Le Duc on the Road XIX - Blackhead (no, really)

 Google Head of Blogging Standards: 'So is this post about wargaming?'

Me: 'well, uhh, yes, definitely!'

GHBS; 'Really?'

Me: *shakes head* 'No...' 

(though really, let's face it...based on their new blogger design flaws...who is the real winner here...this post took me hours!)

'So, not seein' the wargaming here Duc! '

 

 With recent global appreciation and voluminous accolades (!) re. my last running post, this morning's walk with la Duchesse means that I can post more random pics of the surrounding countryside. Now many of the Duc on the Road posts have centred upon grand presentations of epic sites across the world ...that's not the case with this one...

Blackhead Lighthouse is near Whitehead village (it sounds complicated, it is), and just down the road from Islandmagee (the 'Island' from last post).

'He said 'the Island' right?  Wasn't that something to do with with Nijmegan and those guys from the 82nd? So it's wargaming right?' .....nope

 

The area grew up around steam train development in the 19th century...(and has nothing to do with wargaming).

There are some epic volcanic rock formations, and walks, concerns with metallurgy (no, really) and as ever ...lots of gradient changes...

The Blackhead route -3 to attack from all directions

 

Not those Blackheads...

The view east from the entrance to the path. Note the finely rusted finish on the signage...this will be a theme outlining the perils of not using marine grade stainless in your fabrications...

...while this pic outlines the perils of letting the dogs out when the concrete on the path is drying...

So, I'm guessing what happened here, is that they wanted a stainless steel sign, as it was near the water, but they ordered 304 (commercial grade) instead of 316 (marine grade)...oops. Somebody probably got promoted for that.

View looking back east.

I can't even...

More 304...

First good views of Blackhead Lighthouse

Part of the cave network used by C18th smugglers in the area, smuggling alcohol. To be fair, there's a big market still ;)

Part of Smugglers' Cove

Bravest fisherman on the planet...

Looking north toward Islandmagee Peninsula and the cliff from last post

Blackhead Lighthouse

The Hammer Horror Film version of the Lighthouse

Whitehead from Blackhead...it makes perfect sense to me at least...

The Cold War era early warning station that monitored the Lough for signs of Soviet Naval activity. Allegedly the entire Lough could be mined in 24 hours...though to be honest, with part time Naval reserve, I suspect we would have been speaking Russian by the time it was done. Had the Russian Marines landed at Whitehead, there would have been a Vodka party however.

Whitehead from Blackhead (!)

Ballycarry Skyline...

Nordic Ravens at the Gates of Hell

Now that we have a suitably dramatic title, we shall engage.

I'm not a runner, I 'm a cyclist. We'll be returning to this.

Now having been cycling for 16 years, and even done the odd 100 miler, I must testify to loving the training and having several bikes, and even training inside via turbo trainer & Zwift (TM). Recent 'science' (you can always trust science?!?!) however, outlines that cyclists who do more than a modicum of training, over an extended period, and who are in their...shall we say...49+ age bracket in terms of years, should really be looking at the possibility of osteoporosis as a future problem, unless they wise up.

Bearing this in mind, and upon the advice of La Duchesse - who used to run for her country...I have been running. (Allegedly it keeps the fitness up, if careful, whilst rebuilding bone and joint health.)

(I'm not a runner, I 'm a cyclist - there; told ya we'd be back here!)

A mile here, two miles there...though this morning I beat my two mile duck.

Now I have not been running seriously, since I was forced to, more than 20 years ago...and it is not easy to make that transition. (MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE IT!)

This morning however, I undertook to run along a barely discernible path toward a large cliff near my home...and back.

Objective...cliff!!!

In fact, legend states that this is where the Vikings (one of them is buried in a runic marked grave nearby) landed in the local area somewhere around 800AD.

So, I expected to see Ravens guiding me on my quest to make it more than 2 miles, with omens, portents and various ungodly pagan associations on the path to demi-sainthood.

 Nope - I caught a picture of two black birds...turns out they were crows, not ravens...and the gate of hell? ...a badly treated farm-gate, though I guess it did block my path...a sign perhaps, that running is really hard?

 Ravens? A sign from the Netherworld that your chosen path is correct, but beset with evil that would test you?   Nope, a couple of crows .

 

Have I mentioned I'm not a runner, I'm a cyclist.

But the running will continue until the body gives up...sah!

Just look at those bloody contours! If this was a wargame, you'd be attacking that at -3 at least!

 

Uhhh...not seeing the path to be fair.

The weather was beginning to notice me and threatening to become p1ssed off with my attempts at running the trails...

The Peninsula..normally a peaceful place for romantic walks...rarely suitable for 'attack runs on fire'.

The Black Gate! Well...silvery I guess...

 

(Raiders...not runners)

In other news, I picked these rules up. The aforementioned Aquilonian Special Forces in Hyboria, will see the light of day yet!

You've heard of Navy SeALs..well the Aquilonian SWORDs (Special Weapons Orientation Recon & Development group) will be operating soon...in a Hyborian location which can not yet be revealed due to government restrictions.