7
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Day 7. 21st June. Loch Ness
Today we had our first somewhat slow day, we decided to stay on Loch Ness for another night. It is so beautiful here and we could do with a rest.
This morning we went on a cruise of Loch Ness, it is so interesting that the legend of the monster has been around since the 1400s. It has not always been the tourist trap, cash cow it is today. In fact it was something rumored and even believed in a far earlier time.
The Loch is beautiful, and it seems a cliché but it is incredible mysterious. Raina keeps saying she feels hypnotized by it. I have told her she is not allowed to go walking alone, in case she is mesmerized by the loch (or the monster) and walks into the water or something. :P
The cruise took us over to Urquart Castle. This is my favorite castle so far because it is in ruins. I read an excellent quote about this, “The castle was raided, ransacked, ruined and rebuilt with depressing regularity.”
Our exhaustion seems to be showing since Raina said she “might have two en-suites instead of a main for dinner tonight”. And I said, “haha, look at that Tamb’s Wail Lagging.” [Lamb’s tail wagging]
After the cruise we went to the Culloden Moor Battlefield. This is where the Jacobites (Scottish independence fighters) were finally beaten by the English. A very sad place because the Scottish were so badly massacred, with no quarter given and the aftermath was even worse, with the rebels hunted down and the civilians of the area starved and persecuted. This site marks the end of the clans and a way of life. It is a lovely museum and well kept site but it just makes me so sad.
We came home for a rest and had a nap then got back up for dinner and sat around chatting to the B&B owners and guests. And marveling at their massive and gorgeous Great Dane Lenny. He loves me because I scratched him the night before and bee lined towards me tonight. He is pretty sweet.
It was a lovely day and it is so amazing to be here at Loch Ness.
Today we had our first somewhat slow day, we decided to stay on Loch Ness for another night. It is so beautiful here and we could do with a rest.
This morning we went on a cruise of Loch Ness, it is so interesting that the legend of the monster has been around since the 1400s. It has not always been the tourist trap, cash cow it is today. In fact it was something rumored and even believed in a far earlier time.
The Loch is beautiful, and it seems a cliché but it is incredible mysterious. Raina keeps saying she feels hypnotized by it. I have told her she is not allowed to go walking alone, in case she is mesmerized by the loch (or the monster) and walks into the water or something. :P
The cruise took us over to Urquart Castle. This is my favorite castle so far because it is in ruins. I read an excellent quote about this, “The castle was raided, ransacked, ruined and rebuilt with depressing regularity.”
Our exhaustion seems to be showing since Raina said she “might have two en-suites instead of a main for dinner tonight”. And I said, “haha, look at that Tamb’s Wail Lagging.” [Lamb’s tail wagging]
After the cruise we went to the Culloden Moor Battlefield. This is where the Jacobites (Scottish independence fighters) were finally beaten by the English. A very sad place because the Scottish were so badly massacred, with no quarter given and the aftermath was even worse, with the rebels hunted down and the civilians of the area starved and persecuted. This site marks the end of the clans and a way of life. It is a lovely museum and well kept site but it just makes me so sad.
We came home for a rest and had a nap then got back up for dinner and sat around chatting to the B&B owners and guests. And marveling at their massive and gorgeous Great Dane Lenny. He loves me because I scratched him the night before and bee lined towards me tonight. He is pretty sweet.
It was a lovely day and it is so amazing to be here at Loch Ness.
8
Friday, 24 June 2011
Day 8. 22nd June. Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, Snodonia Wales
Today was a travel day, so there isn’t really much to tell because all we did was drive from Scotland through England to Wales.
The Scottish Highlands were phenomenal, some of the most glorious scenery in the world. Each bend in the road brings a new sigh or gasp of awe. We stopped at several particularly great spots and got photos or just looked. This place feels like home to me, I love it so much.
We also passed loch Lomond, which is far more beautiful then Loch Ness.
It was terribly sad crossing the Scottish/English border, because of said love for Scotland but it had to be done. Because poor me, has to go to Ireland tomorrow. :P
England then Wales passed and through Snowdonia National Park in Wales some scenery coming close to that in the Scottish highlands was seen. We also saw some really really wild welsh mountain ponies, on the side of a mountain no less.
Also, this owned Welshie that seems to be a bit confused about the proper direction of travel.
The hotel was lovely, the best food we have had on the entire trip (excepting the Jamie Oliver restaurant in Nottingham) and beautifully furnished and decorated rooms. Let me ask you though, have you ever slept on the floor of a hotel (that you have paid for) because it is more comfortable then the bed?
Well, I have. That’s right, the floor with a few cushions was far far more comfortable then the bed supplied. The bed was soft enough to bear though without enjoyment, and a little bit squishy. But the problem was that it had these springs that you could feel with every body part that touched the mattress. Desperately in need of a mattress topper or any kind of padding built into the mattress. I could feel the ends of the springs hooking under my ribs. Eventually I could bear it no more, through down the pillows and flopped on the floor. Sleep at last.
As promised here is an update on Elizabeth Wooten Basset’s condition. Yesterday she suffered a major neurological episode. After a course of severe starvation and solitary isolation and an extensive course of electro shock treatment she appears to be recovered. A partial lobotomy was also required but she does seem to be doing better for it.
Today was a travel day, so there isn’t really much to tell because all we did was drive from Scotland through England to Wales.
The Scottish Highlands were phenomenal, some of the most glorious scenery in the world. Each bend in the road brings a new sigh or gasp of awe. We stopped at several particularly great spots and got photos or just looked. This place feels like home to me, I love it so much.
We also passed loch Lomond, which is far more beautiful then Loch Ness.
It was terribly sad crossing the Scottish/English border, because of said love for Scotland but it had to be done. Because poor me, has to go to Ireland tomorrow. :P
England then Wales passed and through Snowdonia National Park in Wales some scenery coming close to that in the Scottish highlands was seen. We also saw some really really wild welsh mountain ponies, on the side of a mountain no less.
Also, this owned Welshie that seems to be a bit confused about the proper direction of travel.
The hotel was lovely, the best food we have had on the entire trip (excepting the Jamie Oliver restaurant in Nottingham) and beautifully furnished and decorated rooms. Let me ask you though, have you ever slept on the floor of a hotel (that you have paid for) because it is more comfortable then the bed?
Well, I have. That’s right, the floor with a few cushions was far far more comfortable then the bed supplied. The bed was soft enough to bear though without enjoyment, and a little bit squishy. But the problem was that it had these springs that you could feel with every body part that touched the mattress. Desperately in need of a mattress topper or any kind of padding built into the mattress. I could feel the ends of the springs hooking under my ribs. Eventually I could bear it no more, through down the pillows and flopped on the floor. Sleep at last.
As promised here is an update on Elizabeth Wooten Basset’s condition. Yesterday she suffered a major neurological episode. After a course of severe starvation and solitary isolation and an extensive course of electro shock treatment she appears to be recovered. A partial lobotomy was also required but she does seem to be doing better for it.
The Scottish Highlands were phenomenal, some of the most glorious scenery in the world. Each bend in the road brings a new sigh or gasp of awe. We stopped at several particularly great spots and got photos or just looked. This place feels like home to me, I love it so much.
We also passed loch Lomond, which is far more beautiful then Loch Ness.
It was terribly sad crossing the Scottish/English border, because of said love for Scotland but it had to be done. Because poor me, has to go to Ireland tomorrow. :P
England then Wales passed and through Snowdonia National Park in Wales some scenery coming close to that in the Scottish highlands was seen. We also saw some really really wild welsh mountain ponies, on the side of a mountain no less.
Also, this owned Welshie that seems to be a bit confused about the proper direction of travel.
The hotel was lovely, the best food we have had on the entire trip (excepting the Jamie Oliver restaurant in Nottingham) and beautifully furnished and decorated rooms. Let me ask you though, have you ever slept on the floor of a hotel (that you have paid for) because it is more comfortable then the bed?
Well, I have. That’s right, the floor with a few cushions was far far more comfortable then the bed supplied. The bed was soft enough to bear though without enjoyment, and a little bit squishy. But the problem was that it had these springs that you could feel with every body part that touched the mattress. Desperately in need of a mattress topper or any kind of padding built into the mattress. I could feel the ends of the springs hooking under my ribs. Eventually I could bear it no more, through down the pillows and flopped on the floor. Sleep at last.
As promised here is an update on Elizabeth Wooten Basset’s condition. Yesterday she suffered a major neurological episode. After a course of severe starvation and solitary isolation and an extensive course of electro shock treatment she appears to be recovered. A partial lobotomy was also required but she does seem to be doing better for it.
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