Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you’ve planned, life gets in the way.

Last Christmas I was at home for two weeks. Two long weeks in which I was going to make the most of Northern Ireland’s beautiful landscape, two weeks in which I had access to car. Two weeks was going to be plenty of time for a few early rises.

A couple of days in I was so ill that I was unable to get out of bed. Day after day passed, sunrise after sunset, and my camera was still in the bag. By Christmas Day I was better. Boxing Day was going to be my only chance.

I had really wanted to go to the Causeway but the weather looked like it wasn’t going to hold. I checked the 10-hour forecast just before going to bed and, disappointed, decided to aim for a spot about ten minutes up the road.

With the smallest amount of hope I set the alarm early enough to make the Causeway before sunrise, just in case. When I got up at 6.00am it seemed dry. I couldn’t help myself. I got in the car, it was freezing cold, and started driving.

It didn’t take long to notice the fuel light. There was no petrol in the car!

My brother had had the car for days and, to put it mildly, he doesn’t like paying for petrol. I was pretty annoyed, but knew it wasn’t really a problem. All I had to do was drive to Ballymena to the 24-hour Sainsbury’s.

It was closed. I remembered just up the road there’s a Tesco. It was closed too. Then I remembered it was Boxing Day and it was 7.00am. They were all going to be closed.

Here was me at home for two weeks, most of it unwell, having bought a set of filters to use to take sunrise photos of Northern Ireland and there was no petrol in the car. I was seething, but I kept driving. I honestly didn’t think I would make it, I just had to try.

The last ten miles were nerve racking. I drove so carefully, so economically and somehow, somehow I got there. 60 miles through the countryside on an orange light that could have been on for days.

And my god it was worth it.

When I got there it was still dark. I’d never been to the coast on my own in the dark before, never mind somewhere as unique as this. Full of energy and awe I made my way down the hill and explored a little. I took a couple of shots to get a feel for the camera, whilst I waited for the light. Then the light started coming up and I got stuck in.

A woman appeared about 8.30am, walking her dog. The tourists started to appear about 9.30am, but by that point I’d been there about two hours. The light had gone and I was getting tired. Time to go home.

I drove a couple of miles back to the nearest town, not caring if I had to walk. It had been worth it. I found an open petrol station. It was small, but it was open.

It was such a relief. And after the softly, softly journey there, I put my foot down and had a ball on the way home. Who knew a Punto could be so much fun? I guess London does that to you.

I can’t wait to do the next one of these, but I will check there’s petrol in the car next time!

Giant’s Causeway – a set on Flickr