Gone Travelling

Well Pen and I have sold our flat and we left the UK on the 18th of May. We went to Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, San Francisco, Hawaii, Chicago and then got stuck in the UK. However we fly out to Toronto in 3 days, and we'll be hoping to buy a round the world ticket to take us to South America, India and Africa. If you want to keep up to date you can follow our travels on:

www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Penscott/

Here's a few pics from the start of our travels:

Sorry for the sideways pic..this is the North of Kauai, a beautiful Island in Hawaii

This is Slap Kojzak in Slovenia near Kanal where my dad grew up

My Aunt Alma's garden in Italy

A critter from Kauai

Me and Pen getting married in Oahu Hawaii

Remember more pics and stories of our travels at www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Penscott/

The Black Isle

Well, it's official. We're leaving the UK. Penny and I have put our notices in at our work, we've started packing, and we're counting down the weeks! So as a result we've started our good byes. This weekend we went up to see Fi and Al in Fortrose before we go. They're friends of ours who moved up north, for those who don't know...Fortrose is near Inverness, and the Black Isle. I'd heard of the Black Isle, but didn't know much about it. What I do know is that it was quite pretty, and it got it's name from the colour of the soil, which is....black! We arrived Friday night, and just caught up with Fi and Al, mostly talking house sales as they're trying to sell their old house in Menstrie.

Saturday we tried to get on a walk to see a waterfall, and some sea cliffs...sadly the rain sent us scurrying for lunch and cheesecake! Which was followed by a wet walk back to their place, passing by an interesting old smithy's house they're interested in buying to renovate into a home (they're renting at the moment). Then it was a game of Trivial pursuit, and a great curry made by Fi's caring hands....and last but not least some of Fi's world famous brownies! We all went to bed stuffed and happy.

Sunday was a beautiful and sunny day, so we walked down to the lighthouse where we saw a dolphin, and enjoyed plenty of fresh air, as well as a bit of history as we stopped by the Fortrose Cathedral which dates back to around the 15oo's, then walked back to Fi and Al's for some lunch before heading home. It was a very relaxed weekend, and it was great to see Fi and Al before we go. Some piccies below:

Welcome to Whyte Manner

We're here!!

Welcome tooooo the Blaaaaaaack Isle (the sheep were in another field, not their back yard)

A more welcoming welcome, Penny, Al and Fiona

There's a story in there...we just don't know what it is!

Fi and Al's pet weevil or beetle or whatever it is

Dude's going Sea Kayaking down at the beach...have fun!

Fi and Al, enjoying a stroll along the beach, on a sunny spring day

Penny, Fi, and Al enjoying a stroll on the beach on sunny spring day

One of worlds most successful sea (and land) survivors

A pheasant, crossing the road....anyone know why?

Fort George, built in the late 1800's. There was a dolphin or two in the sea, but sadly no pics.

Fi and Al in a Sweeney-esque style photo

Defo a spring photo!

The Fortrose Cathedral, or what's left of it

The other side of the cathedral

One of the sculptures inside the cathedral, this dude needs more sleep

Another grumpy old dude in the Cathedral

Read the sign for a taste of Fortrose's wild side

A sunfish....ha ha

I think it's a finch?

Failte!

Or welcome in Gaelic.

Penny and I just got back from a wee weekend away. We went to the far West Coast of Scotland, in fact, the most westerly point on the British Mainland, Ardnamurchan, and Gaelic was sprinkled everywhere.

We stayed in Ballachulish on the Friday night so we could get up bright and early on Saturday to get the ferry across to Corran. The guesthouse we stayed in on Friday (Creagmhor Lodge) night was lovely, and Pen and I sat in front of the fire reading, Pen had a glass of wine, and I had a real ale and a whiskey. The whiskey was a nice surprise because they had Edradour, which is Scotlands smallest distillery, and a very smooth and enjoyable whiskey. Not only did they have Edradour, they must have had around 50 different whiskeys in this little bar! Very impressive. So we had a relaxing evening, then hit the sack.

The next morning we had breakfast and shot up the road to the ferry. We crossed and drove for about 2 hours along the coast which was beautiful, and saw a couple of sea eagles which were very impressive, and too fast for a picture. We did see plenty of other wildlife on the weekend. We saw plenty of sheep, some looking far more wild than others, Highland Cows, we think we saw a sea otter, we saw cormorants, deer, and seals. We didn't see any whales or dolphins. Now to be fair, the otters and the seals were in a marine sanctuary near Oban on the way home, but it was cool all the same. One of the highlights of the trip was Sanna Bay, which was absolutely stunning. White sandy beaches, rocky outcrops, rolling hills, and mountains in the background. It was chilly, but as we understand in the summer the water turns even bluer, with hints of emerald, and warms up enough to enjoy a dip in the shallows.

We also went to the lighthouse hoping to see some whales or dolphins, alas all we saw was the sun set into the clouds...but it was still pretty.

We stayed at the Kilchoan (pronounced Kilhoan) Hotel, where an Aussie couple, Danny and Tiff took care of us for the 2 days we were there. It was a nice and new place, although it was more expensive than we initially had thought it would be.

On our way home went through Oban, and stopped at a marine sanctuary just outside Oban, and thorhoughly enjoyed it. We were quite close to the otters and seals which was cool, but we also were impressed with the array of fish, and other sea creatures in their aquarium displays.

All in all we had a great weekend together, and it was awesome to see some of Scotlands lesser seen, and lesser known bits, especially when they're as beautiful as they are!

I'd strongly recommend visiting this wee hidden gem, especially in summer if you have the chance.

Scott

Creagmhor Lodges lounge where Pen and I enjoyed a fire, wine and whiskey..it was cozy.

The whiskey bar, with lots, and lots of whiskey

The breakfast room, and a full bellied Penny

The forecast was for sun!!

2 hours later, the sun was out, and snow was...on the hills

One of Sanna Bay's inlets at low tide

Sanna Bay, what an awesome spot

A bit of scrambling as well!

Bring a good book, and a picnic basket, this is worth hanging around to soak up

Pen, climbing down, and thinking...should we have brought rope?

A brave, and curious wee sheep

It's beautiful around here in many ways

No dolphins, or wales, but we did get to see the sun set

As the sun went down, the moon came up

One of Scotlands famous Highland Cows.

When you can't pick your nose, you lick your nose.

The deer we saw on the way home, they didn't hang around

A hawk with some dinner, again he didn't hang around either

Winter in the Highlands, ice and cold

The road home, it was a beautiful drive

The ferry crossing from Corran to the mainland

One of the Sea Otters

Another otter in meercat mode

And dining on a dinner of fish

One of the younger seals

A seal doing a water based meercat impersonation

A baby ray, isn't he cute!

I don't know what this is other than ugly

As soon as Pen sat down here the crabs claw came up to get her...

Off to Oban

after all the sea life in the marine sanctuary, Pen got a little hungry and tucked into a seafood pasta

Oban at night as we left for home, what a great weekend!