Maid of the Mist

I have never been to Niagara Falls, and I was excited about going.  Because I had an early flight, I got there right when everything opened.  I hadn't had much time to do any research so I just had to take things as I figured them out.

Everyone else in my group had travelled on a separate flight, as by the time they made their travel arrangements, my flights were sold out.  This caused a bunch on consternation, which I found funny.  However, they had made it to the Falls the previous evening and I kept a look out for the group, but I never saw them.

People from all over the world come to Niagara and like any national park, they roll out of their tour bus, take snaps and then run back to their bus for the next thing.  I  always find this odd. 

On the Observation Deck - American Falls over my right shoulder and Horseshoe Falls over my left shoulder

I decided to go on to the observation deck because it's impossible to get good photos from the American side of the falls.  As I got to the booth, I said what the heck, take the Maid of the Mist tour - when are you ever going to be able to do this again!?! 

There are lots of sign on the way to the maid of the mist about once you pass this point you accept liability...they hand you your poncho and everyone queues up.

Blue ponchos queueing up for the Maid of the Mist

Watching everyone in the line is fairly entertaining.  There is lots of photo taking and a bit of pushing and shoving.  When they let you onto the boat everyone tries for position on the rail. It generally shows everyone's worst nature.  This is only topped by the people behind you trying to get their camera in front of your face so that they can get a better picture.

American Falls - ooh, aah...

The falls and the boat ride are spectacular.  The fabulous clouds made for perfect light and shadow.   The sound was almost as good as the image.  

After the ride, I walked up to the Horseshoe falls overlook and had lunch.  Then I worked my way back to the car and drove off to Ellicottville.

Horseshoe Falls, looking at Canada, I'd been in that boat just an hour ago

Where has September gone...

It's been 27 days since I have had a leisurely Saturday morning, sitting in my bathrobe, at the computer with my coffee and omelet, but here I am.

While my Skye posts were rattling out of the system every other day, I was jetting across the United States with 9 Scots from the Site on a benchmarking trip.  

It was one of those trips where initially everyone felt quite bent out of shape because they weren't invited and then when they saw the itinerary, they changed their mind that perhaps it's not something they wanted to do.  

We flew over the weekend to Buffalo, New York.  We travelled to the little town of Ellicottville and then 2 days later we flew from Buffalo to Pasco, Washington.  We did this at night, of course, so we could maximize our time in New York and Washington.

Then we spent 2 days at the Hanford Site and then trekked back to Scotland, blurry eyed, but thinking about all of things we had seen and whether they would work here.  I know this is a bit boring, but it looked like this:

• Friday, Sept 7: fly to Edinburgh
• Saturday: fly to Newark
• Sunday: fly to Buffalo - check out Niagara Falls and drive to Ellicottville
• Monday - Tuesday: learn, absorb, question, consider
• Tuesday: fly to Pasco through Buffalo, Detroit, and Salt Lake City
• Wednesday - Thursday: learn, absorb, question, consider
• Friday: 2 doctor's appointments, the dentist, and a flu shot
• Saturday: fly to Seattle - power shop
• Sunday: fly to Newark, then Edinburgh
• Monday, Sept.17: fly to Wick - unpack and reorient self for board meeting, followed by the arrive of the FAM

I did laugh at myself; I do appreciate that I can and do surprise myself.  You see when I checked in at Edinburgh, they said my flight to Buffalo was cancelled, which is why I ended up staying the night in Newark.  I was annoyed for like 2 minutes, primarily because the lady at the desk was so unhelpful.  

Then I decided this was really a good thing, as I would be tired and that meant I'd just go to bed early in Newark and my early flight on Sunday meant I'd have to get up and I'd get maximum time at Niagara and really this was all for the best...

When I landed in Newark, I was tired and I wandered around a bit, until I noticed a Marriott across the parking lot and highway.  I dragged myself and my bag across the lot and followed this cowboy across the barrier and median and checked in.  I had the best hamburger while laying in bed and before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

Skye: Last Day

Our final day, we decided to go to Portee and do an easy hike around the bay.  I had brought a book, and we followed it to the start.  

Just as we were getting ready to go, a nice guy came along with his dog and said that it's better to do the walk the other way around so you can enjoy the views as you walk. Even though this was very concerning to the shortest member of our group, we did the unthinkable, and did the walk backwards!

Beginning at the end

The walk went through some woods and across a couple of farms.  It was fairly steep in places. Once you got to the top, you could see Portree Bay.

Taking a break on the top of the Bile

The Bile was this big flat meadow that the book said was a raised beach formed during the ice age.  As the ice melted, the sea level rose, but the land rose at the same time as the weight of the ice was removed.

The Bile

It was pretty much downhill from here, and we wandered back toward Portee to grab the car and head to Inverness. 

Portee

The drive back was fairly easy.  We took a different route driving south along Lochness.  We stopped for a bowl of soup, and then it was time to say goodbye.  

I stopped at the Storehouse at Foulis on the way home, and picked up gourmet provisions, including a very expensive block of parmesan cheese.  After unpacking, I notice that my shadow (Maggie) wasn't attached.  This was so unusual that I went to investigate and found her on the patio.  She had carefully unwrapped the cheese and was gnawing away at it.

I was very angry and put her in her kennel.  As I was eating my dinner, it was only interrupted by Maggie licking and smacking her lips. That dog!

Sunset

Lone tree
   Lone boat
The sun falls
   Another day done

Sleat perfectly Skye

Since we had spent so much time in the car yesterday, we decided to explore Sleat.  We had seen several signs for the Blue Studio, and we liked the idea of it, so this is where we headed off first.  We took a little narrow road toward Ord.  

The road to Ord

This is where we encountered our cow.  She was so lovely, but she did look a bit crazy.  As a result, I did not get out of the car - like no way.

Beauty Queen - I like the road in the mirror

Once we crossed Sleat, we were on the water.  We followed this along until we got to Toravaig.  It was here that we saw a small heard of beach cows.  They were ambling along this horrible rocky beach.  Gill and I could hardly walk on it.  I think they were hunting for seaweed, as one had this big chunk hanging out of her mouth.

See the two camouflage cows on the rock beach below?

After the cows we followed the little signs to the Blue Studio. Once we got there, the artist immediately greeted us and took us in.  He did water colors and wood block prints.  His paper was from Tibet - he'd been using it before it got all popular.  Gill bought this amazing wood cut print of chickens.

Blue Studio

View from the Blue Studio - Artist's Inspiration

After the blue studio, we wandered around a bit until we found our way to Armadale.  We parked at the ferry and spent the rest of the afternoon on foot.  We did some major damage in a store called Ragamuffin.

We each got one of these - photos were required for reassembly

After checking out a photographer called Grumpy George, we went to a pottery place called The Bay Pottery.  The owner/potter had taken a year sabatacle, so a friend was working the studio and throwing pots.  She had great stuff, and we spent the rest of our money here.  We listened fairly incredulously while she explained that there were no ATMs, but we could get more money at the gas station.

We went to a very expensive painter's place called Nigel Grounds, and then found that the gas station was closed.  I admit I was a bit panicked here - I mean we had NO MONEY and many places wouldn't take cards.  We wandered down to Armadale Castle and then back and did get some money - crisis averted.

We went back to Armadale Castle - which isn't really a castle and the Clan Donald museum, which could also be called a shrine to all injustices ever down to the Scots.

The ruins of Armadale Castle - notice the girls above the stairs?

After the castle, we headed back to the hotel.  We were a bit sick of eating at the pub at the hotel, but all our other choices were pretty far away.  We made a half-hearted attempt to go to Broadford, but only made it as far as the Kinloch Lodge.  We stopped here because the sign on the road said cookery courses and shop.  The shop was a very large closet with lots of cookbooks, jars and a few implements. It was very funny and random and Skye.

Dunvegan's Gardens

Dunvegan had 3 different type of gardens: a water garden, walled garden and round garden.  The water garden had a water fall, several streams and pools, and it was lush!

Mum and Daughter at Waterfall

We went through the water garden twice because the first time - we had to make it to the boat for the seals!!!!!!!! 

Flower with Dew

The walled garden was my favorite.  It was fairly typical, sectioned off with an area for vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit trees.  

Flower with Big Bumblebee

I have this new camera.  I did a bunch of research and even though the reviews were all over the place, I bought it any way.  I really hate it, in that it has some big limitations, which means I could end up carrying two camera's, but when it works, it takes a fine photo.

Big Bumblebee with Flower

Aren't his wings amazing?

Skye: Off to the Northwest

Today, we headed off to the northwest part of the Isle.  We had several places on our list for stops, but we were completely open to whatever would come.  The drive was amazing.  There are proper mountains on Skye and because on all of the lochs, you wind your way to everywhere you go.

The heather is in bloom and all of the hills were riotous shades of pink and purple.  I really didn't think any of my pictures (and I tried by taking 165) captured the color in front of us.

Heather, thistles and a crumpled can of Irn Bru - THE soda of Scotland

When we got past Roshill, the road narrowed.  We laughed that there were these big signs that would announce you had entered a place, but then there was nothing there and then there would be another sign announcing the next place.  Honestly, without the signs we'd have had no idea that we were entering these 'places.'

A car in front of us stopped.  There was a sheep sitting in the middle of the road, and a guy got out and shooed it away.  After they pulled away, the same sheep went back to its spot.  It was down on its knees by the time I got out of the car to shoo it myself.  It got up and stood there for a minute wondering if maybe I would go away, but when I didn't it, ambled off.  My companions thought this was extremely funny.

All the Isle sheep with the spotted socks were fairly confident, about everything

Our first destination was the Toy Museum.  This was the 25th and final year for the toy museum, and it was located in Glendale.  Once in Glendale, we followed the signs further into the country side; the road getting smaller and smaller.  We eventually got to a house and a gate.  Gill opened it up, and we climbed up this steep hill.  

Inside was a cool old man that gave us a tour of the museum.  One room was old toys and one room was new toys.  The toys were pretty neat, but his presentation made it.  He showed us how everything worked and he had solid repertoire of jokes and one liners.  It was completely priceless and given that after this year, they are going to sell the toys on ebay and retire - I am so glad that we made it.

As we were leaving, he told us that there was a great cafe further down the road.  I thought further down the road - how can that be - be we went and discovered the Redroof Cafe.   

Gill and I had these fantastic cheese boards and most of Sarah's cheese scone, which I had to assume failed to meet her standards because it had green bits of chives in it.

Redroof Cafe/Gallery and The Road

After the cafe, we hit Skye Silver and then Dunvegan Castle.  I thought the castle was a complete dud, but the gardens were spectacular, and they had a little 20 minute boat tour to see a resident seal colony.  Gill was very brave and got in the boat with no trouble.

Pregnant grey seal

 We also spooked a heron and our way to the seals.

I love his reflection in the water

Dunvegan Castle

All in all, a very good trip to the north.

The many faces of our lighthouse

We stayed at a hotel called Eilean Iarmain.  This was in a part of Skye called Sleat and is in the south.  We had this great suite with two bedrooms in a building that looked like at one time it was a barn.  

There was a lighthouse outside our room that we originally thought we could walk to, but then we found out you really can't unless you want to try it when the tide was out - we didn't. 

I took a picture of the lighthouse every day.  It really does capture the breathtaking mysteriousity of Skye.

Day 1 - Arrival

Morning - Day 2

Evening - Day 3

Going to Skye

As we left Inverness, I realized I hadn't put the map in the front of the car, so we used the SatNav, and this chose the route north through Ullapool.  I have not been to Ullapool, but I've heard it's lovely and many people from Thurso go to Ullapool taking the coast road west, which I hear is slow going, but lovely.

The road from Inverness was okay, but it kept sort of disappearing.  One minute we would be on a two lane road, and the next it would be single track.  There was little to no signage to indicate when this would happen, so it required a bit of attention.

When we got to Loch Carron, we saw a little place to stop and so we did.  This was a craft place and restaurant.  The craft place was run by a husband and wife, and the restaurant was run by the son and daughter-in-law.

Seriously, how cute is this place

We mooched around the shop, which was filled with all sorts of local art including pottery, photography, knitting, and general tat.  After making my purchases, I went out and took some photos of their view, which was fairly spectacular.

View across Carron Loch at Church

Sarah had asked the potter how he did his glaze while he was wrapping up my stuff.  I am not sure who was more surprised: him, by her complete focus and interest; or her, that he was actually telling her how it was done.  

He went back to his wheel and I think Sarah could have stayed there all day watching, but we eventually lured her to the cafe for Victoria Sponge.

Sarah takes it all in

After our stop, we went on to Skye.  My SatNav resets itself when you stop, so the navigation doesn't continue.  We decided we were far enough along that we didn't need to reset it - this caused Sarah much anxiety.  She just didn't seem to buy into the concept of, 'we'll figure out.'  This was fairly humorous and repeated often over the next 3 days.

We noticed there were often these lone trees on the hills, we wondered if these trees were antisocial, really independent.  We all loved the trees because they were just so very funny.

Lone trees

Skye: The details

Gill and I had planned a trip to Skye a couple of years ago, but the travel gods conspired against us and we didn't make it, so this year we decided to reschedule.

We invited the lovely 10-year old Sarah along with us, and she agreed to come.  Everything was planned out.  They would take the train(s) up to Inverness, I would pick them up and we would continue on to Skye.  

I made the arrangements.  I had a bit of frustration trying to find a hotel that would allow non-adults, apparently this is UK thing and I found it fairly irritating, but I found a place on the south end of the island.

The general plan was to tackle one portion of the island each day with a mix of tourist attractions, shopping and random stops.  We had planned a whale watching boat trip, but a recent 'incident' with Gill and a boat had Sarah and I reconsider the necessity of a boat trip.

Blog note: I have spent HOURS trying to create a map for this stupid blog to mark the locations of the places I go, but no matter what I do I can't seem to get something I can mark and then embed or link.  This should not be that hard!!!!!

Skye is connected to mainland Scotland by the Skye bridge - clever!  This bridge is very unpopular with the locals - they think it's ugly.  I really thought it was quite beautiful and certainly makes getting to Skye a bit easier than the ferry, which I think is the real issue with the locals.

I did not take this photo.  This was one of our lessons about Skye - they seem to have an interpretation of distance.  There would be a sign that would say viewing area in 250 yards, but you would pull in and in fact you couldn't see anything.  Then a mile later there would be a viewing area.

The bridge is really elevated.  I'd dreamt that Sarah and I screamed all of the way across the bridge and Gill sat in the back shaking her head and shouting shut up - this did not actually happen on our crossing.