text . . .
BIKING BIRDER
John Toal from Saturday Magazine went down to Enniskillen to meet up with Gary Prescott. Gary has undertaken to cycle round the entire UK and was in Northern Ireland to visit all the RSPB sites and other areas of natural history and birding interest. His trip took five years to plan and will finish on 31st December 2010.
As well as doing the trip for his own enjoyment he is raising money for the RSPB, the WWT and Asthma UK.
Listen to Gary's infectious enthusiasm for the landscape and people of Northern Ireland.
Read Gary's blog bikingbirder2010.blogspot.com
Visit Gary's website bikingbirder.co.uk and perhaps donate to one of his charitable causes.
RSPB at Belfast Lough rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/belfastlough
WWT at Castle Espie wwt.org.uk/visit-us/castle-espie
Slieve Donard on wikipedia wikipedia.org/wiki/Slieve_Donard
www.rspb.org.uk/
www.wwt.org.uk/
www.asthma.org.uk/
On the way to here yesterday visited both the Catholic and the Anglican Cathedrals in Armagh.
In Rosslea, after scooting through a small bit of the Republic of Ireland, met
a family whose daughter wore the best shirt I'd seen during my time in Northern
Ireland - an Aston Villa shirt. Beautiful! [Thanks Shayna! And thanks to you as
well Vincent. Great handshake.]
After quite possibly the worst chips and gravy I have ever eaten, I went
through Kinawley and saw that there were a large number of children enjoying
themselves playing Gaelic football. Stopped and watched and met Brenda and
Ender, both of whom were the coaching experts for the local team. It was
fabulous to see the children's enthusiasm and skill in playing this game that
is a bit like Aussie rules football. Kick the ball, hit it, throw it and score
points or a goal.
Oh, to be in Gwent! A Mamora's warbler had been reported there and friends
texted me to show what I was missing being in Norn Ireland!
Mind you I did not
need it. I had seen one, actually the first one for Britain, up on Midhope
Moor, South Yorkshire, when my ex-wife Jane walked with me over the moor to see
the Mamora’s, despite being very pregnant with our first born at the time.
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