The Ramblers returned to the seaside once more and the lovely town of Portstewart for the ever-popular Red Sails Festival. Having spent some time in the countryside of Ballymena, some fresh sea air was just what the Doctor ordered.
As usual, our venue for the weekend was The Star of the Sea Parish Centre. Brimming with motorhomes, and with its town centre location, it’s worth the admission price alone. The only way to be any closer to the action would be to park in the Harbour!!
Hosting was a real community affair with Gary & Yvonne, Joe & Roberta and Paul & Lesley all getting in on the action, and more than a little help from Jack & Florence.
Members made the most of the festival’s planned activities, but the usual Bingo was on offer on Friday night, with plenty of winnings to go around. New and established members all got a share, but it was Sharon Scott who made off with the jackpot, and treated Alan to an ice-cream on The Prom next day!!
The weather was patchy and a fair wind along the seafront, but with plenty of Red Sails activities happening around town, members still made the most of Saturday and enjoyed Portstewart’s super S’s to the full. Sea Air, Spirits and Shopping.
Back at the hall that evening, our latest entertainer and local Ballymoney man, Jason McAllister, provided superb entertainment with a fantastic selection of music and melodies. Shoes shuffled and hands swayed to more than a few classics, with a brief pause for members to try their luck at the raffle.
After the brief intermission at Ballymena, Coffee morning was back on the agenda and members filed into the hall to reflect on yet another memorable weekend which combined great company, excellent entertainment, and wonderful atmosphere of one of the North Coast’s most popular festivals. Memorable too for Jack & Florence in a premiere outing in their new van. Fond farewell too to Jim & Julie Harris who now head off on their Grand Tour. Safe travels and hope we see you again safely in the colder weather!!
So that’s it from the coast for a while as Ramblers head inland again for our first visit of the year to the beautiful Georgian City of Armagh. What better way to then lead into our 5-day seaside spectacular in Newcastle 11th to 16th August. See you on the road!
The Rambling Writer