Scotland 2022Lets set the scene, shall we? Five days out from our scheduled departure, Andrew, on a whim, checked the status of our British Airways flight and found that it had been cancelled without any notification to us. Our Scottish adventure that we had been planning for nearly a year with our friends, Meg and Ian, seemed to be hanging in the balance.
12 hours of phone calls (or being on hold) finally led us to being scheduled to leave two days earlier than planned. From that moment, it became a rush to pack and prepare for our two weeks. We flew overnight to Heathrow where we had a 6 hour layover. To say the airport was chaotic was to put in nicely. Yet, we successfully arrived, made it through customs, security, and even had a nap before catching our short hop over to Edinburgh. From Edinburgh airport we caught an Uber to Leith where we were told in our Air-b-n-b instructions that Ross, the barkeep, would have the key to the flat at his pub, The Bowler's Rest. Because the sun does not readily set in Scotland at this time of year, I was left standing outside the pub with all our bags at 10:30 PM in broad daylight. They helped us carry our bags up to the flat around the corner and we returned the favor by patronizing the pub. Communication was not always clear, especially for those who had been partaking for quite some time, but it seemed as though we had found our first friends. Meg and Ian arrived the next day, jet-lagged as ever, but ready to tackle the day. After picking up the car and getting groceries, we took a nice walk along a path known as the "Water of Leith." It was pretty much lights out after that (pass out on the couch kind of lights out). |
Lockore Meadows & the Three Bridges
With some rest under our belts and a day or two more to adapt to the change in time, we set out to explore the countryside around Edinburgh. Andrew started our directions off to Lochore where his triathlon would be held in a few days time.
Before the day began, Ian and I found ourselves sipping coffee in the front living room.
“I meant to tell you,” he started, “ 'Hen' is a term of endearment here. Someone may call you that, just so you know.”
“Hen? Like a chicken?”
He laughed. “Yes, like a chicken. We call bachelorette parties here hen parties.”
I nodded, “I’ll be ready!”
We wound our way to a small village and found the park. It was breezy and the water was cold to say the least. Both Meg and I shook our head at the idea of Andrew throwing himself into the loch as part of the race. Yet, the cold water wasn’t even the chief concern. That was held by how narrow and rough the roads were where the bike would happen.
Before heading out to drive the bike portion of the race, we took a moment to grab coffee from the visitor center. I found myself briefly separated from Andrew, Meg, and Ian. I must have looked quite lost, because a man working approached me.
“You lost, hen?”
I hesitated before assuring him I was quite alright.
When I found Ian not long later I announced excitedly, “someone called me hen!”
It felt I had been officially initiated into Scottish culture.
Once Andrew was satisfied with his course preview, we wound our way back down the hillside to the Forth River and a sleepy, waterside village called Burntisland. We stopped there to grab a bite (fish and chips, of course). The seagulls hovered nearby and I attempted to feed them my chips from my hand, but even the ravenous sky rats wouldn’t bite.
We took the scenic route home, stopping a few times along the river to see the three bridges.
Before the day began, Ian and I found ourselves sipping coffee in the front living room.
“I meant to tell you,” he started, “ 'Hen' is a term of endearment here. Someone may call you that, just so you know.”
“Hen? Like a chicken?”
He laughed. “Yes, like a chicken. We call bachelorette parties here hen parties.”
I nodded, “I’ll be ready!”
We wound our way to a small village and found the park. It was breezy and the water was cold to say the least. Both Meg and I shook our head at the idea of Andrew throwing himself into the loch as part of the race. Yet, the cold water wasn’t even the chief concern. That was held by how narrow and rough the roads were where the bike would happen.
Before heading out to drive the bike portion of the race, we took a moment to grab coffee from the visitor center. I found myself briefly separated from Andrew, Meg, and Ian. I must have looked quite lost, because a man working approached me.
“You lost, hen?”
I hesitated before assuring him I was quite alright.
When I found Ian not long later I announced excitedly, “someone called me hen!”
It felt I had been officially initiated into Scottish culture.
Once Andrew was satisfied with his course preview, we wound our way back down the hillside to the Forth River and a sleepy, waterside village called Burntisland. We stopped there to grab a bite (fish and chips, of course). The seagulls hovered nearby and I attempted to feed them my chips from my hand, but even the ravenous sky rats wouldn’t bite.
We took the scenic route home, stopping a few times along the river to see the three bridges.
The Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle
It would be criminal to stay in Edinburgh and not visit the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle. Both are connected as the Royal Mile is the road that leads straight to the castle gates. We set out with an ambitious plan: walk to the castle from our flat in Leith instead of attempting to drive through the chaotic streets near there.
The beginning of our trek was all uphill as the castle is set on the precipice in the near center of the city. You weave through history the entire way, but as you approach High Street, it is evident just how historic the city is.
With time to kill before our allotted entry time, we battled the crowds up and down the Royal Mile, stopping into St. Giles Cathedral. Built in 1124 by King David I, the church is full of history.
It doesn’t matter your faith, when you step inside the cathedral, you can’t help but be filled with reverence. We entered as the final prayers of a service were being spoken over the communal silence we all shared. Colorful, fractured light spilled in through large stained glass scenes of holy figures and every inch was intricately designed with figures, shapes, and spires signatures of gothic architecture. It was moving in a way I can’t find the right words for.
At one, we meandered our way back to the castle which was busy with tourists. We chose to take ourselves on our own guided tour instead of joining one. This, of course, works well when you travel with someone like Meg Kerr who reads every sign so you don’t have to.
The castle offers 360 views of the city as it winds up to its highest point. At that point, you can find St. Margaret's Chapel which is estimated to have been built in the 1130s. It seems impossible when you duck (literally, the door is small) inside to be in the presence of such history.
Over the edge of the wall near the Chapel, you can look down into the “mascot” cemetery where royal pets were laid to rest. The castle is also home to Scottish National War Museum.
At the end of the day, we trudged back to the flat with a quick stop at Mcdonald’s for ice cream. In all, our stroll took us 7 miles up, around, and back from the castle to home base.
The beginning of our trek was all uphill as the castle is set on the precipice in the near center of the city. You weave through history the entire way, but as you approach High Street, it is evident just how historic the city is.
With time to kill before our allotted entry time, we battled the crowds up and down the Royal Mile, stopping into St. Giles Cathedral. Built in 1124 by King David I, the church is full of history.
It doesn’t matter your faith, when you step inside the cathedral, you can’t help but be filled with reverence. We entered as the final prayers of a service were being spoken over the communal silence we all shared. Colorful, fractured light spilled in through large stained glass scenes of holy figures and every inch was intricately designed with figures, shapes, and spires signatures of gothic architecture. It was moving in a way I can’t find the right words for.
At one, we meandered our way back to the castle which was busy with tourists. We chose to take ourselves on our own guided tour instead of joining one. This, of course, works well when you travel with someone like Meg Kerr who reads every sign so you don’t have to.
The castle offers 360 views of the city as it winds up to its highest point. At that point, you can find St. Margaret's Chapel which is estimated to have been built in the 1130s. It seems impossible when you duck (literally, the door is small) inside to be in the presence of such history.
Over the edge of the wall near the Chapel, you can look down into the “mascot” cemetery where royal pets were laid to rest. The castle is also home to Scottish National War Museum.
At the end of the day, we trudged back to the flat with a quick stop at Mcdonald’s for ice cream. In all, our stroll took us 7 miles up, around, and back from the castle to home base.
Horses, Castles, and Giant Wheels...
Days into our adventure, we headed back to the countryside to watch Lauren, Ian’s granddaughter, compete with her horse, Mango, in a dressage event. What an honor to meet part of Ian’s family who we have spent the better part of a year hearing stories about.
The event itself is intricate. Spectators are near silent as the riders guide their horses through a series of movements across the arena.
Plans were set to meet for dinner that evening, which gave us time to go hit some hotspots we had decided upon. The first was the ominous Kelpies Sculpture. Rising 30 meters from the ground, you might be tempted to assume these are merely grand horse sculptures. That would be an incorrect assumption though. A Kelpie is a mythical beast from Scottish folklore. These horses are actually shapeshifting beasts that live in the lochs. The story goes that they would lure children into the water to drown them. With that happy thought, thousands of people come to visit yearly as it is the largest equine sculpture in the world.
Not far from the Kelpies, you can visit the Falkirk Wheel, a large rotating boat lift. It works to take narrow boats 30 feet up or down to connect them to either the Forth or Clyde Canal. We arrived just in time to watch the wheel in action. It takes 5 minutes in total.
With time still to kill, Andrew discovered that not far away was a castle we could explore. Blackness Castle sits along the waters edge on the Firth of Fourth. We arrived with a little over an hour to explore and almost no other guests around. In what I can only describe as wild, we were unleashed on the castle with no other stipulations other than, “be careful.”
Blackness is a small fortress in comparison to Edinburgh. If you are an Outlander fan, you might be interested to know that it was used in filming as Fort William in season one. The castle includes a long dock out to the river. That was our first stop and let me tell you: it was WINDY. Meg and I stood out there for a while, losing Andrew and Ian, because there was something life-giving about it. Something akin to sticking your head out the window of the car when you were a child. That was just the base of the castle, when we finally circled our way up the narrow spiral staircase in the center tower we were nearly blown over. It was a bad time for me not to have a hair-tie.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to venture before they warned we’d be locked in. We set out to meet the Kerr family for dinner. Best dessert we ever had: skillet cookies with caramelized bananas, marshmallows, and toffee sauce. I’ll never recover from the sugar intake. Andrew and I also sat across from the kiddos. Little Lois explained her dreams to come to America and eat Taco Bell, Chic-fil-a, and visit Target. She was floored to know we had all three locations within a mile of where we lived.
It’s the little things really.
The event itself is intricate. Spectators are near silent as the riders guide their horses through a series of movements across the arena.
Plans were set to meet for dinner that evening, which gave us time to go hit some hotspots we had decided upon. The first was the ominous Kelpies Sculpture. Rising 30 meters from the ground, you might be tempted to assume these are merely grand horse sculptures. That would be an incorrect assumption though. A Kelpie is a mythical beast from Scottish folklore. These horses are actually shapeshifting beasts that live in the lochs. The story goes that they would lure children into the water to drown them. With that happy thought, thousands of people come to visit yearly as it is the largest equine sculpture in the world.
Not far from the Kelpies, you can visit the Falkirk Wheel, a large rotating boat lift. It works to take narrow boats 30 feet up or down to connect them to either the Forth or Clyde Canal. We arrived just in time to watch the wheel in action. It takes 5 minutes in total.
With time still to kill, Andrew discovered that not far away was a castle we could explore. Blackness Castle sits along the waters edge on the Firth of Fourth. We arrived with a little over an hour to explore and almost no other guests around. In what I can only describe as wild, we were unleashed on the castle with no other stipulations other than, “be careful.”
Blackness is a small fortress in comparison to Edinburgh. If you are an Outlander fan, you might be interested to know that it was used in filming as Fort William in season one. The castle includes a long dock out to the river. That was our first stop and let me tell you: it was WINDY. Meg and I stood out there for a while, losing Andrew and Ian, because there was something life-giving about it. Something akin to sticking your head out the window of the car when you were a child. That was just the base of the castle, when we finally circled our way up the narrow spiral staircase in the center tower we were nearly blown over. It was a bad time for me not to have a hair-tie.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to venture before they warned we’d be locked in. We set out to meet the Kerr family for dinner. Best dessert we ever had: skillet cookies with caramelized bananas, marshmallows, and toffee sauce. I’ll never recover from the sugar intake. Andrew and I also sat across from the kiddos. Little Lois explained her dreams to come to America and eat Taco Bell, Chic-fil-a, and visit Target. She was floored to know we had all three locations within a mile of where we lived.
It’s the little things really.
Lochore Meadows Tri
Sunday morning we all roused early for Andrew’s triathlon. I was bundled in 7 layers of clothing to fight the chill. Summer doesn’t exist in Scotland like it does in Texas.
There was a bigger turnout for the race than we had imagined and, surprisingly, we mostly knew what to do as communication from the race director had been…spotty.
Andrew was a trooper diving into the frigid water and then onto his bike still damp. He said he warmed up quickly, which is hard to imagine because the three of us were freezing just standing around.
The bike course was out of range for us to watch, so we sat inside to grab a bite. If I hadn’t been paying attention, I might have missed him. The first male racer came through in surprising speed, followed shortly by another competitor and Andrew. He was in third when he began on his run, but moved to second not long later.
He finished in that position, earning himself some drink mix, a metal, and the new title as an international racer.
There was a bigger turnout for the race than we had imagined and, surprisingly, we mostly knew what to do as communication from the race director had been…spotty.
Andrew was a trooper diving into the frigid water and then onto his bike still damp. He said he warmed up quickly, which is hard to imagine because the three of us were freezing just standing around.
The bike course was out of range for us to watch, so we sat inside to grab a bite. If I hadn’t been paying attention, I might have missed him. The first male racer came through in surprising speed, followed shortly by another competitor and Andrew. He was in third when he began on his run, but moved to second not long later.
He finished in that position, earning himself some drink mix, a metal, and the new title as an international racer.
Belhaven Brewery
With a vast array of distilleries and breweries across Scotland, we picked a day to visit Belhaven Brewery, the oldest working brewery in Scotland. Andrew made plans to complete a long bike ride out to Dunbar where the brewery was located. We would catch him there.
Dunbar is the birthplace of John Muir. He once wrote, "When I was a child in Scotland, I was fond of everything that was wild, and all my life I've been growing fonder and fonder of wild places and wild creatures. Fortunately, around my native town of Dunbar, by the stormy North Sea, there was no lack of wildness...”
Ian, Meg, and I took our time, stopping at Dirleton Castle on the way to Dunbar. Unfortunately, when we got there we found we could only walk the ground as the castle itself was being restored. Lucky for us, the grounds were stunning in themselves as they included a garden full of flowers in bloom.
The plan to meet together at the brewery fell into place perfectly with Andrew arriving right on cue. We learned about the history of the brewery and beer-making in Scotland, the process for making beer, and then the best part of course, was having the chance to taste the beers themselves. They even had a machine that allowed you to put an image on the top of your last pint. I chose the dog while Andrew chose his bike.
We had been on the hunt for quality fish and chips throughout the trip and we found them in a pub outside the brewery. The Sticky Toffee Pudding was also on par.
Before making the drive back to Leith, we stopped along the coast to see the Belhaven Bridge and the North Sea. A group of daring Scots were taking to the freezing water right as we arrived. How anyone could throw themselves into ice-cold water like that (many without wetsuits) is beyond me.
Dunbar is the birthplace of John Muir. He once wrote, "When I was a child in Scotland, I was fond of everything that was wild, and all my life I've been growing fonder and fonder of wild places and wild creatures. Fortunately, around my native town of Dunbar, by the stormy North Sea, there was no lack of wildness...”
Ian, Meg, and I took our time, stopping at Dirleton Castle on the way to Dunbar. Unfortunately, when we got there we found we could only walk the ground as the castle itself was being restored. Lucky for us, the grounds were stunning in themselves as they included a garden full of flowers in bloom.
The plan to meet together at the brewery fell into place perfectly with Andrew arriving right on cue. We learned about the history of the brewery and beer-making in Scotland, the process for making beer, and then the best part of course, was having the chance to taste the beers themselves. They even had a machine that allowed you to put an image on the top of your last pint. I chose the dog while Andrew chose his bike.
We had been on the hunt for quality fish and chips throughout the trip and we found them in a pub outside the brewery. The Sticky Toffee Pudding was also on par.
Before making the drive back to Leith, we stopped along the coast to see the Belhaven Bridge and the North Sea. A group of daring Scots were taking to the freezing water right as we arrived. How anyone could throw themselves into ice-cold water like that (many without wetsuits) is beyond me.
Isle of Skye - Day 1
Scotland is .11 the size of Texas. This means that from our location in Edinburgh, we were approximately 5-6 hours away from any location along the Scottish Coast. We made it a point to plan a few days visiting the Isle of Skye as was recommend to us by numerous individuals, travelers, and locals alike.
The best way to describe the drive up is to to say that it looks a great deal like the Pacific Northwest. It’s vividly green with dense forests. The near constant drizzle doesn’t hurt either. We drove some ways into the island, hoping to see the Storr, a jagged range of mountains. Unfortunately for us, the weather was not cooperating. It was viciously cold, blowing rain, and the clouds hung so low the mountains were hidden. However, it wasn’t a total bust as we did find a moment when the clouds broke enough to glimpse their peaks. It also happened that that moment was right near some sweet Highland calves. It was on Andrew’s bucket list to see Highlands because honestly, who doesn’t love a fluffy cow?
We drove back, stopping at one of the many waterfalls you can see directly from the road. Meg will tell you that she'll forever remember my face as I turned into the rain and cold to get a picture of it. I thought I might never be warm again. Nevertheless, we recovered and headed across the bridge to the small village of Plockton where our bed and breakfast was. It was the first BnB experience for Andrew and me. The keeper served us tea and helped us find a place to eat (since there are almost no restaurants in Plockton).
We concluded our night with a visit to the pub and a stroll through an unnerving little graveyard.
The best way to describe the drive up is to to say that it looks a great deal like the Pacific Northwest. It’s vividly green with dense forests. The near constant drizzle doesn’t hurt either. We drove some ways into the island, hoping to see the Storr, a jagged range of mountains. Unfortunately for us, the weather was not cooperating. It was viciously cold, blowing rain, and the clouds hung so low the mountains were hidden. However, it wasn’t a total bust as we did find a moment when the clouds broke enough to glimpse their peaks. It also happened that that moment was right near some sweet Highland calves. It was on Andrew’s bucket list to see Highlands because honestly, who doesn’t love a fluffy cow?
We drove back, stopping at one of the many waterfalls you can see directly from the road. Meg will tell you that she'll forever remember my face as I turned into the rain and cold to get a picture of it. I thought I might never be warm again. Nevertheless, we recovered and headed across the bridge to the small village of Plockton where our bed and breakfast was. It was the first BnB experience for Andrew and me. The keeper served us tea and helped us find a place to eat (since there are almost no restaurants in Plockton).
We concluded our night with a visit to the pub and a stroll through an unnerving little graveyard.
Isle of Sky Day 2 & Loch Ness
Day two on the Isle or Skye shaped up better than our first day. While it still rained and was cold, the weather held back some of its violence to allow us the chance to see some breathtaking views. We drove out first to Kilt Rock, a point that allows views of a magnificent waterfall that drains into the sea. The lookout point had a railing that was created with holes so that when the wind blows through it, it sings notes almost like a flute. I tried to capture a video, but it didn’t do it justice.
From that point, we stopped along the way at another cliffside. I captured a shot of Ian and Meg I’d had in my mind since we started planning the trip. It is a little humbling to be in these locations, in the damp rain, knowing if you slip or are careless you could send yourself careening over the edge. As we bid farewell to the Isle of Skye, we headed for an equally well known location: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. The remains of the castle are scarce as it was almost always under siege. The history is a disappointment because it ends with the Scots jumping ship and blowing it up themselves because they were over all the conflicts. Still, it was enjoyable to wander the ruins. The only thing that could have made it better would have been to see Nessie. |
Inverness & St. Andrews
The last day of our excursion saw us waking early in Drumnadrochit. Andrew and I walked to grab coffee and sip it on a patio before heading off and away onto our next adventure.
We stopped in Inverness to grab some breakfast at a spot that was once a hospital for the town. You can still see the symbols delineating it as such above the windows. Today, they serve extravagant waffles. Across from the restaurant was a church and, you may have guess it, graveyard. Meg loves to discover the history by reading the names and dates so naturally we stopped. The oldest headstone we found was from the 1600s.
Onward from Inverness, we traveled to St. Andrews. The town was alive with events and people. On the golf course, they were preparing for the 150th Open. We walked along the path, watching novices and pros alike take to the greens. It felt illegal to be there, but the grounds are open to the public to enjoy.
In town, the university was celebrating graduation. The bells of the church were chiming as throngs of grads in all their regalia proceeded down the street with cheers of those they loved surrounding them. It made my educator heart overflow.
St. Andrews' itself is straight of Harry Potter. From the cobblestones, to the brick houses crawling with ivy, I wanted to capture everything I saw on camera.
I refrained. There are some moments that are better left to memory.
We stopped in Inverness to grab some breakfast at a spot that was once a hospital for the town. You can still see the symbols delineating it as such above the windows. Today, they serve extravagant waffles. Across from the restaurant was a church and, you may have guess it, graveyard. Meg loves to discover the history by reading the names and dates so naturally we stopped. The oldest headstone we found was from the 1600s.
Onward from Inverness, we traveled to St. Andrews. The town was alive with events and people. On the golf course, they were preparing for the 150th Open. We walked along the path, watching novices and pros alike take to the greens. It felt illegal to be there, but the grounds are open to the public to enjoy.
In town, the university was celebrating graduation. The bells of the church were chiming as throngs of grads in all their regalia proceeded down the street with cheers of those they loved surrounding them. It made my educator heart overflow.
St. Andrews' itself is straight of Harry Potter. From the cobblestones, to the brick houses crawling with ivy, I wanted to capture everything I saw on camera.
I refrained. There are some moments that are better left to memory.
Stirling Castle
One of our last days in Scotland found Andrew separated from Meg, Ian and myself. He joined Graeme Kerr for a round of golf while the three of us headed to Stirling Castle. This was my favorite castle of all those we saw. Part of this was due to the fact we arrived early enough to beat the crowds. The other part was that it was just absolutely stunning.
Records show that Stirling Castle was first mention in a written record from 1107. The date of it's completion is unknown. It became a residence for royalty throughout it's history, hosting famous figures such as Mary Queen of Scots. The oldest remaining portion of the castle dates to the 1300s and was the original gate. The castle is set atop a cliff overlooking the city and countryside. It is said to be the meeting place of the highlands and the lowlands.
I’m certain we left no stone unturned in our excursion, venturing into every hallway, crevice, and trapdoor we could find. From the castle, we drove into the city and found ourselves in another graveyard that lays in the shadow of the castle.
With our final castle adventure complete, we met up with Andrew and Graham at his household.
I was tempted once again to bring along my camera, but instead chose to leave it be in order to be fully present. We spent the evening grilling copious amounts of meats, drinking various concoctions, and regaling stories from the past. There was joking, and laughing, and serious discussions. The Kerr clan was exceptionally welcoming and made Andrew and I feel as though we were part of the family. Before we left, we did our best to convince them to come to a visit in Texas.
Records show that Stirling Castle was first mention in a written record from 1107. The date of it's completion is unknown. It became a residence for royalty throughout it's history, hosting famous figures such as Mary Queen of Scots. The oldest remaining portion of the castle dates to the 1300s and was the original gate. The castle is set atop a cliff overlooking the city and countryside. It is said to be the meeting place of the highlands and the lowlands.
I’m certain we left no stone unturned in our excursion, venturing into every hallway, crevice, and trapdoor we could find. From the castle, we drove into the city and found ourselves in another graveyard that lays in the shadow of the castle.
With our final castle adventure complete, we met up with Andrew and Graham at his household.
I was tempted once again to bring along my camera, but instead chose to leave it be in order to be fully present. We spent the evening grilling copious amounts of meats, drinking various concoctions, and regaling stories from the past. There was joking, and laughing, and serious discussions. The Kerr clan was exceptionally welcoming and made Andrew and I feel as though we were part of the family. Before we left, we did our best to convince them to come to a visit in Texas.
Homeward Bound
I was wrong to assume that flying out would be the most eventful part of our travels, because getting home proved to be equally challenging. In Edinburgh, we fought through the crowds at the bag check to make it on our flight to Heathrow. Many weren't as lucky as we were. Once on the tarmac, we got called back to the gate for a "baggage issue" then sent back out when they realized they had called back the wrong flight.
In Heathrow, the part I was most worried about, Andrew got randomly selected to be screened for our flight. This ended up being a blessing in disguise though because we both were allowed to board early and get settled. We also discovered we had the whole row to ourselves.
We arrived in Houston right on schedule. Unfortunately for us, Andrew's bike did not. We spent an extra three hours at the airport determining how best to retrieve the bike before we were finally reunited with Ziggy. If you have seen why Heathrow has been in the news recently, its a wonder we were able to retrieve it at all in the following days.
In closing, I leave you with the words of author, Julia London, “There are few places in my life that I’ve found more ruggedly beautiful than the Highlands of Scotland. The place is magical - it’s so far north, so remote, that sometimes it feels like you’ve left this world and gone to another.”
In Heathrow, the part I was most worried about, Andrew got randomly selected to be screened for our flight. This ended up being a blessing in disguise though because we both were allowed to board early and get settled. We also discovered we had the whole row to ourselves.
We arrived in Houston right on schedule. Unfortunately for us, Andrew's bike did not. We spent an extra three hours at the airport determining how best to retrieve the bike before we were finally reunited with Ziggy. If you have seen why Heathrow has been in the news recently, its a wonder we were able to retrieve it at all in the following days.
In closing, I leave you with the words of author, Julia London, “There are few places in my life that I’ve found more ruggedly beautiful than the Highlands of Scotland. The place is magical - it’s so far north, so remote, that sometimes it feels like you’ve left this world and gone to another.”