As I’m recollecting the day, Rudy is snoozing. It was a super early start! Our ferry was scheduled to leave at 10 am; boarding by 9:30 am. It’s a 2 hour drive from our hotel – you do the math. And, to boot, I have a built in alarm when I have to get up early (everyone knows I’m not a morning person!) so I wake up ultra early – before the alarm – and then I’m up.

It’s a cold rainy morning. Figures. We gather our belongings and pick up the “breakfast to go” prepared by the hotel – four brown paper bags filled with goodies. And we set off for another ferry. Today we are heading to Islay which is pronounced: eye-la

The drive to the ferry is wet, windy and gorgeous. The views around every corner are stunning. Then the sun pops out!

We land on Islay and head for our lunch spot across the island.

The fish and chips were the best yet! The secret (according to the owner Andy) is beef tallow for frying oil. So yummy!! 😋

Off onto our respite place for the next 3 nights; rather looking forward to unpacking and not repacking in 12 hours! The Machrie Hotel in Port Ellen is a grand white structure amidst the dunes and the links. Rudy will be golfing here and it’s a mega course ranked in the top 75 in the world! The modern aesthetic combined with the untamed surroundings of the coastline make for a divergent impression.

Sweet dreams 😴

What a whirlwind! The day started with a sunny wake up call and breakfast of poached eggs. For some reason everyone here understands what poached hard means so I’m loving the eggs! At breakfast we meet a couple from California who are also on a driving holiday. They are enjoying the scenery and the challenging roads, too. We shared a few mutual moments.

Since the sun is out we thought we’d try to see Old Man of Storr again; our view was obscured by weather on the first attempt. The volcanic rock (basalt) has created some interesting features.

Now we are off to the southern tip of the Isle of Skye. We are booked on the ferry at 2 pm. So there’s time for a hike to The Fairy Pools Again this is interesting rock formations that have created grottos and water falls from the mountain runoff. The water is crystal clear but icy cold. However it doesn’t stop a few brave souls from taking a plunge. Brrr.

Back on the road the scenery is beautiful huge rocky landscape, sheep grazing, pristine waters and unique foliage.

At the ferry we are loaded up quickly for a short jaunt to the mainland. We hit the road again with one destination in mind (in my case anyway): the viaduct featured in Harry Potter!

From there we have to book it to reach our destination for dinner in Oban. While scenic, the road is busy, lots of construction and very winding. It’s been a long day on the road. Finally we arrive at dinner 30 min late and they gave our table away. Luckily the manager squeezed us in. It’s remarkable how busy everything is here!

Our accommodations for the night are at Knipoch Country House Hotel which is 15 past Oban. It would have been nice to check Oban out a bit more but time was limited. The hotel is part of a group of properties all country homes. This one was a hunting lodge and had been carefully updated to host guests overnight. They allow dogs and it was nice to meet a few!

We enjoy a wee dram and then hit the hay! I’m pooped long driving day. And tomorrow our wake up call is super early!

Slainte!

Last night we decided to make a late start and enjoy our king size beds and heated towel racks! So breakfast was at 9:30 am. The weather was cloudy with possible rain. Something we have alluded this trip. However, our eggs Benedict’s and french press coffee assuaged our weather blahs.

Our trek today is a loop around the north end of the island. We are in search of fuzzy cows, sheep local flavours and more gorgeous scenery. The Isle of Skye is a contrast in extremes. You can experience everything here and it attracts the seekers of wilderness by bike, hike, caravan (motor home) and car. By the time we get underway, the parking lot is bare. We are the last car.

Our first destination is Uig There is a cloudy horizon and a bit of drizzle. The roads to our target are single lane with passing points. There’s not enough room for cars to pass on the road; you have to use a cut out. Oncoming cars will flash their high beams to let you know they are letting you pass.

The roadway leads us around the top of the island to a scene we can’t ignore. At home you might find the odd kid’s kemonade stand , but in the highlands the kids weather the cold wind and sell homemade baked goods and duck eggs 😊

Back at the hotel for a (some) nap. And for me it was a cozy afternoon by the fireplace with a whisky. Then we ordered grazing boards for dinner. An assortment of cheese, meats, bread, olives and wine 🔥

Tomorrow we leave the isle by ferry. Stay tuned 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The morning started with a great breakfast. How is it that here in the UK I can ask for eggs poached hard and it’s no problem? Perfectly cooked eggs are a thing of beauty. After breakfast we move on for our trek cross country to the Isle of Skye. In order to get there, however, we cross some interesting terrains.

In Elgin there’s a lot of office buildings and an interesting downtown. We take a quick pop into Marks & Spencer (haven’t been in one since they closed in my home town) for …. Men’s underwear. And almond biscuits. And wine. And a t shirt. And socks. Love it!!

From there we venture into the most extravagant cashmere wool shop ever. It had the royal seal. But only the royals can afford it!! A pair of socks was 60£ … that’s $100. Crazy. It’s not only a store, there’s a mill attached and they make every piece in house. Quite extraordinary.

Right around the corner is the Elgin Cathedral .

After Elgin we head further west towards Loch Ness via Inverness. Right around here our lucky charm for weather wears out and we get a quick sprinkle. Didn’t last long but we drove through it quickly.

There’s a few castles and other good visuals along route.

As we approach Loch Ness there’s tons of signs. Our gps takes us to the Loch Ness Experience. It’s kind of like Clifton Hill at Niagara Falls. Rudy refers to such places as a “trappe de touriste”. Quick glance and move on.

We decided to see the Loch Ness from another angle. So the route suggested Fort Augustus

It’s at the southern tip of the Loch Ness and slightly out of the crazy tourist zone. As we approach through the village, there are people, dogs, cars, boats, buses and you name it clogging the roads. So we drive straight through the village and head to the church. We figure: free parking and something to see. As luck would have it we end up at the lake and decide to have a light lunch and short break. It worked out perfectly as my dad was ready to chat.

If you’ve ever read Ken Follets books Pillars of the Earth this building reminded us of that.

After lunch we head on to our final destination. The scenery is haw dropping. Every curve in the road brings more awe.

The main village on the island is Portree. And our accommodations for the night is Cuillon Hills Hotel

More tomorrow …. Stay tuned. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Changing things up a bit. We were in such a gorgeous place we decided to linger. A later wake up and breakfast followed by a stroll along the river. Wow.

Off we go en route to the Scottish Highlands. Home of the famous games and Balmoral Castle and whisky! 🥃

We stop to stretch our legs in a small village called Braemar. There’s a lovely river running through and lovely shops. The highlight for me was a 5 star hotel called The Fife Arms We had a coffee and soaked in the ambiance of a truly unique property.

The town itself is the highest in Scotland and the Highland Games are held nearby each September. It’s a favourite place among the royals.

There were other neat stores in town. Including a tartan shop.

There’s a few castles and cemeteries en route but we are on a time clock (since we lingered in the morning).

The terrain takes a rugged turn as we leave the park area. We are now in (surprisingly) ski country. There are a few lifts and trails in this remote area. The road was a challenge. Very narrow and like a roller coaster. Vegetation was sparse. No trees. High elevation (ear popping high) and very little traffic.

We are pushing to meet our distillery tour at Cardhu (owned by Johnny Walker).

Our accommodations for the night is the Craigellachie Hotel on the Spey River. It’s a historic building with a pub, Michelin restaurant and whisky bar.

Good night …. 😴

This morning the clouds greeted us as we ate breakfast in the Titanic Hotel. There is so much natural light in this property that you think the sun is shining. Our meal was quick and good because our ferry was leaving at 11:30 am! We are off to Scotland.

The pier area is vast in Belfast. There are commercial docks and buildings and cranes for new developments. It’s busy yet spread out. Very interesting to be sure. Once we get the car loaded, we program the gps to take us to the ferry port. Even though it’s nearby, there’s no easy way to get there. It’s a circuitous route and I manage to really annoy another driver. Happened to be a truck driver. There’s tons of round about here and I got in the wrong lane causing the truck to have to brake. He caught up with us at the next light and let me have it. He gestured to me to roll down the window so he could blast me, but I didn’t. So he yelled (to himself) until the light changed. Great way to start the day.

The ferry dock was already lining up cars. And the number of people travelling with dogs was amazing! The cars get loaded up and we make our way to the lounge to bide the 2.5 hr crossing time. The lounge had snacks and drinks (self serve) and a light lunch menu. The crossing of the North Channel was surprisingly smooth. And in no time we were arriving at the Scottish coast. Stena Line runs ferries all over.

As soon as we hit land, the ferry unloaded. Everyone was ready to go and we drove off without a hitch.

The coastal route took us past Trump Turnberry Hotel and Golf. Green fees are exorbitant and the exotic cars in the lot were proof! The course is owned by the Trump Co. and its right on the water.

Shortly after that we pass the birthplace and museum honouring Bobby Burns

Just down the road from Bobby Burns is Culzean Castle. Unfortunately we arrive after closing but we drive into the grounds which are also a park. The gardens are spectacular.

From there we continue on to Stirling Castle. In order to reach it we drive through Glasgow. It’s a big city with lots of traffic and people.

As we leave Glasgow behind and head back into rural countryside, the lush landscapes are vast. Rolling hills of greenery and canola fields and green pastures dotted with cows or sheep. It’s a picturesque drive.

Then suddenly the castle looms in the distance.

Perched high on a hill (strategically located) it’s surrounded by village shops and restaurants. The quaint town has cobblestone and very narrow streets!

Once we reach the top of the hill, the castle is so much bigger than it seemed and includes a number of statues and a cemetery. Just for Rudy there was an ice cream truck in the parking lot, too.

Our final stop is our accommodation for the night Dunkeld House Hotel. Located just outside the village of Dunkeld, the boutique hotel is reached via a winding narrow road following alongside the Tay River. The property is breathtaking with birds of all kinds, grazing deer and gorgeous, lush gardens.

It’s a lovely country inn with a view of the river and a giant stag to greet you in the courtyard. We check in and are offered a welcome shot of whisky. And we head to our room.

It’s already 7:30 pm and we head to the bar for a pre-dinner tipple. There’s a lot of whisky to choose from. I could be here a month and still not try them all!

In the dining room we gave a view of the river. I order the local favourite: smoked salmon.

By the time we are done dinner it’s late. Time for bed!

There’s more to see and do tomorrow!

Again many thanks to Brenda, the navigator, for some great photos ♥️

Entirely fiction!

Hanging around a bustling bar, you see all kinds of people. It’s easy to concoct a fictional scenario ….

The annual conference was an ordeal. Dee knew that going in. Department heads from divisions across the globe were meeting to garner favour with the board. No easy task given the board was made up of prickly family members mostly and some other large stakeholders. The annual conference was their way of getting together to outdo each other and make backroom deals for leverage. The matriarch, the widow Mrs Glenn, was old and word had it that she shifted her will based on her last martini and who made her feel the most special. She enjoyed watching her family members trip over each other to please her. And they unashamedly did going to great lengths to harness the chance at her approval and multi million dollar share. Some even thought billions if rumours could be verified.

Dee surveyed the room. The usual suspects were there. Her colleagues from local office as well as divisional vps from other cities. Pathetic, she thought, as martini glasses clinked with sparkling wine and other libations. Everyone was so superficial trying to tell the best stories and get drunk quicker. This was the blow out before the big presentations the next day. Dee was carefully sipping her Manhattan; no point in presenting with a hangover if she didn’t have to. It had been done before…

Her eye caught another up and coming marketing vp, Candace. Same job as Dee but different division. Dee noticed how Candace cozied up to the big players with ease and gracefully brushed their arms as she laughed (a little too loud?) at their jokes. Making small talk and fake compliments was never Dee’s forte. She relied on her skills on the job and performance results to make her impact. Her presentation tomorrow would make heads roll; including Candace. Dee had collaborated with finance to create a series of breakthroughs that would certainly get her a nod from partners.

Dee turned her attention from Candace to the small group of partners who had gathered a a corner table. You could see the wheels turning and the venom brewing. Mrs Glenn had not yet arrived but her presence was expected; she loved to make an entrance. Lying in wait, the small group was clearly gossiping and it was anyone’s guess who their target was. Dee stayed under the radar. Limit of two drinks. No gossip and never any inter office relationships! As far as she was concerned that was a death wish.

Dee glanced at what she called the rookie table. The newly minted vps who had something to prove. Each had brought something to the table but were clinging hard to the title and were desperate to make their next big move. The annual conference was their chance to keep the title or be farmed out to pasture. The name of the game was peak performance and many couldn’t handle the pressure. The other way to secure your place was (and only a very few had the knack) was to get the dirt. Yes. That’s right. Schmooze your way into someone’s good graces and find their Achilles heal. Then use it for personal gain. Dee found their methods entirely repulsive, but secretly admired their tenacity even if misguided.

Dee was almost ready for her second and final drink of the evening. She’d made enough small talk and hellos to the right people. Before things got out of hand as they always did at social work events, she would take her cocktail and work the room a final. Pressing the flesh to work in her favour before retiring to her room for a decent sleep after a final review of her masterpiece presentation.

The bar was busy so Dee bided her time and surveyed the crowd. Her eyes stopped as she watched the young bartender shaking a cocktail while laughing and chatting with a customer. Dee noticed that his uniform white shirt was slightly tight in all the right places showing his myriad of exotic tattoos. Was that an animal tooth on the thin leather strap around his neck? His thick black hair was slightly unkempt making his overall look a bit daring yet masculine and rugged.

See started to blush involuntarily. Only to be shaken from her reverie by an annoying colleague, Chad, from IT who, it seems, caught her red handed checking out the bartender. Chad comments to Dee about her apparent fascination with the young bartender. Dee brushes him off and says h she could be his mother. Get real.

Dee quickly gets to the front of the crowd and waits for service at the bar. As (bad?) luck would have it, bar hunk makes his way over to her. What are you having? Dee pushes her empty highball across the bar and asks for another Manhattan. Hunk looks her over and remarks that he pegged her as a dirty martini type. There’s that annoying blush again! Thanks, but I’m a Manhattan kind of gal. Yeah. Says hunk as he turns to reach for the appropriate bottles. You look like an uptown girl.

When Dee accepts her drink, her hand lightly grazes the hunk. She looks up to see him smile and say here’s a napkin. Unnerved Dee takes her drink and walks away. She’s not usually so off guard and, could it be butterflies?, nervous. Whoa. Dee retreats to a quiet corner to gather herself. She takes a massive gulp almost finishing the glass. As she sets down her drink, she notices handwriting on the napkin. What? Dee looks more closely. Chad approaches from behind. Hey what are drinking? Let me get you another. Caught entirely off base, Dee jumps in surprise. Easy there! Didn’t mean to scare ya!

Dee realized she needed a diversion and accepted Chads offer for a drink. What was she doing? This was not her usual professional self. Chad saunters off happy to be of service. Ugh. Lap dog. And Dee takes the opportunity to read the napkin.

It simply says: you have beautiful eyes and I’d like to see more … Rick 555-533-1367 Dee stuffs the napkin like it’s on fire into her clutch purse.

Dee is blushing like mad. The kid, Rick, really was young enough to be her kid if she had any. Seriously. She looks over to the bar to see Chad pointing at her and chatting with Rick. Oh no. Chad returns with the drink grinning from ear to ear. Here. Rick says he made this one special since you inhaled the last one so quick! Ha ha.

Dee takes the drink with thanks and immediate excuses herself to talk to someone she knows. Across the room. In Portugal. Anywhere away from Chad. She glides to a far off table and says hi to her counterpart from Boston. While stealing quick peeks at the bar her eyes lock with Rick. She looks away quickly and then back again. He’s staring at her!

Dee puts down her drink and walks away with a mumbled apology about needing the ladies. As she gathers her thoughts and heads for the elevators to her room, she is startled by a hand on her arm. Dee spins around ready to give Chad a swift brush off. But when she turns, she is face to face with Rick.

This can’t be happening. He’s throwing her off her game. She’s here to make her presentation and leave. With a bonus and a bigger office if she’s lucky.

I meant what I said. And you’re even more beautiful up close. I’m off at 10 pm. Call me. With a smile to melt the coldest heart, Rick walks away. Leaving Dee in giddy shock. Having not felt like this since highschool, Dee stumbles into the elevator. When the elevator door closes, Dee is alone. Retrieving the napkin from her purse she chides herself for her lack of composure and immaturity.

But she can’t help thinking about Rick. Was she crazy? If she contacted him what would be the harm? This wasn’t her town. No one would know. Her mind races as she makes her way into her room. Maybe just this once…..

Today was a driving day. We knew that going in. Leaving the west coast of the Emerald Isle and driving northeast to Belfast; approximately 5 hours in total plus stops. Breakfast was served and thereafter we left the castle. It was a memorable visit to sat the least.

First stop: gas. Our travels had whittled the tank down to less than a quarter. It’s a diesel and we were able to fill up easily in town (Clifden). Second stop: the post office to mail post cards. Being a small village it was no problem everything is super close. After the post office we tried to get back on the route. However a delivery truck was blocking us in. So we maneuvered through the underground parking of the local grocery store. A feat in itself when all spaces are made for mini vehicles!

Back on the road, another glorious sunny day, we back track to some of the places we’ve been through already. Another view of the fjord and the villages nearby. Eventually we get into new territory as we make our way to Northern Ireland. We know we’ve crossed the invisible border when km changes to miles!

The scenery all along is stunning:

As we approach Belfast, the traffic thickens and it’s back to civilization. More people, trucks, cars etc. even though Belfast is a city of approx 350K, it’s markedly bigger than what we’ve been used to for the past few days.

The massive wire sculpture known as The Rise Sculpture makes an impressive appearance as you approach the city. (Thanks for the great photo Brenda!)

Our accommodation for the night is The Titanic Hotel and it’s located in the heart of the Titanic quarter at the waterfront next to the Titanic museum.

Since we’ve eaten too much and without much in the way of exercise, we decide to eat at the bar and call it an early night. Tomorrow we are booked on a ferry to Scotland and have to make our way to the pier for boarding by 10:30 am.

We take our seats at the bar and then Cameron happens. He’s the young bartender who’s a cross between Johnny Depp and your favourite bad boy. Use your imagination! He provides menus and begins to describe the dishes in great detail. It’s hard to choose ….

In between taking our order he concocts cocktails for other patrons. He puts on quite a show!

We order light fare (Caesar salad and fries for me … I can’t seem to get enough of the fries here! They are so light and crispy!)

I notice above the bar there’s a stack of blueprints (a nod to the ship building days of yore)

After dinner we ask Cameron what he has in the way of local whiskey. He does not disappoint. And I’m happy to share the conversation with my dad and sister on FaceTime. Cameron is a good sport and indulges us. He presents a few options. I choose a local blend and it’s the lady of the bottle so I get to choose again. Ok with me!

Our friend had an Irish Coffee which was also good.

Some highlights from the neighbourhood.

Tomorrow: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

What a day. Again. We awoke to sunshine (always a good thing) and met up for breakfast at 8:30 am. There was an array of choices from European style continental to a full Irish breakfast. The staff are so pleasant and accommodating. We dined and then head for the vehicle. We are navigating the Connemara loop.

Our friend took the wheel first. Leaving our hotel (the castle) on a narrow winding road we made our way to the Connemara National Forest.

The narrow roadways are a feast for the eyes. On the left is the Atlantic Ocean and on the right are the Bens Mountains.

The national park has several hiking trails, adiscovery center, a horse pavilion and a children’s playground. We checked out the visitors centre and collected maps and info while perusing the interactive displays showing flora and fauna of the park. We are in the bogs.

We choose the yellow trail. The shortest of hike options and set out on the climb.

Our next stop is the famous Kylemore Abbey which was once an orphanage and a castle. It looms out of the mountains next to a pristine lake. Open to visitors it has a church, gift shop, walled garden and a walking trails. To this day it is occupied by nuns. High in the mountain above, on an inaccessible path, is the crucifix watching over the property.

Our next stop was the Kllarey Fjord. The only glacial fjord in Ireland stretching 16 kms inland. The views are jaw dropping and can’t be captured in photos.

Right next to the fjord is the wool centre. A place to discover wool and other artisans of the region. It’s the perfect place for a coffee break.

We wind our way back to the castle hotel in time for our massages. The roads are wild. Narrow and curvy.

And lots of furry friends.

And very winding

What goes best either a massage?

Nestled behind the castle is a cottage which houses the spa. Indulge in a variety of treatments such as facials, manicures or massages if you have time.

Cheers to my dad who was able to FaceTime again tonight! ♥️

Off to dinner. But not before our host shows us a major upgrade to his exterior:

Tonight’s feature is oysters. We drove by several “farms” and seafood here is plentiful and fresh. Not to mention delicious!

Our host is an entertainer. His antics are, bar none, the best!

After dinner it’s only fitting that one can relax while blogging.

What a day! We started the morning after a 12 hour sleep; jet lag is real. Rudy said he could hear revellers in the street partying to the wee hours. At breakfast (a lovely arrangement in the hotel restaurant) we find out that it’s a bank holiday in Ireland. So that explains the rowdy celebrations! After a leisurely breakfast (our friends travelling with us were brave enough to try the Black Pudding) we meet our contact from Celtic Routes. He’s delivering our Land Rover for the balance of our adventure.

Nic (the rep) meets us out front in a new, shiny black Land Rover Discovery. After having us sign a bunch of insurance forms, he shows us the operations of the vehicle and we set off on our way. I’m the first driver. Yeah. No pressure. The Celtic Routes app has our itinerary built into Google Maps so we set up CarPlay and we drive off. After making a few short turns on the roads past the Ha’ Penny Bridge alongside the River Liffey heading out of town we are just getting on our way when ….

There’s a bunch of police cruisers in the intersection up ahead. We thought it was an accident. Not. As we get closer an officer steps out in front of us and pulls us over. No joke. It’s a drunk driver check point. I guess the party animals don’t know when to quit! Another officer approaches and asks if I’ve been drinking. No. Ok he’s says; blow into this. While he’s getting his blowing unit ready, he asks where we’re from. Canada. Oh where? We tell him. He tells us his siblings live in Peterborough and he’s heading there in 10 days! We have a good laugh. He gives us the plastic blow straw thing as a souvenir and we get on our way. What a start to the day!

Before long we are on a highway. Divided I might add. Two lanes one way and easy driving. Throw in a couple of roundabouts and we get to our first stop: Killbeggan Distillerycirca 1757. It’s in a beautiful old building complete with shop, small museum, production areas and a tasting room. We sample the local whiskey and get the lowdown from Rose the server. She’s super knowledgeable and obviously passionate about her products.

Since I imbibed in the tasting, my friend took the wheel to get us to our next stop in Galway . Pronounced “gahl-way” this charming city was bustling with holiday spirits and the weather was cooperating well. The quaint downtown area was teeming with people, locals and tourists alike, all enjoying the festive atmosphere. We shopped and stopped for local fish and chips (big mistake … I will get to that later) and then strolled back to our car where my friend took the wheel again.

Back at the car we head for our final destination The Glenabbey Castle Hotel which will be our home for two nights. The road leaving Galway is a nice highway that soon becomes a very narrow “path” that winds its way through hill and dale. And then we arrive.

The front of the property is laden with ivy and the grounds are spectacular with stunning views, a helicopter landing pad and a fountain.

We enter and the property is simply splendid. I was too gobsmacked to take photos. Although I did get a chance to FaceTime with my dad and give him the full tour! I will get it together tomorrow for some photos.

We checked in and they gave us our skeleton keys and advised that dinner was at 7 pm. Gulp! We just ate! Oh well. Back to the trough.

The dining room is on the third floor with sweeping views out the front.

Back in our room for the night I feel like a princess. A major bucket list item has been ticked!

I’m in heaven!

Tomorrow’s adventures are very active so I’m going to appreciate the tub!

Stay tuned ♥️