Sunday, 3 August 2014

Carr's Glen - City Hall

DISCLAIMER

Participation in runs by invitation only. All participants are to ensure their general health and physical fitness to complete the planned distance, and are to exercise their individual appropriate caution for all sections of the route including road traffic awareness. Any reference, in run blogs or other published material, to access over privately owned land should not be taken as an indication of a right of public access; in all such cases, check with the relevant landowner. 

Carrs Glen to City Hall

 Bus Route 12


It seems a long time since Brian and I started this crazy idea of running all Belfast's bus routes.  Today was the last one and the day started at Carrs Glen overlooking North Belfast.










OAP problems - don't forget your glasses.
Before long we were down at the Waterworks, a place we all know well from running the excellent parkrun events held up there every Saturday.  The reservoir here once had swimming, diving, rowing, speed boats and was used for practice by the world champion model yacht racer.
Hard to believe that this really is Belfast.
Next stop was BRA school on the Cliftonville Road.  I'm a fan of quirky history and this place has plenty of that.  Did you know:
* In 1792 a group of pupils barricaded themselves in a classroom and, armed with guns, explosives and stolen food, they managed hold their position for a few days before being flogged and expelled. 
* BRA alumni include:
James Bryce - who claimed to have discovered Noah's Ark and has a Canadian mountain named after him.
Kate Hoey - MP, ex NI high jump champion and advisor to Chelsea FC.
Marty Smith - a poker world champion in 2008.


The next school on the route was St Malachy's College, home to many good local runners. 
Probably the best paid ex-student of the school had a very short university career.  Martin O'Neill spent about one week doing Law at QUB before going to play football in England and he has subsequently earned even more money than most of our legal beagles.  





Brian pointed out this interesting notice on Royal Avenue.  In Belfast, even marks on walls have a story to tell.











The final coffee on the final bus run.  This is the MAC cafe in Cathedral Quarter.  Like all the other places we visited, it was worth the effort in getting there.









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