Patrick Welcomes Us to Ballycastle

Once free of snow, our car took us for a very scenic drive along the Causeway coastal route. We had lots of stops along the way as there was so much to see. The combination of unspoilt coast with snow capped hills in the distance was an awe-inspiring one.


We felt very much at home when we found a rock close to the water's edge which had a remarkable resemblance to a bear. It wasn't us who drew the face on - honest!


We felt even more at home when we got to Ballycastle and found the house we were going to be staying in for the week. There to welcome us and beaming warmly at us, was a very characterful Irish bear, with an Emerald Buddies i.d. tag in his ear. The even better news was that he was looking for a name and a home and was hoping that he might be able to join Bears Unlimited.


We wasted no time agreeing that his name would be Patrick and that he would spend the week showing us around Northern Ireland, then he would come back with us to England and live with us in Norfolk.

But I bet you're still wondering why I, Eddie, had come on this trip, as no mention of boating so far. The link is that we were staying at the 'spare' house of two of our Irish friends who were with us in Greece on our sailing holiday. They are very bear friendly and I had enjoyed their company so much while sailing, that I was very eager to see them again. I was also looking forward to seeing two more friends from the same sailing holiday who were flying over from Newcastle later in the week, to complete the re-union

They say that first impressions count and ours was extremely good. Where else can you go and be given free accommodation for the week, a warm welcome, a delicious meal, and to top it all be given a new friend?

We were all in bear heaven.

Lots of love, Eddie, George & Yorkie xxx