I have such a crush on that falconer

For our final day, we headed south and stopped at Helmsdale.  There is a museum there called Timespan.  It's a very good museum about the local area.  They had a storytelling area and the lady at the front said let me know if the sound wasn't quite right - it wasn't, so back and forth she went - like 6 times until it was blasting us out of the room.  We all found this very funny.

After Timespan, we went to Dunrobin Castle.  We did the castle and had lunch, but then headed out for the afternoon bird show.  Andy flew 2 falcons and the bengal eagle owl.  When he was setting up he took the falcon in and used a blower drier to dry him off.  

Since it was still raining, he did the whole thing under the trees.  It was even better because the birds flew right between us all.

Andy and Bengal Owl

After the birds, it was time to say goodbye.  They were headed off to Edinburgh to catch their flight in the morning and I was headed back to Thurso.  

I had the best time

Wild and Wonderful Whaligoe

Weather is Awful, but the Cafe is Open

We'd checked the website to verify that the cafe at Whaligoe steps was open - it was.  The weather continued from the previous day.  The winds were raging and had kept many of us up the previous night.

We weren't going to let anything like some bad weather get in our way, so we went to Whaligoe.  We stopped first at Camster Cairns.  I was quite puzzled that one minute my old oldest brother was there, and then he wasn't.  

You see he had stood on a little slope of wet grass, and his feet had gone right from under him, landing him flat on his back on a little humpy bit of earth.  

As I have mentioned, the ground is softer here in Scotland, but I was still a bit worried as he is nearly 50...but I must admit that every time I think about it, I get a fairly substantial giggle bubble out of me - I try to stop it, but I just can't.  It was just so funny.

He sprang up and claimed he was not injured, but he moved off a bit more carefully, then I had seen him do.  He did not let this keep him from crawling into the cairn.

Three Men in a Cairn

After Camster, we went to Whaligoe.  We had a tea at the cafe to warm us up and watched that waves crash against the rocks - it was TOTALLY AMAZING!!  

We carefully picked our way down the steps.  We stopped for many oohs and aahs. Nature is the most incredible thing and I think we all felt pretty special to be able to witness it.  Dad said it was his favorite stop of the trip.  

After our battle with the elements, we had soup and more hot drinks before we piled back into the car - which by now smells of wet human, I think you could use the word dank.

On the way home, we stopped at the Hill of Many Stanes (I guess stanes means stones).  Doug had seen the sign on our way.  It was this little area where 50+ stones have been placed in  crooked rows - on top of a hill overlooking the sea.  There were many guesses to what these stones mean - it's easy to say it a graveyard, but I think that we are just limited by our own paradigm.  However, I did not buy into the concept that it was an astrological calendar.

Hill o' Many Stanes - another neolithic mystery in Caithness

Back in Thurso, we did our last little shopping and got mom ingredients for South Dakota chili, which was delicious and fueled us for a game of Oh Hell!.

Old Pulteney

Monday's weather was horrendous.  But in Caithness, you just have to go with it and my family did just that.  We went to the lighthouse and made a half-hearted attempt to go to shell beach; it was chucking it down.

We did see over a dozen seals near shell beach all moving toward us in the ocean.  Dad was convinced they were thinking what are you idiots doing outside.  He might have been right.  

On the way to Wick, we stopped at the Broch centre.  I need to do a bit of research on this, but it was very interesting and had a lot of similarities to Skara Brae - all of us (but mom who generally staying in the car) soaking wet by this time.

Then we went to our tour at Old Pulteney.  The tour was very interesting; it's a fairly simple process and all of the vessels with different stages of mash and liquid and then the warehouse with floor to ceiling barrels was too cool.  

We were all a bit surprised that this is relatively new industry that it is dependent on barrels from America in order for it to be authentic Scottish whiskey.

After the tour, we had a special tasting set up with the manager of the plant.  We all got to taste a 12-year, 17-year and their award winning 21-year.  I don't much care for whiskey and neither does mom, but we gave it a try and passed it on to the boys.

Aren't they gorgeous!!?!! They are MY brothers

The Nuclear Family does Whiskey

After the tour, we raced back to Thurso to see if the fishmonger was open and had fish.  He was, and we got some smoked salmon and hake for dinner.  I had never actually been to the fishmonger, and the smoked salmon was heavenly - hake was yummy too.  

I've been back twice in the last week for more smoked salmon (and cod and fish cakes and lemon sole).  I had a big smile on Saturday when I pulled up, I noticed he was leaving.  He did a u-turn and came back and opened up to sell me my fish.  Although he talked me through his hours, he wasn't in any hurry and got me everything I wanted and empathized that my people were gone.

Off we go to Orkney

I think I have established in earlier posts that Orkney is awesome.  I was watching the weather and saw that Saturday was going to be lovely, so we decided to head over.

In addition to the regular sites, I always try to squeeze in something new, and this trip was no exception.  We left from Gills Bay to St. Margaret's Hope, as usual.  

As we were pulling out of the bay, we say a school of little dolphins.  They were having a great time feeding - I wonder if the ferry was stirring stuff up because they were in a bit of a frenzy.  They were super cute.

We went to the Italian Chapel followed by Sheila Fleet gallery.  Dave and I had tried to get to the gallery when he came, but it was closed.  We all walked out with bags.  

Come on - get together - smile - GET TOGETHER...

Off to Kirkwall, we stopped at St. Magnus Cathedral - I think this was Doug's favorite stop of the trip.  I finally got some photos that I think do this spectacular building justice.

This photo is what the cathedral feels like to me

After the cathedral, we went to the standing stones and then hit our reservation for Maeshowe.  We'd tried Maeshome when Mom and Dad were here, but we didn't have a reservation.  Maeshowe is incredible - a neolithic structure designed around the winter solstice with Viking graffiti all over it.  Seriously, can it get any cooler than that!?!

After Maeshowe, we went to Skara Brae.  I told Doug to get ready to have his mind blown, and he explained to me that it was too late for that.  After Skara Brae, it was time to head to Stromness for the ferry.  I had had a vision of spending some time in Stromness, but our day was done, and this was the last ferry so on we went.

This is a very nice ferry, and it goes around Hoy so you get great views of the tallest cliff in Britain and the Old Man of Hoy.

During the crossing, we saw what must have been a whale based on the splashing and several seals.  I was just staring at this stuff - you can't capture everything.  

But I did get this hilarious seagull that did many tricks in front of Dave and I - we both agreed he was a total show off.

Over here - I'm over here

Family Day?

I had this wild thought...you see, we were planning a family day at the site to correspond to 11 years prior to the closure.   It was the first time there had been a family day on-site, and it was the first time in my career I had ever seen a site opened up to families, or even the public for that matter.

After some thought, I asked my family to come.  

I billed it as the nuclear family takes a nuclear vacation.  

My old oldest brother was turning 50 - wouldn't it be great to be all together?    

With life and commitments, I knew it was a long shot, but I had to ask.  I was prepared for whatever answer came, but I was incredibly happy when everyone said they could make it.

This photo stance became a theme - Dad slightly apart - Doug hidden behind the rest

Sunset Over Puget Sound

Staying in Seattle was a treat I gave myself.  I stayed at the Inn at the Market, which is right in Pike's Place Market.  I have always wanted to stay there and it did not disappoint.  After the long week and all of the appointment the day before, I was really looking forward to it. 

When I arrived, I has given a great big basket set up by Christine of fruit and wine.  Fruit can be fairly monotonous in Scotland, so although the wine was DELICIOUS, I gorged myself on fruit.

After my shopping, I ate dinner at a Korean place with an open kitchen.  I order several things (including oysters with kimchi). The chef and I chatted while he cranked out food for the entire place.  

It was fairly spectacular.  I am a very lucky girl.