in the silky water of Lough Swilly , drying off afterwards in the strong sunshine .
Donegal ’ s landscape is varied . We climbed long , steep roads to cliffheads and stopped for group photos at picturesque harbours , enjoying pleasant breaks for drinks and lunch as we all sat about in the sunshine . Tootling round the stunning Donegal Inishowen coast , we saw more evidence of unrest with guns and war-stories at Fort Dunree , the perfect place for keeping an eye out for anyone who might enter the country via the sea-Lough Swilly . Looking like it was still there to ward off intruders was an 1893 12 Pounder 12 CWT coast defence gun .
Tiring of war , I ventured for a walk and looked at more peaceful aspects of this beautiful island .
The views were spectacular , the wildlife unaware of turmoil and discord . Inspiring countryside and language produced writers like Iris Murdoch , and explorer and writer , Dervla Murphy who rode a bicycle all over the world .
We left and made our way back eastwards to finish the weekend but first , I was amazed to see what , to others , must be a commonplace sight . As we came out of the lunchstop pub , where everything had been quite normal , the Enfield stalled as if in shock . I looked around .
Assembling outside a hall was a group of men in uniform . They looked military but had drums and what ? Flutes ? The older ones wore bowler hats and had an air of importance to go with the colourful fringed sashes hanging from their suited shoulders . I caught sight of a Freemasons insignia on another sash and learned later that there are interwoven loyalties between the Protestant Orange Lodge marchers and the Freemasons . This group was setting up for a march but my group of fellow motorcyclists , apparently accustomed to such gatherings , had
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