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+ 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.
+ Monday, Sept 5 -- Yesterday's travel was as scenic and memorable as any day I can remember. The Isle of Skye is truly amazing. We were in a tour on a van lasting 5 hours. Rain and fog were replaced with sunshine early in the afternoon. It was beautiful during the most scenic and interesting part of the trek. It was a wild ride especially on a single track road in the higher elevations.
+ Monday, Sept 5 -- Heather is everywhere in the Highlands. Beautiful purple blanket stretched out up and.down and all around. Today we are on one of Scotland's most scenic rail routes: Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness.
+ Monday, Sept 5 -- Last night our timing was perfect. We finished the tour of Skye in Kyle of Lochalsh. This town is on the mainland acoss the kyle from Kyleakin. First a pint of ale, then I got a taxi rideto see the Eilean Donan castle. Then a delicious dinner. The best was yet to come. We decided to walk back to Kyleakin. Two miles. But spectacular. We saw a supurb sunset as we walked over the kyle on the bridge built in 1995.
+ Monday, Sept 5 -- The immersion in the Gaelic culture at a venue known as Skipinnish Ceilidh House on Friday night was wonderful. Go to www.skipinnish.com
+ updated at 11:05am on Sunday, September 4, 2011 (6:05am ESDT)
+ Friday, September 1 -- Our Highlands adventure has begun. Great train ride from Glasgow to Oban along the Clyde and then along lochs including the famous Loch Lomond. Waterfalls. Sheep. 3500 foot peaks.
+ Friday, September 1 -- Yesterday I went to Kirkintillich where my great great great grandmother Jean Stirling was born and presumably raised by William and Margaret Stirling. A helpfull librarian got me the microfilm which included the written record of her birth. I saw it and took a picture of it.
+ Friday, September 1 -- At Cuan Mor Restaurant enjoying Ravens Wood Zinfandel 2008 celebrating our traveling companion's upcoming 66th birthday and the start of our Highlands portion of the trip which will be our concluding week of our UK 4 week stay.
+ Friday, September 1 -- We are hoping to enjoy some immersion in the Gaelic culture at a venue known as Skipinnish Ceilidh House. It has rained a lot since we got to this absolutely gorgous harbor town of Oban. You can join us. Go to www.skipinnish.com
