The Walking Man: October 2010

I flew out of Dublin back to the land of half and half on Monday. My body and mind are in disagreement as to what time it is.
It has been a roller coaster ride these last six months. I am going to a little place in Oregon to walk the woods, work on my photos, reflect on my adventures, and write a bit. Kirsty is staying across the pond and I hope to be back with her as soon as I can.

With thanks to Tom Waits:

Well my time went so quickly, I went lickety-splickly out to my old '55
As I drove away slowly, feeling so holy, God knows, I was feeling alive.

Now the sun's coming up, I'm riding with Lady Luck, freeway cars and trucks,
Stars beginning to fade, and I lead the parade
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer,
Oh, Lord, let me tell you that the feeling's getting stronger.

And it's six in the morning, gave me no warning; I had to be on my way.

Peace.

The Scots are nothing if not direct. When looking at a B&B in Pitlochry, we spoke with Nancy who said that she wouldn't be making our breakfast, we could make it ourselves. If we didn't like that we could go elsewhere. She also said for us to look at the room, and if it didn't suit us, well, we could look somewhere else. Very pleasant, but direct. We stayed and it was very nice.
Scotland is very different from England in both temperament and geography. The scenery is often stunning and there is something about it that makes me feel like I could spend quite some time here. Maybe because it reminds me so much of Sitka, Alaska. Enjoy the pics from our travels around Western Scotland. Truly a must-see-place my friends!

Saw this half face in the mountain.

The next pics are of Eilean Donan Castle. Although first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries.

Partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, Eilean Donan lay in ruins for the best part of 200 years until Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and proceeded to restore the castle to its former glory. After 20 years of toil and labor the castle was re-opened in 1932.

These pics are for Jen. I really hope she makes it here one day.

Not a bad place to hang one's hat!

The next pics are for Pam. She went to a small, agricultural college in Texas where the mascot was a cow with really big horns. I think it was Texas A&M or something like that. Anywho, here are some pics of Highland Cows. They are called hairy coos because the Scots can't say cows.

Young one was curious enough to come and say hi.

Okay, Pam really went to the University of Texas. Hook em Horns!!!!!

Polite.

Scots are Gaelic speaking (like Ireland) in places.

This one really slays me!

We stopped in Crieff at the Glenturret Distilleryto pick up some of the local hooch for Francis. They were bought out by another distillery in 2002, and make a very popular whisky (notice there is no "e" in whisky) called the Famous Grouse. It is a mixture of Macallan and Highland Park whiskies. Luckily they still make Glenturret. Their 10 yr old Glenturret whisky is supposed to be one of the best in the world. They don't sell it outside of the UK, so I picked Francis up a bottle.