Running with the bulls!

Only in Belfast...
This morning, after dropping Jamie off with Avril (his childminder - that's what they call day care providers here), I went for a run. I ran from Avril's house through Stranmillis (Belfast neighborhood we live in), into Lagan Meadows, and then home (see map - open the link below, it'll open in a new window). All told, it was just a 25 min run, but it sure was beautiful. Lagan Meadows is a 120-acre nature preserve right in the city. It is super-hilly (coming from the flatlands especially!) and has great walking/running trails with scenic hilltop vistas at one end and the Lagan River at the other. It also is home to a small herd of cattle (18 total) - the middle of the reserve has a series of meadows that the cattle graze during the nicer weather months. Well today, I came around a corner and found myself running with the cattle! The farmers were moving them from one meadow to another for grazing (they do this weekly-ish) and they were being pushed along the running trail! These are massive creatures...I will say that I slowed to a walk and kept to the side. But, it was such a fun experience! There was even a really cute baby... Where else in the world can you run with cattle while within city limits? Probably there are plenty of other places out there like this, but I sure haven't experienced any of them!

Map