Touted as the 'most dramatic walk in Europe', Le Duc remains somewhat surprised that he has never visited this one, bearing in mind that he lives up the road...
(There is scant truth to the rumour that le Duc is in fact is named after the place).
The walk itself is tough, though rewarding as the scenery is fairly awe inspiring. Headwear and boots are provided and essential.
The walk itself had been around since the 1902, then closed due to rockfall in the 50s, then reopened in the last decade (though with intermittent interruptions in terms of rockfall). Pioneered originally by then local engineer, Berkely Deane Wise, in order to show off his structural metalwork design skills in addition to pioneering railways in the area, it became a major attraction.
https://thegobbinscliffpath.com/gobbins-story/
(Now it shows off the metalwork skills of a number of local companies).
Miracle is a strong word...
An original pic from early C20th.
So this is where Gobin got his name from? Surely not?
There are 4 of these signs en route. They clearly have concerns.
The very steep route down. Not for the faint hearted. (And yes, that's a headland, with a head in it.)
A war memorial at the base of the climb. Dedicated to two members of a party of Belfast engineering students who died in WWI, and who used to visit the area before they went to France.
A spiral to the observation platform, which we neglected to go up!
The first of many bridges. This is a geologist's dream, with volcanic formations and particular rock types which only appear on this coastline due to the combination of minerals.
Not much room to pass, and it's normally a fairly slow moving party...and trust me, on the sunscreen.
There are a number of sheer drops, though of course, there are plenty of handrails.
The tunnel. A marvel of modern engineering (for non-engineers that is ;) ...otherwise, it's just a number of monocoque concentrics fabricated and NDT tested, then piled and chemically fixed to the rockface...and relax).
A lot of smuggling operations carried out here in the C18th. The peninsula became a hub for alcohol ...uhhh it might still be actually?
Last of the bridges, and quite an epic expanse.
A T-Rex head ...do ya see it?
And finally, this apparently looks like the head of a dragon in some show called 'Game of Bones' or something?
Another excellent outing with Regimental F&F and some superb 15mm ACW forces.
Present were myself (the 'hat'), Robust Steve, and Cider John as Rebs - and 'We Won' G and 'Side of Decency' Richard as the Union.
Apparently, some players liked to make it obvious which side they were on...(I believe that I only mentioned unjust Northern taxation on our
exports, and thereby our justified secession, four...maybe five times?)
The 'Dice Demon' was relegated to referee so that someone else had a chance at winning...
A rare picture from the setup phase...prior to all hell breaking loose...
Now you can see 'Seven Pines' in this pic - decorated with 'Four' trees. Hence, termed 7/4 Pines for the rest of the game...
The Union redoubt and 'killing box' in the centre (I'm sure that was once a movie with Martin Sheen...which was a poor imitation of Apocalypse Now, re-written for the ACW?).
Rebs have to negotiate felled trees and rough ground.
Rebs in extended line, with Rifle Muskets, opt to close assault the Union positions !!!
'What the hell is he ***ing doing suh,' my CinC was heard to cry... A roll of 4x9s in a row, and it worked though ;)
The centre will inevitably be a tough nut to crack, however, on the Reb left...there is more success...
A new Reb brigade reinforces their right. Union reinforcements will be piecemeal, but will appear in force at the end (yes, yes, we never got finished G, I know, I know...)
Rebs push on the left, threatening to cave in the Union right flank
Assaults in the centre go in two, three, four times...
It's a hard nut to crack...
'Le Duc has left the battlefield to go pee suh...' 'Vewy comendable, vewy comendable...'
The Reb's battlelines 'should' be enough to grab the Yankees by the nose and kick 'em in the ass (via those flanks)...
Union reinforcements. 'Pah!' we scoffed (yet they held on).
'We're goin' in again boys!'
The Union right ...holds, falters, holds again...
The Reb right, developing into a flank action.
The Reb left - considerably more success.
The centre is a horror story...
Near game end - Rebs begin to turn the flank while holding a Union regiment off.
Final assault in the centre. The redoubt holds, but the Union is weakened either side of it - the next point of Reb efforts.
Hard fightin' in the centre.
The overall picture near game end - fragile flanks and robust (Steve) centre.
Turnin' that thar flank boah!
Another great game with these rules, great hospitality from Cider John, and too much beer consumed...
G says it was a DRAW! Though of course, bein' a Yankee, they'd be used to re-writin' history in their favour suh...
