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+ updated at 5:34pm ESDT on Sunday, September 18, 2011
+ Our hosts in Bristol from August 18 to 21 offered us hospitality second to none. How about tea and coffee in bed each morning followed by breakfast? And they treated us to dinners at their home and at a couple of great restaurants, one in the Cotswolds -- The Gumstool at Calcot Manor, Tetbury -- and one on the Bristol riverfront -- River Station. They live within a ten minute walk of the bridge I wanted to see so much, the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. So, I got a chance to take many photos of the bridge and Avon River Gorge which it spans.
+ updated at 5:04pm ESDT on Sunday, September 18, 2011
+ On 6 September I went on a bus and boat tour of the Caledonian Canal, Loch Ness and the ruins of Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness. I got to see a beautiful rainbow over the loch and castle ruins. On the boat ride, I saw Nessie but nobody believes me! People who went out on the bow deck got wet as big waves splashed over the bow. After a couple of dousings, I didn't see anybody on that deck for the duration.
For more photos, go to the Facebook Album, Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle Ruins September 2011.
+ Today is our last full day in Scotland. We are on another great train ride from Inverness to Glasgow. Seeing more of the wonderful Highlands.
+ Tuesday, September 6, 2011 -- It is so frustrating to write several paragraphs and then make a simple keystroke error and lose it all. It nust happened. I wrote during and just after the boat and bus tour I just finished. Gone forever.
+ Tuesday, September 6, 2011 -- But the photos are not lost. Wind. Rain. Sunshine. Big waves. Rainbow. Going through a lock on the Caledonian Canal. Great Castle setting. Interesting ruins. Good film and exhibits.
+ Tuesday, September 6, 2011 -- Dinner tonight at the Contrast Brasserie which is situated right on the river, the River Ness. 2005 Bordeaux. Chateau Le Peyrat.
+ It is Day 27 of 30 (Tuesday, Sepotember 6). The 3 of us are going our separate ways today in Inverness. We will meet at a riverside restaurant for our last dinner with our great traveling companion, John, since he is taking the Caledonian Sleeper to London tomorrow while Mary and I spend the night at the flat of our new friend in Glasgow, Maggi.
My plan for today is to go on a three hour Loch Ness tour by bus and boat including a one hour stop at the ruins of Urquhart Castle with its fine viewsof the loch. Maybe I will spot Nessie, the Loch Ness monster!
+ Yesterday we took the fabulous train ride from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the White Heather Hotel which is a great bed and breakfast recommended by Rick Steves. It is in Kyleakin just over the only bridge to Skye which means Clouds in Old Norse. There are always plenty of clouds. We were fortunate enough to see plenty of sunshine during our two day stay. Did I already say that the scenery was out of this world? Or something like that!
+ There are of course pluses and minuses regarding a stay of this length away from home. On the plus side some real cultural immersion can happen. The UK is as close as any to US culture but the differences are still many. English is spoken differently here especially in Scotland. Ssometimes I just give up and enjoy the brogue without understanding much. I may have more to say about ourcultural similarities and diferences as I reflect some more.
