Glasgow Bound

Another alarm is going off. Another cup of porridge. Another long day of driving. We had to start by 8am because that's when our parking ticket expired. 

Lots of stops and walks and castles and churches. The long walk up Dun Na Cuaiche (on the grounds of Inverary Castle) was tough but the views were worth it. Just over 90 minutes of exercise was welcomed after a few slack days.

Now I know we have sworn off chips, but somehow they made a comeback at lunch....with nachos and onion rings. Way, way too much and we should have listened to ourselves. 

The Editor may wish to add all the places we stopped (St Conan's Kirk - a lovely waterside historical church we happened upon - and Kilchurn Castle - one of the many ruins that have been closed for safety reasons).

I will say that Loch Lomond was on even par with Loch Ness for the biggest disappointment. 

It was a tough drive through the hills and winding roads. And then we got to Glasgow.

The traffic was terrible, we missed our turn off, the traffic stayed awful, but we did find a car park, which is like winning the jackpot.

We came to Glasgow for one reason, to see Rose Tattoo. It had been booked for a long time. I can't remember how it happened but we left for the concert at 7.30pm. Just as we arrived, Angry Anderson was walking across our path into the venue. He was within autograph-signing distance, but they blocked us and put up a barrier. Chance gone. I had made an Angry Anderson shirt with a photo I got from Neil Higgins (an ex-MSB work colleague) who got it from a newspaper in about 1983. The fact that I still had it says a lot about my hoarding ability. I had stated that the plan was to get Angry to sign the shirt. An hour earlier, Annette asked if I had my permanent marker ready. Oops. She went and purchased one from a shop, just in case.

Inside the venue, we got a good vantage point just behind a small seated area.....and 5m from the speakers. Probably the best spot in the house. Anyway, the concert was loud, awesome, and then it was finishing. Angry disappeared off stage as the music played, he appeared in the seated section in front of us, shaking hands and hugging people. Then he stood in front of me. I pointed to the shirt, handed him the pen and my shirt was signed. It's all a bit of a blur. Annette took a photo. Wow. This plan was hatched six months ago and it's just a bit surreal to realise how it panned out.

At some stage I hope to get my hearing back.

A Day Off Driving

Porridge in a cup in our tiny room to start the day gets my official thumbs up. A nice early morning stroll along the waterfront to board the ferry to the Isle of something or other. The Editor will put the correct answer here (Isle of Mull).

We saw a castle (Duart Castle) and some scenery before getting offboard, and hopping on a bus to do some one lane roads whilst not driving. 

We got off and had half an hour doing the tourist thing, and more importantly getting 2 sausage rolls. Of course, we needed to run the last 300m to catch the return bus and prevent waiting another 2 hours. 

The ride back at the front of the top of our double decker bus was the hero of the day.

Back on the mainland we went our separate ways. I found the local swimming pool while Annette went wool shopping. She ended up with red shoes (for future reference she purchased 1 more pair of shoes this holiday than me). 

I did buy some second hand CDs today. I ended up swimming for the first time in 3 weeks. The September triathlon training is not looking good.

For dinner we decided on takeaway from the local fish and chip shop. I have to say that I never want British chips again and that the deep fried burger was a mistake. 

I cannot pay to use a toilet

There is always at least one dreaded day in a holiday when the alarm has to be set. It sucks that I woke up 20 minutes before it. Things on my bedside table were shaking. It was windy and rainy. Great weather for an early morning drive on 1 lane roads and mountain roads. Hooray for being designated driver. 

Problem 1. Google advises the main road is closed and there is a detour onto a single lane 2 way road. Sigh. But wait, the mini road is closed and the main road is open. Driving times back to sort of normal. I'm getting better at hitting the speed limit.

In order to see the steam train go over the viaduct, just like in Harry Potter Catches the Train To Hogwarts, we have to reach destination X by a certain time, park, walk and wait. 

However there is now no time for the walk. There is also nowhere to park. 

I drove into the small car park, took one for the team and decided that Annette takes the photo, I drive around for 10 minutes and come back to get her. 

So I drove out onto the road, timed my drive perfectly and the train had still not arrived when I returned (they were probably waiting for Harry Potter to get his luggage through the wall), so I just double parked. People could get by, nobody was parked in as they were all taking photos, so who could have a problem with that? Well until you've been sworn at in Scottish, you haven't lived. I'm hoping he is saying the same thing about being sworn at in Australian. 

The car park had been shut for incoming traffic so I just decided to drive round and round, hoping for a glimpse of the train. I circled for 15 minutes before the train arrived. I did manage to see some steam and am hoping the pictures compensate for my sacrifice. 

Back in the car - wait, I'm already there.

Annette returned, hopped in the car and off we went for a 30min drive to the train station, to catch the train to go over the viaduct, so that somebody else can circle the car park and miss seeing the train go by.

Finding a park was a bit of a mystery until we stumbled upon one. A walk to the station to find toilets. A manoeuvre through the barrier because today I am not paying 50p to pee.

Finally we got on the train. First class with lunch in a box. Sandwich, cake, cake, scone with jam, butter and cream. As a child, I got into trouble for having both butter and cream under and over jam. Thank you Scotland for validation.

The train went to Mallaig. We saw the viaduct and on the way back the island where (spoiler alert) Dumbledore is buried. 

Nothing to see at the town but seagulls.

The toilets were free, which is a win. The local store did rip us off with our meal deals but that was station toilet karma coming back.

Off the train, into the car for a drive from Fort William to Oban. It was supposed to take an hour, but the local roadworks idiots started early and we were stuck in the car for an extra hour - sitting in one spot, in a line of cars.

 I should not have had that bottle of drink just before we stopped.

We arrived at last, found the parking after a lap around the village and finally called it a day at 11.30pm.

Lucky I'm Wearing My Brown Undies

Hiking is not one of my favourite things but it seems like there is also something worth seeing at the end of a hike (or halfway).

Up the big hill to see The Old Man of Storr we climbed and climbed, tiny step after tiny step. How exciting that we are finally able to wear our cold clothes, and our wet clothes. Stupid Scottish weather had the wind blowing, the rain falling down and mist all over. We made it there and back in two hours.

We scoffed down our egg sandwiches (thank you supermarket meal deal) and headed off to Dunvegan castle. It was on the other side of the Isle of Skye (where we now are) and required the holiday's first extended single lane two way road. What I have discovered today is that there are 2 speeds on these roads. The locals go the speed limit of 60mph, while the holiday makers travel half that speed. Later in the day, local and holiday maker nearly met head on, on the one lane road outside our accommodation. Glad our brakes were both working and that I had on my brown undies.

Anyway, the Castle parking was full, we could not get our maps to work, so we stopped at a cafe for lunch number 2. I must remember in future that it's ok to have dessert for lunch. 

We then headed back and took a photo of the castle from a free viewpoint.

Thanks to free cafe WiFi we were able to re-route our way through the hills and rain, saw an old bridge and were able to get back home without a maze of one-lane roads.

The town (Portree) is packed. There is nowhere to eat, but there is takeaway pizza (Editor: It was delicious! They also only cut into 4 pieces, not 8). I also managed to drink a large proportion of the orange and mango juice I purchased only to realise it was actually undiluted cordial.

3 episodes of MASH, one of QI, an early start tomorrow so better go to sleep in the daylight before 11pm. 

The Holy Trilogy of Holidays

On any given day of a holiday, if you can achieve a waterfall sightseeing, a dam sighting and a trip to an ancient castle, you are a winner.

Inverness to Portree on the Isle of Skye is about a three hour drive. It took us about ten hours.

First emergency stop without indicating was some markets. What a surprise. 

From there it was on to Loch Ness, which was monsterless and a little bit underwhelming. Maybe on a sunny day it would look better but we have finally managed some cloudy weather.

Then it was on to the Caledonian Canal, where we went to see the locks. We actually got there when there were boats in and about to be let out of the last lock. Winner winner.

Then to a waterfall and a drive to Eileen Donan castle. For those of you who were fortunate enough to have witnessed the 80's, there was what has become a cult classic film "Highlander" (cult films are bad films that you just can't turn away from) -  "there can be only one". Anyway, the castle was used in the film. Possibly my favourite castle so far in Scotland. 

Just as the rain hit, we hit the windy mountains. Not too bad mostly but the locals are not happy with me travelling around 10mph under the speed limit.

We finally got to our turnoff and hit the single lane road I had been waiting for. Thankfully only one car came the opposite way. 

Google maps has us stop at a house on the right hand side of the road. Enquiries with the nice man of the house had us move 400 yards down the road on the left hand side. At least we had the right road.

Upstairs to our room, drop off our stuff and then back to the single lane road . We didn't hit the motorhome coming the other way and finally made it to the town of Portree to look for dinner.

It's a wee little town with 2 narrow streets, little parking and lots of pubs. 

After much menu hopping, we chose the Indian restaurant. It was sensational in both taste and price. Back to the long and winding one lane road and before you know it, it is finally night time at around 10.30 and time to sleep.

Footnote. Somewhere in Scotland between Edinburgh and Inverness are my blood pressure tablets. I don't think I need them anyway so here is the test.

Battlefields and Castles

Scottish history is insane. The way the Royal family came about is insane. The size of roundabouts in Scotland is insane.

After a long sleep and massive breakfast it was off to Culloden Battlefield to get some history lessons. I'm glad I didn't live in these times, although I guess I wouldn't have had hassles with roundabouts. I just would have been confused about my religion, whose side I was on and why I was going to my certain death to fight about them both. I would have called myself Bonnie Mark Krause, and with that surname I may have had some right to the throne.

Then it was off to a prehistoric cemetery called Clava Cairns. Not great, but free so it gets my tick of approval. Back in the car to Cawdor castle to get our daily fortress dose. A nice castle with good gardens and a golf course adjoining. Alas, golf was not scheduled for this holiday. 

Sightseeing done, it was off on a walk to the town to search for book stores, sports stores and public toilets. All three found with only the  book store not getting our business.

The added bonus was a trip to our first Scot Aldi.Things just don't get better than that.

We checked out pictures of fish and chips takeaways, but the pictures of fatty thick chips didn't appeal. NOTE: If somewhere in the UK advertises "traditional fish and chips", stay away. Wattle Grove Chicken shop better be open when we get back. For the second night it was dinner at the Waterfront where Annette had non traditional fish and chips.