:: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 ::

High in the misty Highlands

I was well enough to go into work today to do an interview, so I guess I'm well enough to begin recounting our recent adventures in Scotland. So without further ado, I give you:

Scotland, Day 1: From the Firth of Forth to Stromeferry (No ferry)

Leaving Edinburgh, we crossed the Firth of Forth, past that marvel of Victorian engineering, the Forth rail bridge and into the Hghlands of Scotland. After a brief stop and walk in the Hermitage we continued on to Killiecrankie and from there to Culloden Battlefield, site of Bonnie Prince Charlie's Last Stand, that marked the end of the Jacobite Uprisings.

Forth Rail Bridge

Black Linn Falls in the Hermitage

Memorial cairn at Culloden Battlefield

"Mixed Clans" mass grave marker at Culloden

From Culloden it was on to the famous (or infamous) Loch Ness, where I took a short swim in water that was about 5 degrees Celsius! Only 3 of us out of 12 were brave enough to make the attempt, and the 2 Aussies who joined me only decided to go at the last minute, I guess so the American wouldn't get all the glory. I only made it about 3 or 4 strokes out before my body started to lock up, and the swim back to shore seemed to take forever! Fortunately, I made it back to shore relatively unharmed. "The Beast" (as the locals call Nessie) didn't attack (but I didn't spot her either), but I did bang my foot pretty bad on some rocks. I was so cold that I didn't notice it until a few hours later when a throbbing painn alerted me to my black-and-blue toe, and so I was forced to limp about for the next couple of days. But the swim was surprisingly refreshing and invigorating - I can definitely understand why those old "polar bear" guys jump into icy water for a swim every winter.

Loch Ness

Me (on the left), Mark, and Chris swimming in Loch Ness

So after the swim it was back on the road with a stop at Eilean Donan castle, which many of you might recognize from Highlander, among other movies. Finally, we arrived at scenic Strome Ferry (No Ferry) on the shores of Loch Carron, so-called because there used to be a ferry to the Isle of Skye there, but since the building of the Skye Bridge, no longer. We stayed in the old Stationmaster's House, and even joined the locals for a bit of a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) at the Achmore Gathering!

Polka dot and me at Eilean Donan Castle

Loch Duich, taken from Eilean Donan

The Highlands of Scotland

Stationmaster's House, Strome Ferry

Some views of Loch Carron

Polka dot at Strome Ferry

The Achmore Gathering

:: posted by Rob 1:07 PM [+] ::

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