On the Road Again

Last time I'm pretty sure I told that soon I'd have some fun adventures to tell you about, as long as everything worked out. Well! It did. And I do....have adventures to tell you about, that is. Since our time here is counting down, we've been talking about doing one more big trip while we can. And with Brian's parents here visiting us it was the perfect time. So last weekend we loaded up the car and went back to Scotland. (Eeek!!) Pretty mountains, fluffy cows, castles, and potato scones! 

I am happy to report that this time around, I did not come home with any injuries. My booty remained unbroken this trip and I'm extremely happy about that. Although we did visit with the offending boulder in Glencoe and I tried to make peace it, in the rain. ((You know, forgiveness and all that for breaking my ass.))

This is the boulder. And those smaller rocks in front of it are actually what broke my ass. The boulder and I did not agree on me using it to take pictures and I may or may not have fallen and landed on those smaller rocks. And that is the story of how my ass was fractured in Glencoe, Scotland.

Probably my favorite part of the trip was driving through the highlands towards Isle of Skye. Let me tell you - it was absolutely breathtaking!! That is scenery that you will not be able to find just anywhere. But I'm telling you now....find a way to go up there and see it. I could take a million pictures of it....you could Google even more...none of it will be the same as standing there. Pictures just don't do these mountains justice in any way.

  

**Sorry for the rain spots in this one. I had to take it while we were driving, in the rain, because there was nowhere to pull over without risking death. And I needed a picture of it.** 

I wish we would have had time to visit the list of things we want to see on Isle of Skye but there just wasn't time. But I was sufficiently pleased with just staring at these mountains for hours while we drove. 

Aside from staring at these gorgeous mountains, we also visited castles...lots of castles. And I was reminded, yet again, that those Scots like to make you work for anything you're going to enjoy. The walk to Stirling Castle wasn't as bad as Edinburgh Castle but I was still cursing someone for the uphill climb on slippery pavement. 

Half-way up and I'm just glad it's not cobblestone anymore. 

It was raining, of course, and very slippery.

Inside the gardens of Stirling Castle

The Palace of Holyrood House - where the Queen stays when she's in Scotland.

Unfortunately, she was not in that day. So sad. I know she would have enjoyed visiting with us

The ruins of Urquhart Castle over Loch Ness

Eilean Donan Castle over Loch Tummell

And of course, what vacation would be complete without wierd stuff? Well, I don't know about your vacations but ours are full of the weird. And we embrace it!

We found Kierstin in our suitcase!! Lol

We found a street performer dressed as an Alien (as in the Ridley Scott movie). He was awesome!! And funny enough...2 blocks over, there was one dressed as a Predator! ((Fabulous))

Standing in the middle of the smallest 2 lane road I've ever seen. Driving was interesting, passing cars was even better. It had great views, but it is an experience I'd like to not repeat.

We like to stalk the Highland cattle. ((It's so fluffy!!))

I have no explanation for this other than the fact that they're fluffy/furry cows. And we don't have them in America. But it could be that we're a little weird. Whichever explanation suits you.

So that is our trip in a nutshell. We actually saw a lot more stuff but I would be sitting here forever and a day trying to tell you the stories and upload all of the pictures. 

For being our last big trip, I'm glad we chose to go to Scotland. There are still about a dozen places we'd like to visit but unless we stay here for another 10 years, and some bazillionaire decides to give us all their money, it's just not going to happen. ((One day we'll make it to all of those places, but they will have to wait.)) 

We're still counting down the last of the kids' summer break, though I get to go back to school on Monday. (yay??) Are you jealous? You shouldn't be. Lol I do hope you are having a wonderful summer! Much love sweets!